Hi there

Thanks for popping by to read my story.

Finalist in the Creative Fundraiser of the Year category of the 2022 JustGiving Awards. Click here to find out why: https://youtu.be/KY3VRTedQXo

I'VE NOW COMPLETED ALL MY CHALLENGES, BUT YOU CAN STILL DONATE.

(NB. Amount raised includes £600 donated in memory of my Mum, who passed away in February 2022.)

I turned 50 in July 2021. In honour of achieving my half century, I decided to make this a year to remember, and raise some much-needed funds for a cause that's very close to my heart along the way.

Friends and followers have been encouraged to set me a challenge* in return for a donation to Alzheimer's Research UK.

My family have travelled a difficult path with dementia; my Dad died at the end of 2017 with Parkinson's and dementia, and my Mum has since died in February 2022 with Alzheimer's and Vascular Dementia. 

This devastating illness robs people of their dignity, their relationships, and their soul, and there is currently no cure.

• Dementia is now the number one cause of death in the UK
• One in three people born today will develop dementia in their lifetime
• For every four cancer researchers, there is only one dementia researcher in the UK and worldwide
• The annual cost of dementia to the UK economy is circa £26bn, which is greater than the cost of cancer and heart disease put together

Research is absolutely critical to improving the situation for future generations. Hence, I've chosen Alzheimer's Research UK to be my charity partner for this initiative.

Challenges completed:

1. Drive a barge up the Thames and broadcast a radio show live from the boat
2. Record and release an album of original music
3. Complete a 24 hour fast
4. Give up smoking
5. Walk away from an unhealthy working relationship
6. Finish my 2020/21 accounts bookkeeping by the end of August 21
7. Learn to paddleboard
8. 10 reps of 50 exercises in the park set by a personal trainer
9. Skydive from 15,000 feet
10. 50 sit ups per day for 7 days
11. Bake something for the Richmond Good Neighbours Silver Sunday afternoon tea
12. Learn the dance routine from the video to Treat People With Kindness by Harry Styles
13. Go a month without shaving my legs
14. Wash up every single item before I go to bed for 7 days
15. Stuff 15 marshmallows in my mouth and say chubby bunny after each one
16. Attend a Surrey Singletons event
17. Give up booze for a month
18. Horse riding
19. Walk the bed of the River Thames during the lock draw off
20. Meditate for ten mins every day for a week
21. Wear your Christmas pyjamas to work day
22. Perform a full solo function gig
23. Ask someone out for a coffee or a drink
24. Sign up to a dance class - salsa or the like
25. Walk a mile a day in Feb - 28 miles
26. Dementia Virtual Reality walk through at the Alzheimer's Show
    
27. 24 hour silence
28. Climb 'Up at the O2'
29. Paint a portrait using only 3 colours plus white
    
30. Do stand up comedy 
31. Complete a challenge (or 3) live on TV
32. Try a laughter yoga session
33. Learn to sign (BSL) a song and perform it
34. Wild swimming or a New Year's Day dip
35. Make the BOSH! boys' mezze cake 
36. Learn to play a song on an instrument I've not played
37. Apply to go on PopMaster on BBC Radio 2
38. Learn to play Wild Thing by The Troggs on the guitar 
39. Commit 20 random acts of kindness
40. Cycle 50km in a week 
41. Fly a glider and do three loop the loops!
42. Spend a night in a haunted house!
43. Learn to play bass on a song and perform with a band
44. Sew a wearable garment
45. Be a dance DJ for a half hour set
46. Do Couch to 5K and run a 5k race
    
47. Learn to ride a Unicycle
48. Cut someone's hair after having drunk a bottle of Prosecco
49. Complete the Circle Line Pub Crawl dressed up in orange
50. Play drums for one song with a band at a gig 

ALL DONE!