Get The Message

How're we all doing...okay, I hope? Before any more flannel from me, a massive thank-you for the donations so far. It is early-days and I am well aware that I have yet to turn a pedal in anger (well, you know what I mean!), so it's a leap of faith from you in sponsoring and donating.

Thank you!

You may be in the loop as to what the three great charities do: for those who aren't, here's a recap...and no, it ain't all corporate regurgitated guff either, hah-hah! So in no particular order...

One sugar please.

Bloodwise used to be known as Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research until a few years ago but their mission remains the same. They've been working to beat blood cancer since 1960; put simply, to stop people dying from blood cancer; to make patients’ lives better; and to look for ways to stop blood cancer before it starts. Needless to say, all this continuous work costs money. That's where we, alright, you step in!

There are more than a few different types, unfortunately.

I know that there are quite a few cancer charities and I'm sure that like me, you get tired and blasé to all the appeals for money, almost wondering if you're wasting your time and hard-earned cash.

Where your money goes...

A sponsor sent me this email and I include it here only to show that the time, effort and money that goes to research and caring for those affected by the many strains of cancer *does* make a positive difference...I know it's so easy to get fed-up and have 'compassion fatigue'. I get it too!

"Yes, I will happily sponsor you. It’s nice to see Blood Cancer on the map too as this sometimes get overlooked. FYI my brother had Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, luckily he was able to have my stem cells and platelets, which later on cured his cancer. The treatments now are expanding and improving. So this is another reason to donate!". Bang on!

I saw this heartening message on Twitter as well- that's a rarity in itself, hah-hah!

Another testimonial. He is a funny bloke, hah-hah!

I think often we don't hear about the success stories that have only come about because of our donations: it's easy to lose track of the real and lasting good that is being done.

The inevitable link to donate and help Bloodwise is here, thank you!

So that leads us on to Good Cause #2...the Motor Neurone Disease Association. Although we fundraised for them last year, I didn't know anyone directly whose life had been touched by it. That changed in January of this year when a mate posted on Facebook that he had been diagnosed with MND. 

We surprised Dave in May...mainly by buying a round!

Dave has used that platform to keep all his many friends in the picture of how his life has been turned upside-down, via an online journal. I have his 'okay' to post some of it here:

"One of the other things I had to deal with in January was Universal Credit. Where to begin with the nightmare that this was, it is quite difficult to even start explaining. I had an appointment between my first and second appointments at the hospital. I was asked what work I was looking for. I have a job, I said, I’m signed off sick at the moment, I’m having tests at the neurology department at the hospital. No, you have to be actively looking for work I was told, what can you do.

"I told them to put down whatever they wanted on the computer and away I was sent to actively look for work for 40 hours a week and provide proof of this or I’d get nothing from them. I then got the diagnosis of a terminal illness but still had to return to the DHSS and let them know what job searching I’d done. Nothing I told them, I’m signed off from my job and now have a terminal illness, I’m not looking for any work as I have zero energy to work. It took all my energy to get up to the first floor of the DHSS, they wouldn’t let me use the lift as it would have been an issue if an emergency had happened and I would have needed to use the stairs to exit the building.

Dave now has a new set of wheels.

"It took a good few weeks for them to accept that I was too ill to work, it took too long and a lot of stress that I did not need. As it was finally accepted that I was not fit to work I now could apply for PIP, this was pretty straightforward for me, I needed to score eight points (I think) to get it, I scored about twenty eight. The ball was now rolling and I had an Occupational Therapist helping out and also had my first meeting at the MND clinic.

"I’ll post more about the team at the MND clinic and how they have helped in the future, I’ll also post about the battle to get issued with a blue badge. That’s all for today, sorry for the meandering story, did I mention I wasn’t a great author!"

This gives you an idea of the research aims of the M.N.D.A.

How Dave has retained his humour is almost beyond me: the rigmarole that he has been subjected to in trying to get a Blue Badge for car-parking was almost like something from 'Catch-22'! This is the very time when you do not need, want or deserve any aggro.

So, what is MND? It is a progressive neurological illness which stop signals from the brain reaching the muscles, causing them to weaken and eventually stop working. There is yet no known cause for MND, and unfortunately no cure or effective treatments. There is a will to find therapies which will slow the progression of this devastating disease, and also a determination to find a cure. This research takes money, of course.

To donate to the M.N.D.A. please click on this, thank you!

That brings us to the third good cause, which is Blesma (British Limbless Ex-Service Men’s Association). It is an Armed Forces charity dedicated to assisting serving and ex-Service men and women who have suffered life-changing limb-loss or the use of a limb, an eye or sight. Unbeknown to me, Blesma was founded in the aftermath of the First World War when the dreadful injuries to so many soldiers became apparent, and they found that the land that they returned to was not quite fit for heroes.

Blesma grew in influence and size in order to better represent the ex-service people during the Second World War and conflicts beyond. In the early 1960s it was recognised just how great a role that sport can play in the recovery or rehabilitation of the wounded: this is something that Blesma are very active in encouraging, both in individual and small team efforts right up to participation at The Paralympics and Invictus Games. There are spin-off benefits from sporting participation or physical challenges too, not least in terms of morale, confidence and purpose.

Harry Wales is a supporter too.

Afghanistan veteran Craig Wood is a triple-amputee- he's probably worth listening to:
"I joined Blesma as soon as I was injured in 2009 – they were by my bedside from the very beginning. They’ve helped me out with practical things, like adaptations to my house, and they’ve been there with emotional support, too. I’m planning on sailing around the coast of Britain soon, and they have helped me buy the sails for my boat. Blesma has given me the strength to move forwards with my life, and I’m incredibly grateful to them for that."

In terms of practical help, Blesma regularly contribute to the provision of wheelchairs, stair lifts, and home and garden adaptations so that Members can remain as mobile and independent as possible. Blesma also offers advice and support to Members who may have been fitted for a prosthesis or awaiting fitting.  They can also provide expertise in navigating the benefits system and help with pension, compensation and tribunal advice. Basically, sticking-up for those who gave almost everything for their country.

A Generation R workshop in action.

There's another initiative that marks Blesma out: 'Making Generation R'. The 'R' stands for 'Resilience', which is something that Blesma folk know a lot about.
This is an annual course that continues to inspire and motivate by training Blesma Members in story-telling and public speaking, enabling them to take their stories of overcoming adversity into schools and community groups to help others deal with every day issues and challenges.

Blesma Members – of whom each has an incredible story waiting to be told, put themselves forward for the training before embarking on an intensive 5-day training course to help them to craft their personal stories of disaster and triumph in an engaging way before they go out and share them in the community with the purpose of inspiring resilience against adversity in young people.

With minimal input from the teachers, these workshops are effective in helping students develop strategies to deal with everyday issues by improving their self-esteem, confidence and by reducing anxiety and inspire those listening.

Now is that genius, or what?

 If you would like to help Blesma continue its great work, please click on this, thank you!

Here endeth the lecture! Hopefully the above will give you a better idea of the whys, wherefores and 'do you have any spare change please' of the whole shebang! Now onto my side of things...oh dear!

Training continues- it's never too late you clown!

The only upside to training is getting to enjoy views like the one below: I reckon you can put this scenery up against pretty much anywhere else...certainly helps to distract you from the shoeing that the climbs are doling-out, hah-hah!

Somewhere near Dunsop Bridge.

To be honest, my form isn't anywhere near to the level it should be at but that's pretty standard for me in the run-up to these ventures. Aw diddums! There's still ten days to go...so don't panic! Some kind soul captured this footage of my training habit recently. Nun finer, I think you'll agree. I don't always have the basket attached though- that would look a bit daft...

Of course, it's not always 'picture postcard perfect', ahem...

Blackpool. Bracing. Baltic, more like!

Okay, I've taken up far too much of your precious time so on to the title music for this post...I saw Johnny Marr play in Manch recently, and this (re-worked) number was given an airing. Excellent!

Message received and understood, J.M.!

One of the few numbers recorded in the last 40 years that I can stick. Praise indeed!