IT'S CHRISTMASS!

Well, it may be Christmas, the time to be merry and goodwill to all men and all that crap, and usually I am well into the Christmas spirit, but not this year.......

In-fact, I think, no, I know, this is the worst Christmas in my entire life! And the New Year is not going to be any better.

Like I said in my last blog, my Dad was waiting to go into hospital for an op to see what the doctors could do, well we got word that he was to go in on 23rd December for a scan on his heart to make sure it was strong enough to cope with the op, and all being well he would have the op on Christmas Eve of all days! So we deiced to have Christmas early and we had a lovely evening at my sisters with her kids and their kids, 4 generations in all. We had turkey and all the trimmings then the wee ones played pass the parcel. Then we opened all the prizzies, it was a lovely night, but tinged with a bit of - not sure what the word is really, sadness maybe, fear! trepidation! not sure!!

Anyway to cut a long story short Dad had the op, and to begin with we thought everything had gone good. When someone tells you the operation went well, that is what you think!! Yes? No!

What they ment was Dad had got through the actual operation ok! What my sister had to tell me when I arrived to see Dad on Christmas Eve was a completely different story!

We had been told there was two outcomes to this operation. When they opened Dad up they would either take out the tumor on his bile duct and everything would be ok, OR if, when they opened him up, they found seeds in other organs, then they would just close him up again.

Well, by now, you know what the outcome was, they closed him up!

WHY IS CANCER SUCH A PURE BASTARD!!!

The doc says Dad may have a few months - but it may be just weeks!

3 weeks till Christmas, AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Sorry not been blogging much lately. Got a lot on my mind recently, one good thing has happened, went for my 6 month check up at the doctors, and had a smear test done, and it was all clear. Fingers crossed it stays that way.

Sorry, two good things have happened. The other one is that I have got myself a new car. Still got the van, but managed to get a wee 4-wheeled drive car, after the snow last year I was determined I wasn't going to get stuck if we had any snow this winter. Thank God I did - it started snowing here last week and it hasn't stopped since, but my wee car is great and has no prob with the snow. Have also managed to get all my Christmas cards written and posted, and put a wee card in along with them letting everyone know what I'm doing and asking for sponsorship. Just need to wait and see now what comes back to me. Love Christmas, best time for the family to get together and catch up. Unfortunately everything else has been shit!

Got stood on by a horse a fortnight ago, really thought I'd broken my foot, that's the last thing I need just now, but thankfully it was just badly bruised.

Also, as I said in my last blog, my dad ended up in hospital for a bit in October. Turned out it wasn't just a blocked bile duct he had. He has a malignant tumor on his bile duct. The doctors have decided they can operate on it, but they said they wanted to operate asap, but that will be 3 weeks ago tomorrow!!!! As you can imagine my head is up my arse, why dose something like this have to happen to someone as lovely as my dad, who has hardly had an ill day in all his 80 years. Life is so unfair, he's worked hard all his life and then this happens, SHIT! SHIT! SHIT!

Needles to say, training has been non-existent, but I'm active enough with the job I'm in and once the good weather comes back (always ever hopeful) shouldn't take long to get back on track, still managing to get to Zumba most weeks, great cardio workout! As for fund raising, as I said hope to get a bit over Christmas from relatives, then will get raffle tickets printed up and another sponsored dog walk, and lots more car booting and maybe a pub quiz or two. As always, trying to look on the bright side, a bit difficult at the moment, but will try. xxx

On Holiday

Had a really nice holiday down home in Newton Stewart a couple of weeks ago. Hadn't been feeling too good the week before, so just took it easy, but built up to 15 miles. Unfortunately not done much since. On the last day of my holiday dad, who had been a bit of a strange color, was taken into hospital. Not a great way to spend the first week of his 80th year!! Turned out to be a stone in his bile duct. Thankfully he is now home, after a few days staying with my sister, and nearly back to his normal color, rather than a rather worrying "Homer Simpson" yellow. Got a reminder in to go for a follow up smear test, so got that to look forwards to on the 5th of November - NOT!!! Ah well, a wee vodka and coke and then off to bed me thinks!!

Training on hold for a bit!

Not been able to get out on the bike this week - not even managed to get to Zumba either, very disappointing. The reason for my lack of exerciser is due to the fact that I'm a bit under the weather.

Didn't feel to good on Tuesday night, but went to work as per usual on Wednesday. Had bee to the field twice to get some of the horses in and felt a bit dizzy when I got back (had been feeling a bit dizzy off and on for the past week), but carried on anyway. Started mucking out one of the stables and was just about finished (good thing too!) when next thing I'm on my knees thinking "I should really get up off the floor". Anyway, a bit later (not sure how long I was flat out on the stable floor for, at least it was clean) I could hear Paul telling me I needed to get up, and I knew I should - but I just couldn't, every muscle in my body felt like a tonne weight and nothing wanted to move. Anyway to cut a long story short, they got me up and into a bed, then the doc came out, gave me a quick once over and gave me some tablets, don't think they are doing much good though, still feeling dizzy whenever I move about and a splitting sore head, thought they would have started to make me feel a bit better by now!! Anyway will keep taking the pills and hope to be back at work soon, hate being ill and off work, I get bored sooo easily, and we have a horse show on this weekend, so need to start feeling better soon. Least I have the puppies to keep me amused xx

I'm Famous!!!

Well it had to happen sooner of later! Finally made it to the front page of the newspaper. Really have to thank the Lanark Gazette for the wonderful piece they wrote about me and Women V Cancer, and can't believe it made the front page!!! Anyway, that really inspired me, so when I was home last week I went for a wee 10 - 15 mile ride through the forestry, from Clatteringshaws Dam to Creetown, via Gatehouse Station. Well at least that's what I set out to do. Unfortunately, due to trying to take a photo of a buzzard that was flying just in front of me I missed a turning marker, missed the turn and ended up doing 30 miles!!! Yikes, got to Gatehouse of Fleet after 2 hours, phoned Dad to let him know I hadn't vanished of the face of the earth and eventually returned home 3 1/2 hours later! Not sure if that is good or bad time wise, but I'll tell you this, the Galloway Hills are well named!!! Anyway, next morning I was really surprised to find that I wasn't suffering any ill effects from my ride, bit of a sore bum, but nothing I couldn't handle, and have since re-adjusted my saddle.

Going to do lot more training now that I'm not so busy, see you all soon xxx

Bike Lanarkshire by Paul Lamarra

Got this book a couple of weeks ago, and scanned through it, good book, lots of nice cycle rides, but didn't do much about it - till tonight!!! Picked a ride route not far from Lanark, 15 miles, starting and finishing in Forth. Classed as Moderate!! Yeh, right! Only managed 9.1mph, but did travel through some lovely countryside. Saw a squirrel sitting on the roadside, a flock of geese and a beautiful sunset. Only another 24 cycle routes to do to finish the book, the last of which will be The Lowther Hill Passes, 52 miles classed as moderate to hard and The Lowther Off-road Odessy, 55 miles classed as hard!! WATCH THIS SPACE!!!!

First deposit to Women V Cancer

Getting back into Zumba again, really lacking in energy and enthusiasm for any kind of exercise, so hoping dancing will get me motivated again. Have you ever tried a Power Plate? You just stand there and it vibrates and exercises your body for you, and it helps with water retention and building bone density too, so can't be bad. Could really do with a training buddy though, then at least I would have to cycle, so as not to let my buddy down!!!

Sent off my first lot of cheques to Women V Cancer last week, £430 in total. Organizing a raffle, had some really great prizes donated for it, so hopefully get that up and running soon and will send out tickets to all my friends to sell (hopefully)and make me lots of dosh for the charity.

My spaniel is expecting puppies later this month. This will be Holly's second litter, I kept, two from her first litter, but won't be able to keep any from this litter, think three dogs, a cat and two horses are more than enough pets to keep me going!!!! I am donating the price of one of the puppies to my fund so that will boost it by another £300. If you know of anyone wanting a pedigree English Springer Spaniel, please let me know, I like to have good homes organized well in advance.

Well time to get myself motivated, off out on the bike for a bit.

How time fly's!!!

Can it really be a month since I last wrote on my blog!!! Well it is, I can't believe how time passes so quickly. I have been very busy, lots of kids to feed, teach and hack out. Then at the weekends it's changing beds and cleaning for the new holiday kids arriving, or trail riding in the hills, or car booting... still can't get over how much money you can make at a car boot sale.
Needless to say, I haven't been out on my bike much, which is quite frightening, considering this time next year it will only be 3 months till we go away to Kenya, which will mean I will have to be doing 2 x 15 mile ride and a 25 mile ride each week, so will really have to get myself organized. At least my work schedule will start to tail off come the end of August/September, so should be able to up training a bit then. Basically I'm using this year to see what time I have for training next year, so I know what I'm doing.
Went to the local ex-army store the other week, managed to get a great ruck sack for just £25. It is ginormous!! Would have cost £150+ if I had bought it new! Should hold everything I need, and it is quite light itself, so hopefully wont go over the luggage allowance. I know it is still over a year away, but have started buying and putting things away now, then when the time comes I wont be rushing around at the last minute trying to find stuff!!!
Well off to do some cleaning of horse tack, got a showing show with my horse Holly at the weekend, hopefully it will stay dry, wish me luck!!!!

Sponsord Dog Walk

What a lovely day for a walk. This was last Saturday 26th June. I'd organized a 5km sponsored dog walk around the historic Lanark Racecourse, and some friends had gone round their friends and workmates and got some sponsors to aid my funds for Women V Cancer. Around a dozen of us set of from the Stable Bistro, who kindly sponsored the event and donated a bottle of water and snacks for both walkers and their 4 legged friends. The sun was splitting the sky, but there was a nice breeze and the dogs all loved running around and chasing each other, thankfully they all got on!! The walk took us about an hour and we were well thankful for the water, can't believe how hot it was, unlike the weather outside just now, its cold, wet and windy here! Anyway, when I got home and added up the sponsors, I was pleasantly surprised to find that my friends and managed to boost my total by £280 :) That along with the £60 I made at the car boot sale the week before is really boosting my funds, maybe I'll exceed the minimum of £2800 I need. I would actually like to make £4000!!! If I keep working hard I think that is achievable.

So, future events. Well Jason at the Stables Bistro is going to put on a Cocktail Party with all profits going to my fund, date still to be arranged. Also some of us girls and "honorary girls" are going to dress up in a Hawaiian theme and go on a pub crawl with our collecting tins and any time I get the chance I'll be at the Car boot sales peddling my wares. Thanks again to everyone who is donating loads of great stuff for my boot.

Well off to do some more thinking about other fund raising ideas, and hopefully if the weather dries up, out on the bike again, that's another blog!!!!

Need to get back on the bike again!!

It's been a few weeks since I last made an entry on my blog, basically because I have been so busy. I never seem to have any time for doing what I want to do, only what I have to do, and they are not necessarily the same thing! What I want to do is a lot more cycling, I am keeping up the exercise, I do Zumba 2 - 5 nights a week depending on what time I get finished work. I have been managing to get a bit of horse riding in, but I feel so tired in the evening I haven't sat my bum on a bike since I was on holiday and hurt my leg 3 weeks ago, and I am feeling really guilty, I should be out on it just now but am waiting on someone to book in for B&B, then I have to wash a cut on my horse, then take her to the field, by that time it will be about dark!!!! I can't even cycle to work, coz I live where I work and usually end up grabbing only about 15 minutes to eat my lunch, so no time there either!!
So the plan for this week is - Prioritize, schedule in cycle time and get to bed earlier instead of falling asleep on the sofa like I usually do.

Famous at last!!!!

First things first! It's been a busy week this week, my holiday started on Saturday, and what a glorious day it was, so went a walk down the street in my shorts and strappy t-shirt, did have sun cream on(factor 50), didn't make any difference, still got sunburned. Spent the afternoon getting ready for the car boot sale the next day, loads to sort out, but managed to get everything into the van. Was a lovely evening so had a bbq and a lovely bottle of red, nice relaxing start to the holiday. 9 o'clock and the boss phones, there are 14 in for B&B, can I help out with breakfast in the morning? Well they did want their breakfast at 7, and the boot sale didn't start till 8 so that would work, only takes 1/2 an hour to feed them and the sale is basically across the road from where I live(how lucky is that?).

Got to the boot sale and was asked if I wanted inside our out? "Out" says I, was a beautiful day again, although I was wondering if I was sane saying that as the sun started to get hotter and hotter as the morning wore on!!! What do the say about mad men and Englishmen and the mid-day sun? Good job I'm Scottish!!! Anyway - had a lovely day, everyone was very nice, and even nicer when I told them all the money was going to charity, had my Women V Cancer t-shirt on and all the bumf about the cycle challenge, so was very pleasantly surprised when I got home, put the kettle on and started counting my takings, £135!!! brilliant I thought, still got lots more to sell so a few more of those an I'll be well on my way to my target.

On Monday traveled south to my home town of Creetown, a small village on the A75 just east of Newton Stewart, took the scenic rout, wasn't in a rush and the countryside just now is superb to look at. So, to training. Thought I'd do Creetown to Gatehouse of Fleet and back on Tuesday - 22 miles, rest Wednesday and Clatterengshaws Loch to Creetown on Thursday - 20 miles approx, rest and return journey to Lanark on Friday. "Best laid plans aft gan a glee" as they say!

Did the Tuesday run ok, well not actually! Got to Gatehouse of Fleet fine, then the return trip was 6 miles uphill to Gatehouse Station! Now I have had a wee tight feeling running down the back of my left thigh for a wee while now, and I had been thinking I should get it checked out, yes well, I really should have!!! The pain in the back of my leg, I could hardly peddle, let alone sit in the seat. Thankfully it was now 5 miles of mostly down hill, so managed to make it back, but a bit slower time than I had hoped. After I did my stretches the first thing I did was get on the phone to the local osteopath, no they didn't have any appointments available for that week, but if they had any cancellations they would phone, and guess what, they did phone back and was able to see the guy on Friday morning. It's amazing, how you can hobble into a room, 15 minutes later you walk out straight as a die, and £10 into the coffers.

Now the exciting bit! I sent off the press release to my hometown newspaper, and on Friday morning I asked Dad if there was anything in the paper and he says "Yes, you"!!! And there it was, page 5 of the Galloway Gazzette "Gillian on a mission", famous at last. Here's hoping I get some feed back!!! Just need to get the local Lanark papers to print something too.

Anyway, while I was sitting doing nothing much with my sore leg, I got my sponsored dog walk all organized. It's Saturday 26th June, sponsor forms are all made up, poster is made up, just need to get it copied and posted, and an advert in the paper, think I'll take the press release with me an kill two birds with one stone.

Tomorrow's mission - to sell some more tickets for the world cup sweepstake!!

Change of mode of transport

Sorry it has been a wee while since I last blogged. Last week I had the pleasure of escorting 4 German ladies on a trail ride over the Scottish Borders from Biggar to Selkirk. Over the 4 days we covered just over 50 miles, and the weather was absolutely fantastic. The sun was splitting the sky, hardly a cloud in sight and the air was so clear you could see for miles!!! The horses were brilliant, all well behaved and nobody fell off (always a bonus)!!!

Needless to say, I was a bit too tired to do any cycling, did manage a Zumba class on the Monday and Thursday, although on the Thursday it was a case of the mind is willing but the body wasn't!!!

Sunday was car boot sale day. Again it was a beautiful day, and wearing my Women V Cancer t-shirt and displaying some posters I managed to make £135. Really pleased with that. I have also set a date for a sponsored dog walk. This will take place on Saturday 26th June from 3pm at Lanark Race Course. Anyone available to take part can do so by emailing me for a sponsor form at gillian-womenvcancer@hotmail.com. The more the merrier, anyone attending is asked to dress brightly, preferably in fancy dress. The event is being sponsored by the Stables Bistro, who are providing each walker with a bottle of water and a treat for both the dog and the walker. Many thanks to the Stables Bistro, a fully licensed Italian restaurant offering a wide selection of pasta, pizza and traditional dishes. If you would like to make a reservation, you can phone them on 01555 661 161.

Midnight Walk

I have a friend who raises money for the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow. The Midnight Walk was arranged for Saturday night and I only just got my entry in on time. Received my info on Friday and sat down and read it on Saturday lunchtime. Now this didn't leave much time for finding sponsors, so I went round the riding yard where I work and within an hour had managed to get £82 in sponsors. I know that maybe isn't very much in the grand scheme of things, but I thought for an hours work it wasn't too bad an effort. Managed to do the walk in an hour, but by the time we got back to Lanark from Glasgow we were all knackered. Needless to say had a very quiet night on Sunday.

So, fundraising for Women V Cancer is now going to get an injection of my time and effort. This Sunday I'm going to the local car boot sale at Lanark Auction Market. Good job too, could do with offloading all the stuff in the back of my van, especially as I am on holiday next week and there is no room for the dogs or my bike!!!!

Next on my list is arranging a sponsored dog walk. Lots of my friends have dogs and lots of people walk their dogs round the old race course so should be able to raise some interest.

Training is going good, been going to Zumba a lot, if you haven't tried it you really should. Great music, and a great, fun way to get fit. Seems to be helping with the cycling too. Went out on my bike this morning (after ditching the saddle bags, think they have been holding me back), put on my gps, but didn't look at it till I got back, and much to my joy I had cycled 17 miles in and hour and a half, really pleased with myself. Just need to aim towards doubling that distance and doing it 3 times a week!!!!!!!

The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice Midnight Walk - Sponsored by Slumdog Bar ... - The Active Network

The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice Midnight Walk - Sponsored by Slumdog Bar ... - The Active Network

Well, as part of my training I have been doing a bit of walking too. So, just as an incentive, I've signed up to do the Glasgow's Midnight Walk 2010. It takes place this Saturday, and anyone wanting to donate to this event or my Cycle Kenya event can do so here, just press the DONATE button. ps make sure you say which charity you want your money to go too. Thanks.

Inspiration

Where I work we do bed and breakfast as well as everything else we do. This week we had 9 people staying over on Tuesday night, 5 of them were cycling from Lands End to John O'Groats, the others were their back up crew. To get to us they had left Aberfeldy in the morning and arrived at us about half 4 in the afternoon and when they left, they were heading for Penrith, approx 100 miles in a day!!! Now if that is not enough to inspire me, then I don't know what is. And we have another group in on Sunday night doing the same trip. It's quite handy too, as I can pick their brains as to what I should be eating, drinking and what's best for snacking on a bike.

Also decided I need a new bike. The one I have is very good, but I don't seem to be able to get the speed I should be getting. I have bid for one on ebay and will find out tomorrow if I win the bid. It's a hybrid bike for on and off road so will see if something like that is better than the one I already have. If I do win it, and it's good, I'll sell my other one and donate the money to my funds.

My boss and I are now Zumba disciples!!! Last week and this we have been 4 nights, the music is great, the instructor is mad so it all makes for a great night and a fun way to exercise. Talking of exercise, I'm off out on my bike now, then ZUMBA TONIGHT!!!!!

Back to full fitness

Well, I have managed to do a full week of training this week. Found a nice, reasonably quiet road, that has got lots of options for doing longer distances, and lots of hills to build up my stamina. Over 3 days I managed a total of 28 miles this week, with rest days in-between. This seems to be the the best way of training according to the growing mountain of fitness magazines I seem to be collecting, train one day then have a rest day to let your muscles rest and repair. Seems to be working ok. Really tired though, think its just adjusting to my new regime.

Got another problem though, now I'm doing all this cycling, I'm still loosing weight, and I don't want to loose anymore or I'll start looking like a skeleton. So thought I'd try a protein shake to see if it would help with building muscle and keeping weight on, will let you know if it works, but not too keen on the taste of them, tried strawberry this week, but think I'll try chocolate next, so as I get my chocolate fix at the same time.

Received another letter from Action for Charity this week, in it was a list of all the names of the other ladies taking part in Cycle Kenya. Amazingly I am one of, I think, only 4 women in Scotland doing this challenge. Two of them are actually quite close by, one in Hamilton and the other from High Blantyre. The third is from Inverness. Will need to contact them and try to arrange training days and maybe a joint fund raising event. There has been such a huge response about this challenge another date has been added in November, so if you or anyone you know are interested in doing this challenge, just follow the link to their website for more info.

Next week I hope to increase my runs by about 2 miles, and continue on like that until I am cycling about 25 - 30 a run.

Need to find out when the next car boot sale is too, got lots of goodies in my van to sell an make lots of money - hopefully!! Need to email and post copies of sponsor forms to all my friends too, so they can get sponsors on my behalf.

Well it's been a long week, so will sign off now and update you all again soon.

Confirmation and Trip Info pack arrive this week.

Well it has been nearly a week since I injured my Achilles tendon, so going to go for a power walk today to see how it hold out. Been really frustrated not being able to go out for a run or a cycle, but I want to get it better first time round, rather than having the injury re-occur.

I know I have 17 months to get fit for this, and raise the money, but I want to be fit for it well in advance so that I am not worried about doing 110km in a day, then start panicking nearer the time.

I was so excited on Tuesday. Two great things happened, firstly I got a letter form the hospital to say that my biopsy results were clear, just abnormal cells not cancer. Phew!! That was such a relief, I don't mind admitting that I was quite worried about it.

The second great thing that happened was my confirmation that I am one of the 80 women registered to participate in the Women V Cancer, Cycle Kenya Challenge arrived.

Had a quick read through it, but going to read it more thoroughly later today and devise my action plan. Details of which I'll post on my EVENTS page later.

Must say a huge thank you to Hazel Mathews, who has donated 3 large boxes/cases of new and nearly new child's clothing for me to sell at car boot sales. (Note to self - must find out when the next one is!!)

First Injury

Hello again everyone, just a quick update.

Well I am now committed to doing this mad 400km cycle ride in Kenya, sent my registration off on Wednesday, so hope to get all the paper work through quite soon so I can start some serious fundrasing. Can't believe how excited I am about this venture!!

The photo is of me after a 10 mile cycle on Thursday, you can also see Holly (the black and white springer and part of Honey, the brown and white one. Spot, my other dog wasn't being very co-operative and was running around like a lunatic somewhere). Unfortunately, I have suffered my first training injury. Went for a run round Lanark racecourse of Friday morning, and my GPS had just turned the 3 mile mark when I felt an excruciating pain up the back of my right leg!!! Thankfully I wasn't far from home, so managed to limp back and put some ibuprofen gel on it and a tubigrip. Turns out I pulled my Achilles tendon, but thankfully it is a lot better today, so will give it a couple of days rest before I try anything more than walking and swimming. Just need to remember I have a year and a half to get fit for this mission, so I shouldn't try to do too much too soon.

Got my business cards through today, got them free (had to pay for postage) from Vistaprints, and basically they are to hand out to everyone I know and meet to advertise this blogspot so they can come and donate loads of money!!! Here's hoping anyway.

Back from holiday

Hi everyone, hope you all had a good Easter Weekend. I was on holiday last week, went home to see my Dad, and spent the weekend partying with friends and relations, it was my Uncle's 70th birthday party, it was a great night.

But don't worry, I was very good, apart from Tuesday(the weather was terrible), I was out every day, either walking the dogs, cycling or running. Thank you very much Halfords in Lanark for servicing my bike, all it needed was a sprocket thingy-ma-gig for changing the back gears, so it's going a lot better now.

Raided the house when I was home, it's amazing how much crap you hold onto over the years, but it couldn't have been that bad, because I piled it all into my van and took it to a car boot sale, and was amazed to come home with over £70 pounds, and didn't even sell half of what I took, so roll on the next car boot sale!! Also bumped into a couple of people I haven't seen for a while and they gave me sponsors totaling £20, so thank you very much to them.

And a BIG, BIG THANK YOU to my Dad for £100 towards my registration costs, xxx.

So I'm on the road to Kenya now, registration will be emailed tomorrow, need to do it asap coz there are only 29 places left and I am so going to be one of the 80 women doing this cycle ride.

Speak to you all soon.

Why am I doing this?

For those of you who do not know me, I work at a riding holiday center in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. During the week I left a leaflet about Women V Cancer lying in our canteen, and the following morning I found it turned upside-down with a carrot lying on top of it and someone had written "give to horses" on it.

Well I wondered about this for a few seconds - Why hadn't they just given the carrot to the horses themselves? Then it dawned on me - Ah! Why wasn't I giving to a horse charity! That's what they meant!

And that is a very good question - and there are two answers to this.

First, most of the horse charity events involve riding horses in often hot countries, over long distances. From my cover photo you can see I enjoy riding horses over long distances. The only thing is, although I'm sure the BHS vet the horses on these events very well and they are well looked after, it is these very horses that the money should be going too. So why make them work for it!

The second reason is a bit more personal. I went for a smear test just after Christmas, and it came back as abnormal! Don't like smear tests at the best of times, who dose! But never had one come back abnormal. So as a result I had to go to the local hospital for further investigations and had a biopsy taken and some treatment. Still waiting for the results of the biopsy!!!!

So that is why I am doing this for cancer and not horses. I am scared about what the results might be! If I see a horse suffering, I, personally, can do something about it to relieve its suffering. If, God forbid, the results of my biopsy come back not good, there is nothing I can do about it. I will have to rely on doctors and nurses and radiologists and whoever else to help me. It is out of my hands and I feel helpless. That is why this is for cancer, so at least I am doing some little thing to help myself and the many other women in the world who find themselves in the same position that I am in right at this minute.

p.s. Thank you Halfords, Lanark, for servicing my bicycle free of charge, so I can get on with some cycle training

I am so excited, just got an email from one of my friends to say they are going to donate £100 to get me started.

This is just the kind of encouragement I need, so come on everyone!!!!

START PLEDGING!!!!

I'm off out now for a run, then I'll cycle to the pool for a wee swim, every little helps.

The Start

Well, I have been looking for a mission, a goal, something to aim for, something to set my sight on, something that will also keep me fit and keep the weight I have lost, lost!

And yesterday I found it.

I got a random email from Active Fit, can't remember the link at the moment but will find it and post it later, offering the trip of a lifetime, well at least it is for me.
"It" is a 400km bike ride through Kenya in October/November 2011 called "Women V Cancer" and it is to raise money to help beat breast, cervical and ovarian cancers.

All I need to do is raise £250 registration fee to enter and then raise £2800 minimum sponsorship, oh, and get fit enough to do it.

So last night I got on my laptop and emailed all my friends, then I went onto face-book and told all my friends on there what I was planning, so tonight, I'm here, trying to create a blog about how I'm going to make my mission come true.

The thing is you see, I'm going to need a lot of help, both in raising the money (which is why there are ad's on this blog) and the getting fit.

I'm not starting right from scratch, on the fitness side anyway. I have been doing a lot of walking, swimming, going to the sauna and steam-room, and a bit of cycling as well, but that is going to have to increase dramatically as I'll be doing about 50 miles a day on the mission.

So this is going to be my diary. I'll try my best to post something every day, but with all the training and fund-raising I'll be doing, please forgive me if I miss a day or two.

Speak to you soon

Gx