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