Marathon!!!!

Over the last year I have sat alongside people suffering with cancer. One particular family I met spoke about how their dad had a bucket list and on it was wanting to see Andre Rieu in concert but unfortunately he had died before fulfilling his dream.

After that visit it got me thinking about my own hopes and dreams, the fragility of life and decided to create my own bucket list. Part of my bucket list involved completing a marathon and so Shine came to be....

The marathon took place on Saturday night and the atmosphere was electric as we gathered in Southwark park with a real party atmpsphere and soon enough we were on our way. We had done a fair amount of training but nothing could have prepared us for the challenge we faced. It was a hard slog with many people suffering with dizziness and feeling faint ( it was unusually hot for that time of year and night), blisters galore and general fatuige. The only thing keeping us going was the thoughts and memories of the people we were walking for; the many survivors, fighters and unfortunate souls who have lost their fight to cancer. We finally crossed the finish line on Sunday morning feeling exhausted yet relieved.

Once home social media went crazy with accusations that the walk; rather than being 26.2 miles had become around the 30 mile mark due to a last minute re route needed after “wealthy local residents complained”.  The fact that people could not see the importance of such an event makes me sad but even more proud of those of us who completed the marathon…and then some.

Yet again today I visited another family in mourning over the passing of a man who died of cancer and no would never fulfil his long lived dream of visiting the Queen mother ship which was commissioned the day he was born. I hope and pray I don't have any regrets when my time comes and will encourage others to Carpe diem.

 

Thank you so much to all those who sponsored me for my marathon I am  very grateful and the running total so far has hit £700...

So what's next on the bucket list.... either climbing a mountain or visiting Bali....(mountain maybe a cheaper option!)

shine!

And so it is nearly upon us.... After months of prep ( or realistically weeks!) fundraising, new gear to wear and lots and lots of panicking tomorrow sees many of us decend upon London for the Shine marathon in aid of Cancer Research!

I'm actually sat here feeling slightly excited yet totally terrified, I'm hardly the fittest person so what posesed me to do such a thing.... Walking 26.6 miles plus starting awake all night!

Well the truth is I've witnessed a horrible few years of seeing truly wonderful people of all ages battle the horrendous disease that is Cancer! As I've sat alongside people in homes and hospital eventually it can seem like cancer is out of control and while I can pray with earnest for healing and cures I wanted to do something more. So after several discussions a group  of us decided to go for it. No amount of tiredness, pain or blisters is anything compared to the heroic ism of those I've seen battle these past years some still doing so, some through the other side and some unfortunately not .

Tomorrow I will a Shine for my Aunty Chris, for Cindy Phelps for Stella Clifford and for Karen Collison angels shining brightly in the sky. I will also be fighting for Jackie Baldwin, Jen O Brien, Lindsey Purcell, Elwyn Nicholl , Ceinwin and James Cross fighting right now and for Stuart Charlesworth (Charlie) and Colin Thomas (Tom) survivors :)

Pioneering gets me into some interesting places and this is the most challenging yet honouring!

Fragility

I suddenly realised a few minutes ago I've not shared anything for a few weeks...life has been chaotic without a day of for a few weeks, lots of pastoral issues, training for the Shine marathon and getting used to school routines!

The last few weeks have really enhanced my understanding of how precious life is and who supports us during those fragile times. Part of the reason for me doing this mad Shine marathon challenge is because I feel helpless, so many people are being torn apart by cancer and life changing events I just had to do something.
Being a priest is such a privilege, being asked to walk alongside people in joy and in sorrow is an immense honour! spending time with people is what I love best, yet when the Chips are down it's also a very lonely job, you can be seen as a central figure and so everything is channelled at you. During these difficult times it's been amazing where my support has come from, people who will send a text just because, people who will sit and listen and people I haven't seen for 20+ years but are at the end of social media willing to let me rant!
No matter who we are we all need confidants, we all need people to talk to and we all need a hug now and again ( real and virtual!)
These past weeks have been tough but we pick ourselves up, carry on and am grateful to all who walk this crazy journey of life with me.

Roller coaster of emotions

Well what a week!
My week of emotions started on Sunday when we had to drive to Brize Norton to say goodbye to my parents for 10 weeks while they are seconded to the Falklands....no matter how hard I prepared myself or Daniel the reality hit hard that the 2 people we rely on for care, support and hugs were not going t be around and I lost it a bit.,,I'm usually pretty hard but the tiredness from getting up at 5 for the car boot kicked in nd that was that. I know my folks will have an amazing experience/adventure despite the cold and unusual circumstances (read more about their adventures on the Rochester diocesan website "falklandsandbeyond")

Having recovered from that trauma and just about organised our lives today came upon us where we had the delight of taking Daniel to school for the first time. Over the summer we have tried to prepare him without trying to make too much of an issue out of it all. This morning he was very worried, he didn't want to go but he put on his new uniform and off we set. Living a fair few miles away from our allocated school we have to drive part way but found a place to park and walk the rest. Once we arrived Daniel saw some tears mainly from grown ups and started to sob...I said my goodbyes and handed him to Marc ( chicken that I am!) once we handed him over we were directed by the friends of Wainscott (PTA) to the hall for refreshments if we wanted, where we were greeted with a little information sheet, a pack of celebration chocolates and some tissues with a little poem on them, a place to compose ourselves and meet other parents. This was like a real oasis , a place to gain composure, to chat with others in the same situation and to then face the world.

after a mad day I got to return the journey and collect a very cheery boy who had been painting (evidence on his top) playing and even managed to eat some lunch !

Tomorrow is another day..there may be tears but we know we can survive and Dan will live to tell the tale x