Race for Life-Bristol 2009

Today I am supporting Race for Life-Bristol, which is a fund raiser for cancer research, and I would like you all to wish me luck.

This will be my third year of participating in this event. I know many people who have been touched by cancer, sadly some did not survive, others are still fighting and some have fought and won.

I'm not a runner I just walk around the the 5K course, which is on the Bristol Downs, as briskly as I can. I'm doing it alone again this year as my friend, Tina, who was planning take part has had to withdraw.
The weather forecast is good and that's always a help, thousands of people take part and there is a great atmosphere. I'll take my camera so I might get some pictures to share.
Postscript:
I completed the course in just under an hour, (55 mins to be precise), which is slower than last year, but I'm happy with that. The feet are a bit sore but my knee and hip coped remarkably well. It was a perfect day for walking and the event was well supported.
Last year Embee was waiting near the finish but no sign of him this year. When I rang he was so surprised I'd finished and it took as long for him to collect me as it did to walk the course. I didn't stop to take any photos, but Embee snapped this when we got home.

Race for Life 2008
Race for Life 2007

Thanks to all my family for their support. XXX

Archives:
2008: What your fridge says about you
2007: A Tortoise Tale

'Race for Life' Bristol 2008

I'm sure that everyone has been touched by cancer in someway, be it yourself, a relative or a friend and this is why research into the treatment and cure of this terrible disease is so important. This event has been running for a number of years but I got involved last year as you can read here.

I had been avidly watching the weather forecast all the week and if you believed the met office we were supposed to get rain! I woke up to an overcast sky and a cool breeze...but no rain, thank goodness. My friend, Tina, had decided to do the race on the Sunday with another friend so I wondered what it would be like walking alone with thousands of people all around you.
This got me thinking about cancer, because in a way that is how you might feel if you had the disease. You are battling alone whilst being surrounded by loved ones, friends and professionals who are all offering support, but it is the person alone who, bravely endures the treatment and actually fights the disease.

As we congregated at the starting point for the walkers, reading the tributes brought a tear to my eye. It took me back to the funeral of Sam's friend Sheena, who sadly died in October last year; it made me think of all the bloggers I knew who had written about their, and their family's personal stories of cancer. It made me thankful that my mother had her skin cancer removed successfully, earlier this year; and it made me pleased that so many people were supporting this event to raise money for research.



Luckily the rain kept off and being a little cooler it made the walking a lot easier. I managed to keep up a steady pace, and my knee and hip did not let me down, although today my knee is twice the size it is normally and a bit sore. Some 40 minutes later I was at the finishing line.....Embee tells me I am in this picture but I must be hidden!



These last two photos are not exactly flattering, but I just wanted to show you that I got my medal for completing the course.



I would like to say THANK YOU to everyone who sponsored me. I have raised £180 (approx $350) so far, which is a modest amount, but combined with everyone else's will make a difference.

Archives:
2007: Surprise Parcel

Race for Life

Yesterday dawned wet and windy but quite warm and as the morning progressed the sun came out in between the showers. Why was I so interested in the weather - well those who read this post will know that I was taking part in the race for life to raise money for cancer research UK. This has been an annual event for several years and although I've always supported friends, I've never actually taken part before. I entered the event a while back after reading lots of moving stories on the blogs I regularly follow, not knowing at the time that this evil disease was going to hit a lot closer to home.
By early afternoon the rain had stopped and although it remained windy the sun was out and we were raring to go (my friend Tina was also walking the course- you didn't think I would be running did you!!). Embee drove us as close to the start as possible and agreed to pick us up later when I phoned him. The setting for this event is the Downs and is very popular place for walks, kite flying, football, bird watching (peregrine falcon).
All the runners were taking part in a rather strenuous warm up and I felt tired just watching them so I decided a few calf stretching excercises would have to do for me. There were over 7,000 women and children taking part yesterday and likely to be the same number again today; so this is a cause close to many people's hearts.

Eventually were were edging our way to wards the start, runners set off first and the walkers followed. Although tinged with sadness when you read the labels and saw who everyone was racing for, there was nevertheless a tremendously happy atmosphere and everyone was determinded to finish the circuit.
My friend's son rode his bike up to give us some support and we stopped for a photo shoot as we overlooked the Avon Gorge and you can see the famous Bristol Suspension Bridge in the background.
The whole circuit was only 5K so it was not really very far, but it still felt good when the finish came into view.

Every participant gets a medal, along with a much needed bottle of water and a small goodie bag containing, samples of washing powder, deodorant, shower gel, moisturizer. Hmm do you think they're trying to tell us something!!! Oh dear this looks rather like a convict's photo!!
I think this will now become an annual event for us. When cancer strikes someone close to you, you feel so helpless and useless but by supporting cancer research through this event I hope that there will be more effective treatment discovered and a brighter future for the many people who are fighting this disease.