I like many others lost a friend Andrew Samuel, to Pancreatic Cancer earlier this year, he was just 38, more importantly his wife Rebecca lost her husband, and even more important, their little 3 year old Harvey lost his father. Harvey will grow up with just the memories of his short time together with his Dad. Over the coming years a whole host of Andrews family, friends and myself will no doubt share many treasured memories with Harvey of the fabulous times we all shared with Andrew. No 3 year old should ever lose their father like this, and I don’t need any other reason other than that to do what I want to do.

So I’m going to do a bit of personal challenge, it’s been something I’ve had in my head for the last 18 months or so, even before Andrew became ill.

I’ve realised for ages that I need to get off my arse and actually do something positive with my life. I’ve been mulling over various ideas, I wanted to set up a number of personal challenges over a 100 day period just to prove to myself and no-one else that if I wanted to do something then I could. Ideas have ranged from learning to play various instruments I’ve accumulated over the years, to writing a song, recording a song, running x amount of miles, going tee total etc. I wanted to do something that could be measureable but realistic, but a challenge that would be exactly that, a challenge!

So I’ve come up with an idea and I’ve called it ‘Ton For Tanky’.

With Pancreatic Cancer UK needing monies to research potential treatments and cures, then I thought I can do a few positives in one go. I’m officially classed as obese, so I’m going to attempt to lose 50lbs in weight over 100 days. It’s something that will draw on every ounce of will power I have, but the rewards of hopefully raising loads of money for this important cause will outweigh what I’ll do – excuse the pun!! I’ll do the embarrassing weigh ins/measurements, before I started pictures etc, I’ll keep everyone up to date with weekly updates as to how I’m doing, or not doing, I could end up getting nowhere near my goal and look like an utter idiot, but I’m doing this to raise money for a great cause and in the memory of good mate, I’m determined that I will not fail. If I do, then I will personally donate £10 for every lb I fail by to the challenge, that’s potentially £500. It’s there in black and white; call it a contract with myself. I’ll make sure that the initial weigh in and the final weigh in are independently checked by someone else just to make sure that I stick to my contract.

There’s a few things that I need to put in place before my challenge starts, I need to have a natter with my doctor, I need to join a gym, I need to restock my cupboards and fridge with healthy foods and I need to get myself a new gym kit! So my challenge will start with my first weigh in on Monday 23 July 2012, I’ll keep everyone posted with the highs and the lows of the challenge with a weekly weigh in and blog entries every Monday, with the final weigh in taking place on Tuesday 30 October 2012.

I’ve always done favours for others, and I very rarely say no to anyone, I’m now for once in my life asking for YOU to do something for me. Harvey had just 3 precious years with his dad Andrew; let’s make a difference so that in the future other children like Harvey don’t lose out on growing up without their Dad. All I want from you is a few minutes of your time by sharing and reposting this wherever and whenever you can and a donation no matter how big or small. If 200 people I know just gave up drinking 2 pints of beer this week and donate that money then that's the £1000 target hit easily. Together we can do our little bit towards finding a cure for Pancreatic Cancer and hopefully avoid others like Harvey from losing a precious loved one so young.

100 days and counting.

Thank you.

J.
xx.

 

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