Jenna Mercer
Jenna's MAMMOTH Bicycle Challenge
Fundraising for Beating Bowel Cancer
Story
Thanks for visiting my fundraising page.
Here I am, finally! Challenging myself physically and emotionally to my limit. For the entire duration that I was in Newcastle, I kept promising that I was going to do the Great North Run to raise money for Bowel Cancer, but also as a way to increase awareness. But each year, I found a reason not to do it. Let's face it, even for most fitness enthusiasts, the prospect of pounding out 13miles isn't the most exciting thought. If it was on a hockey pitch fair enough, but running on a road for "fun", oh no thank you. I realised this is not for me.
Since being in Manchester I have met a lot of people who have done all manner of crazy challenges, pushing themseleves to achieve their own personal goal whilst raising money for a valuable cause. Just as I was debating whether to stop my negative mindset to running and sign up for the Great North Run, I came across a poster in the hospital for Beating Bowel Cancer. So I ventured on to their website and saw something much more up my street. Cycling from LONDON to PARIS. 300 miles in 4 days. Right then and their, I put my my money where my mouth is and said, I am doing that. I told my dad, brother, even announced it on facebook. There was no turning back. So I registered.
Now I am in some serious training. On the first day I have to cycle 95 miles. Let me just paint the picture for you. At the moment it takes me 3.5 hours to cycle 50 miles, at which point when I stop at 50 my legs are shaking, I am tired and the prospect of getting back on the bike to go any further makes me feel a little sick. This is a huge physical challenge, even for someone who loves the gym. Being out on the road, especially in the sun, is a totally different kettle of fish. The only thing that keeps me motivated (despite my awesome play list on the ipod) is my mum. This is all in memory of her and in my bid to try and help the cause of bowel cancer.
Beating Bowel Cancer is dedicated to raising awareness of bowel cancer, the UKs second biggest cancer killer, and they are leading the way to improve the outcomes for patients with this disease. Despite bowel cancer being such a huge killer, the prognosis is greatly improved if the cancer is caught early. Amongst other initiatives, Beating Bowel Cancer has an active campaign to reduce the rate of misdiagnosis's from GPs in a bid to increase survival rate for patients.
This matter is one close to my heart. My mum was 50 when she was diagnosed with Bowel Cancer, but it took 6 months of her being ill to finally convince the doctors that she needed more detailed assessments. If her cancer had have been caught earlier, her chances of survival would have been greatly increased. Mum died within 2 years of her original diagnosis. A primary reason for this was a further misdiagnosis after a year of treatment, when the doctors mistook a secondary tumor for scar tissue. Beating Bowel Cancer actively campaigns to increase both public and medical awareness of the symptoms of bowel cancer, whilst increasing the number of bowel cancer screening centres across the UK.
For more information on Beating Bowel Cancer and their policies please see,
www.beatingbowelcancer.org and www.beatingbowelcancer.org/pdfs/Bowel Cancer 2012 Challenge Final.pdf
So let's talk money. I have pledged to raise a minimum of £1,200 for Beating Bowel Cancer, but I would love it if I could raise more than that. Losing mum was and is the most difficult thing in my life that I continually have to cope with. You never stop grieving. You never stop wanting to see that person, just speak with them on the phone, or tell them your good news.
It is my hope that through the excellent work at Beating Bowel Cancer and similar orgainisations that we can improve the prognosis of bowel cancer for patients, and increase awareness in the general public. It is my hope that one day this cancer takes far less lives than it currently does.
So please, dig deep and sponsor what you can. It is my pledge to match half of my total sponsorship. So if through donations I raise £1200, I will pledge £600. That is how important this cause is to me.
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Beating Bowel Cancer gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.
So please sponsor me now!
Much Love and Thanks
Jenna
Here I am, finally! Challenging myself physically and emotionally to my limit. For the entire duration that I was in Newcastle, I kept promising that I was going to do the Great North Run to raise money for Bowel Cancer, but also as a way to increase awareness. But each year, I found a reason not to do it. Let's face it, even for most fitness enthusiasts, the prospect of pounding out 13miles isn't the most exciting thought. If it was on a hockey pitch fair enough, but running on a road for "fun", oh no thank you. I realised this is not for me.
Since being in Manchester I have met a lot of people who have done all manner of crazy challenges, pushing themseleves to achieve their own personal goal whilst raising money for a valuable cause. Just as I was debating whether to stop my negative mindset to running and sign up for the Great North Run, I came across a poster in the hospital for Beating Bowel Cancer. So I ventured on to their website and saw something much more up my street. Cycling from LONDON to PARIS. 300 miles in 4 days. Right then and their, I put my my money where my mouth is and said, I am doing that. I told my dad, brother, even announced it on facebook. There was no turning back. So I registered.
Now I am in some serious training. On the first day I have to cycle 95 miles. Let me just paint the picture for you. At the moment it takes me 3.5 hours to cycle 50 miles, at which point when I stop at 50 my legs are shaking, I am tired and the prospect of getting back on the bike to go any further makes me feel a little sick. This is a huge physical challenge, even for someone who loves the gym. Being out on the road, especially in the sun, is a totally different kettle of fish. The only thing that keeps me motivated (despite my awesome play list on the ipod) is my mum. This is all in memory of her and in my bid to try and help the cause of bowel cancer.
Beating Bowel Cancer is dedicated to raising awareness of bowel cancer, the UKs second biggest cancer killer, and they are leading the way to improve the outcomes for patients with this disease. Despite bowel cancer being such a huge killer, the prognosis is greatly improved if the cancer is caught early. Amongst other initiatives, Beating Bowel Cancer has an active campaign to reduce the rate of misdiagnosis's from GPs in a bid to increase survival rate for patients.
This matter is one close to my heart. My mum was 50 when she was diagnosed with Bowel Cancer, but it took 6 months of her being ill to finally convince the doctors that she needed more detailed assessments. If her cancer had have been caught earlier, her chances of survival would have been greatly increased. Mum died within 2 years of her original diagnosis. A primary reason for this was a further misdiagnosis after a year of treatment, when the doctors mistook a secondary tumor for scar tissue. Beating Bowel Cancer actively campaigns to increase both public and medical awareness of the symptoms of bowel cancer, whilst increasing the number of bowel cancer screening centres across the UK.
For more information on Beating Bowel Cancer and their policies please see,
www.beatingbowelcancer.org and www.beatingbowelcancer.org/pdfs/Bowel Cancer 2012 Challenge Final.pdf
So let's talk money. I have pledged to raise a minimum of £1,200 for Beating Bowel Cancer, but I would love it if I could raise more than that. Losing mum was and is the most difficult thing in my life that I continually have to cope with. You never stop grieving. You never stop wanting to see that person, just speak with them on the phone, or tell them your good news.
It is my hope that through the excellent work at Beating Bowel Cancer and similar orgainisations that we can improve the prognosis of bowel cancer for patients, and increase awareness in the general public. It is my hope that one day this cancer takes far less lives than it currently does.
So please, dig deep and sponsor what you can. It is my pledge to match half of my total sponsorship. So if through donations I raise £1200, I will pledge £600. That is how important this cause is to me.
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Beating Bowel Cancer gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.
So please sponsor me now!
Much Love and Thanks
Jenna