So I guess I should start with what I'm doing before I move on to why... Between October 2016 and September 2017, I am going to complete 5 challenges that will push me both physically and mentally. These are:
October 2016: Manchester Half Marathon
November 2016: "tough" 10 k... This involves a lot of hills, mud, branches and sh*t in winter!
April 2017: a Marathon (hmmmm)
August 2017: Total Warrior (now ... having completed this once before, I want to complete this in 90 minutes... This is a bit ambitious!)
September 2017: this was meant to be 1-part of a relay quadrathlon but i thought sod it! Lets do a full triathlon instead!!!!!
But I need your help to make this pain worthwhile... The chosen charities are the Christie hospital in Manchester and Cancer Research UK. Most of us have had the misfortune of coming across cancer and the chaos it brings, either through personal experience or watching a loved one. My good friend was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer in April 2016 and I remember sitting in that appointment thinking, "we've got this, cancer is curable right"... The answer to that is yes it is but what commenced was the steepest learning curve any of us have been on... A battery of information about surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, reconstruction (not a boob job by the way... An appointment with the most undynamic plastic surgery impressed upon us the difference... He didn't want to see the pictures our partners had pulled off the Internet through 'research'), wigs, chillows (google it!) and when you can and can't drink red wine amongst a few but what was most shocking is that eventually there will be one clever bod that will actually find the cure to this awful illness but until that point, organisations such as Cancer Research UK and the Christie rely on foolish people like me to raise as much money as possible to ensure that the research continues to be ground breaking and that those who are touched by this have the kindness and compassion from volunteers and professionals to be able to say... We've got this and you're not on your own.
So why a 5-parter... There are two reasons...
1. I want you to part with a lot of cash... To do that, I need to undertake something that will see me persecuted for ages... To achieve all of the above with the notorious "Buckley chocolate knees", my penchant for ruptured calf muscles and glass ankles over a period of 10 months will be somewhat of an achievement ... It also means I have to cut the red wine and gin consumption so that sucks... In addition, I'll need to drop some serious beef to keep my limbs fit and healthy, for those of you that know me... Lack of food makes me grumpy and irrational (I must be hungry all the time!!) But it also means I will not only complete but also achieve good times!!!!! (Not like Paula Radcliffe times though so don't think I'll be breaking any records but my own!)
2. The most important... My friends treatment pathway of chemo, surgery and radiotherapy is projected to last about 10 months so if she can pull her bra straps up and get on with it for that amount of time then surely I can pull my trainer laces up and commit to this challenge to raise money for these great causes?
Please please give generously... Believe me that this will be a challenge for me (Saturday nights will take a down turn because to fit in the 20 mile runs into my busy life, I will need to give up the Sunday morning!)
If you can't give financially but you're willing to cheer me on or even sign up to help me complete then do it...and thank you to those that already have... This is going to be fun!!!!!
Danielle xx