When I started training at the beginning of September, December 4 seemed an awfully long way away. It is now five days away - this Sunday (gulp!)
I shall be glad when it is all over - and so shall my hip!
I'm very proud of the fact that I forced myself to go out tonight, despite the driving wind, and managed the distance before the rain came in. It wasn't a fabulous time, but my hip, whilst aching a bit, held out.
The spur at the moment is the fantastic people who have sponsored me - thank you all - I have raised more than double the amount I was expecting to and the donations will do so much to help so many.
At the time of writing, one in three of us will contract cancer at some point in our lives. Two million people are living with cancer, whilst in the last year there will have been 300,000 new cancer diagnoses in the UK alone.
The statistics are scary. So far, I'm thankful that my life hasn't been blighted by this dreadful disease - but I know others have not been so lucky.
Macmillan, as a charity, requires no introduction - they have been supporting cancer patients and their families in their homes for many years, but did you know that 99 per cent of their services are funded entirely through the generosity of supporters?
To give an insight into how some of the sponsorship will be spent, let me quote some sobering Macmillan statistics:
£10 could pay for 20 copies of The Cancer Guide, a Macmillan booklet that can help someone recently diagnosed and their families to understand the disease, its treatment and the help available.
£24 could pay for a Macmillan physiotherapist for an hour
£68 cold run a typical small Macmillan Information and Support Centre for an hour
£100 could enable the Macmillan Benefits Helpline help people affects by cancer to claim the benefits to which they are entitled.
£156 could run Cancerline for an hour, which provided an average of 13 cancer patients each hour with essential information and support. In peak hours the team receive 76 calls per hour.
£350 could pay for a much needed convaslcent break for someone with cancer and their carer
£918 could fund a Macmillan nurse for a working week.
£1,393 will pay for a volunteer to be trained to help support the Macmillan Cancerline.
£2,026 could fund a Macmillan rehabilitation support team for a week, providing a range of support, including physiotherapy and advice on diet, to people living with cancer.
Even the smallestl donation can help make a massive difference. Let's see how many people we can help through my wheezing endeavours on Sunday. Please consider sponsoring me at http://www.justgiving.com/Lynne-McNeil1 and let's make a difference to the lives of real people.
Thank you for reading - and to those who have already sponsored me, a million 'thank yous!' - it is thanks to such generosity that Macmillan is able to continue to support so many.
Until Sunday
Lynne x
No comments:
Post a Comment