On: 26/07/2010 In: News
Race for Life
It seemed like it was all over in a blink of an eye - now that I look back on yesterday, although it didn't seem like a blink of an eye at the time!
Yesterday I walked 5km with my mother-in-law to raise money for Cancer Research UK.
How did it go?
The race went very well.As promised I did it carrying 2 stones in weight, mainly in my ruck sack. Even my husband couldn't lift it into the car!
That's me with my mother-in-law to the left, before we started. And yes, you can tell I'm an organiser as we were number 2 and 3 - which means I was the 2nd and 3rd person to register (ahead of 2,000 other people taking part).
What was probably harder was doing it with my mother-in-law (!) She loves to chat and was even talking to a dog at one point as we trekked up a hill!
Apparently it's the first time they've done it at Broughton Castle near Banbury, and I must say it was a fabulous setting. Had I not been surrounded by about 2,000 ladies all dressed in pink and walking at a good pace, I would have stopped to take some photos along the way.
Having never done a Race for Life before (I did trek part of the Great Wall of China for the National Deaf Children's Society back in 2002 which was 7 days of 20 mile daily walks), I was touched by the atmosphere and all the messages people had pinned to the back of their t-shirts saying who they were racing for life for.
Grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, parents, children - it really is true that very few people have not been touched in some way by cancer. I have to admit that a tear did come to my eye at times just with the emotional atmosphere.
For me it wasn't about how much money I raised. As I mentioned to my top tip subscribers, when I was a charity fundraiser in the 1990's I always focused on the fact that 'a lot of littles make a lot.' £1 can make a difference, especially if 100 people give £1.
It wasn't about doing the walk either as I enjoy my walking. In fact it has probably helped me get back to my regular walking which has slipped a bit in the last few months as work has been busy.It wasn't about feeling the effects, or feeling pain after the walk. Unlike others who did it I didn't need the medical tent and I didn't feel it in my legs - a reminder of how much fitter I am now I've lost 3 stones in weight.
For me it was acknowledging the challenge we have overcoming cancer. We all have daily challenges of many kinds. Anything can be a challenge for us and we shouldn't feel that any particular challenge is any greater or lesser in value than others. If something is affecting our lives in a negative way then we should do something to lessen or eliminate that negative affect.
Cancer affects us negatively, and by supporting the Race for Life we can lessen the negative affect and get closer to eliminating it.
To feel you are not alone can make a huge difference, and I heard people along the route who were taking part sharing stories of relatives who had died of cancer, relatives who are fighting it now, and even one lady who said that her friend who has cancer felt guilty about waking up that morning and realising it wasn't one of her good days so felt she couldn't take part - and was worried that people might not donate if she didn't do the walk.I've reached my £100 target. I'm touched by everyone's support, especially those people who don't know me and haven't met me. For me that's a testament to just how much support is out there if you're not afraid to ask for it.
Thank you to everyone who sponsored me. If you'd still like to sponsor me you can do so up until the end of August at:
www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/clarebaker7
Every bit helps, whatever we do DOES make a difference. You can even have fun doing it!
Thank you all again for your support.
Clare
