10km Run & 100km Bike Ride

This year 2 challenges, but you only have to donate once !

The Driving Force

As many of you know, in May 2009 my Father, Brian Spencer, died from a very rare and aggressive cancer named Angiosarcoma, for which there is no cure and very little by way of life-prolonging treatment.  Sarcomas are a large group of rare cancers and account for about 1% of all cancers diagnosed (Angiosarcoma being one of the rarer sub-types).

The relative rarity of this cancer means that research and treatment options for patients are significantly underfunded.

 The Sarcoma Trust UK (charity reg no. 1119848) has been set up to support sarcoma patients, their carers and their families, to fund and foster research into these rare cancers and to raise awareness of sarcoma.

 To mark the second anniversary of my Father’s death, I feel that I need to play a part in raising money for and creating an awareness of the Sarcoma Trust UK. I also feel that I need to try and get something positive for myself (emotionally) out of losing my Father-and considering the pain he went through, the least I can do is put myself through these 2 challenges.

"Double Dare" 

The Run:

This year I will be taking on a "Double Dare" !!! Now, I'm not much of a runner and was never chosen at school to be in anyone's team in athletics ! However I'm going to be participating in the Loughborough 10km run (organised by Cancer Research) on Sunday 26th June 2011. So far I have crippled my knees, I get stitch in places I never realised you could get stitch, and I seem to get pain in my shoulder blades ! What's that all about ??? I plod around Market Harborough (in my too tight running bottoms with my stomach wobbling over the top) dreading the last 1km - as we live on a hill, the only way is up to get back home. And I've planned to tell folks that may laugh at my beetroot face as I pass them by, that I'm training for a marathon and I've just done 24miles ! 

The Bike Ride :

And if running 10km isn't out of my comfort zone enough, I'm cycling the 100km Suffolk Coast bike ride (organised by Marie Curie Cancer Care) on Sunday 7th August 2011 ! I'm doing this with my sister and the date is quite poignant as it's the day before Dad's birthday, so we're hoping he'll be with us and send some sunshine for that one. However, not thinking that I would be doing any serious cycling again after last year's efforts, my bike is still in it's bag in the garage ! Crikey ! Better dust it down and get started ! I'm hoping the Suffolk scenery will take our minds off the distance and the pain in our backsides, although I'm sure our minds will be on what would have been Dad's 72nd birthday.

 He's the Inspiration

Dad's memory is getting me through the training, especially when it's been a long day at work and I then have to go and run for an hour. He always believed in me and helped make challenges easier to face, and I miss that encouragement so much. I think by looking at the photos I've attached, you can understand where I get my yen for travel from ! Dad headed out to Australia at the age of 22 years old - almost unheard of back then, and returned overland. As children, my sister, brother and myself regularly found ourselves listening to one of Dad's many tales of his adventures abroad. The selection of photos he left us of his 'Australian Adventure' are a fundamental part of his memory and of the person he was, that's why I have taken the time to add them to my page. Hope you enjoy them.

I would love to think that this training and suffering could go some way to raising money for The Sarcoma Trust UK, and help finance research into this cancer type-hopefully one day preventing someone else's father and family going through what we have.

Thank you for listening and please please donate.

 

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