On Sunday 29th may 2011, I took part in the Belfast Race for Life. It all started at Christmas when I realised a friend I’d made was in the final stages of his illness, I knew by his blog that time wasn’t on his side. He had leukaemia. I was with my two friends Heidi McKillen and Carrie Reeve. We were having Christmas Dinner and I asked them did they fancy keeping me company doing the Race for Life. They readily agreed. We’d all been effected, or knew someone who’d been effected, by cancer. It was a no-brainer, of course we’d take part. One condition, to go at the pace that suited all of us 🙂
In January my friend Andy died and everything stopped. My other close friend who had introduced me to him had no words, just tears when we heard the news. They gave him a massive sendoff, with a mini tribute (as minis and mini road runs had brought them all together). I was all the more determined and proud to take part. I’d set my fundraising goal at £30. I’m not good at asking people for ££ even if it’s a good cause. I set the target at what I felt I could afford to give and anything more a bonus. I randomly showed my fundraiser page on Facebook and Twitter. I didn’t go round any doors. I didn’t beg or coerce. Just let people know what I was doing and why and let them decide what they wanted to do.
Then my world shook again. My very close friend and her partner discovered that his little boy had leukaemia. Research shows with early detection and early treatment, success rates increase. A GP on the ball, Great Ormond street the hospital of choice, a little boy thrown into a routine that he faced with superstar qualities, his family having to reel with the future not quite as they’d envisioned.
All of a sudden raising money for cancer research never felt more real or more important.
I’m crying as I write this as I’m thankful that I was able to take part, thankful for the overwhelming support from “strangers” (my lovely friends) on twitter who have never physically met me, yet sponsored me. Thankful to friends on Facebook who saw what I was doing and generously gave. To my neighbourhood friends and swimpals who support me without my asking, to my family who always are there for me :D. With all the support at present my total stands at £449 and there’s more to come in and be lodged. Overwhelmed is the word I’ve used most. Overwhelmed and very proud to have inspired people to donate to cancer research.
Every 2 mins someone is diagnosed…… that shocking fact was shown at the race in an inspiring film prior to the start of the race. With cancer research, more and more patients are getting the right treatment and beating it too 😀
The day itself started at 7am. Not the usual Sunday a.m. routine for me and my two amigos. The form was buzzing from the start as I collected first Heidi then Carrie. They laughed at my “driving Miss Daisy” style of driving (I’m so not a boy-racer) as we made our way to stormont, we giggled at the rain, jumped up and down trying to keep warm. We stared as a sea of pink ladies started to gather, we got quiet and reflective as we read other people’s plaques and explained ours. Mine read “I Race for Life for Andy (in memory) and Alfie (a cure) <3”.
Then the sun came out 😀 After an amusing warm-up where we realised that none of the three of us are in any way co-ordinated, it was decided we would stay with the walkers. This turned out to be our biggest mistake, but we’ve taken note for next year (yes we’ve all decided to do it again). We had no idea how the course worked, no idea that overtaking is not that do-able, that despite the race starting at 11am with the amount of people setting off it would be 11:10 before we even got to the start-line!! nevertheless we shuffled along, giggling with all the other ladies and as chances permitted we jogged passed groups, then walked some more then jogged a little. All the while the monitors shouted encouragement and we encouraged each other. The atmosphere was astonishing, all the way around, it’s indescribable. And despite getting stuck amongst the walkers it was awesome to be there as it’s always about the taking part, the listening to stories, the sharing of experiences. Next year we’ll get behind the runners and in with the joggers, next year my target will be set higher as I realise how generous ALL my friends and family are, next year I envisage my daughters joining me and more of my girlfriends, but for this year, I was proud to walk for Andy and Alfie, I was proud to take part in the Race for Life.
Soapgirl
