Grouse Grind #2 (sort of)

For the second week in a row, I am at the top of Grouse Mountain. It’s one of the little mountains that lies to the north of Vancouver and it’s regularly swarmed by fitness fanatics who practically jog straight a 3km steep incline to get to the top (3000 feet). Luckily there is a cable car that takes you back down (or brings you up if you are not inclined to sweat).

Anyway, last week was my first attempt and it was hard work, clearly I have some work to do to get in shape for China.

This week, I tried a slightly different path called the BCMC trail which takes a bit longer and has a few more zigzags.  It’s meant to be ‘easier’. I wish I could say it was but I was still a sweaty mess when I got to the top. Clearly I have more training to do as I understand this wall in China has some steps in it.

With all this hiking (or in my case sweaty ambling) there is time to think. Today I was thinking about a dear friend of our family, a wonderful lady called Helen. She passed away yesterday, bathed in sunshine, at peace, and surrounded by all her family. She was staying in a hospice called Dorothy House after a long and courageous bout with cancer.

I haven’t seen Helen in a long time but my parents are dear friends with her and her husband Gordon and I would often get the full update from my mum about what they were all up to. Helen had had cancer for a long time and was a source of inspiration in the way that she dealt with it.  Not just to me, but to my family too.

I read somewhere once that you’re not supposed to frame cancer as an enemy. You’re supposed to avoid using terms like ‘fight’ and ‘beat’ and ‘winning and losing’. I remember there being a sound reason for that, but I can’t remember what it is and hard as I try, I can’t think of any other way of phrasing it. People do fight cancer.  Sometimes they win and sometimes they don’t.

I have been moved and inspired by the stories of how Helen has held herself through something that most of us would find an unbearable ordeal.  Just like with Francesca, who started me on this path, and just like with Peter (my father-in-law) who continues to inspire me today with his  courage and determination.

So, I’m just going to keep putting one foot slowly in front of the other and climb these (many) steps and try to do something useful for someone who may one day need some help with their battle.

Thank you again to all of you who have donated to the cause.  I’m getting close to my fundraising goal which is such an inspiring thing.  Aside from everything else, I HAVE to do this as you’ve all given SO MUCH MONEY to make sure I do!

c

 

Grouse Grind #1

Okay China, I am getting ready. I just walked straight uphill for over an hour to get to the top of Grouse Mountain.

It’s a well-known hike here called the Grouse Grind. It’s a bit of a rite of passage and I’m glad that’s over with!

It’s not easy but it is good training for the many ups and downs in China so I think I will be back before I head off in six weeks.

It’s getting closer…

I’m totally fine with turning 40 next week.  Yup, totally cool with it.  It’s great.  No mid-life crisis here.

Anyway, as the clock is ticking (on my mortality…), it seems like a good time to put up another blog post about my upcoming Great Wall of China trip. I’m doing a final fundraising push for the Marie Curie Cancer Care Charity and so if you are reading this because of an email I’ve sent you, thanks for stopping by.  I don’t have long to get considerably closer to my goal and so sorry very much for asking, but if you are in a position to donate anything at all to this challenge, I would be eternally grateful.

It is very true that any amount that is donated to this cause is a tremendous help. Not just for me and my trek, but also for people who benefit from the excellent care that the Marie Curie Hospices provide during an incredibly difficult time.

Anyway,  do come back here in October when I’m trekking the wall and see pictures of me struggling.  Fun!

To donate, please click on the JUSTGIVING Sponsor Me button over on the top right.

Thank you!

Christian

You are so generous…

Wow, I wasn’t expecting this!

Thank you so much to the first 16 who have been so generous with their contributions so far. I’m already at 22% of my target!

This is such a great start and has given me a real boost. It’s a bit daunting at the start when there’s that big scary target to raise but having made a dent in it so soon is spurring me on.

Next task, start training. I take it there are going to be some steps going upwards on this ‘great wall’. Yikes, did I really think this through? Time to start on the quads of steel. Any suggestions?

Thanks again to the early donors, your generosity is having multiple positive impacts.

c

The fundraising begins

As Bennie would say, five, fo, tree, do, won  – BLASTOFFFFFF!

Yes, with a slightly nervous tummy, I’ve just emailed a great whack of people to ask for help with my fundraising.  Well let’s be honest, to ask for donations.

Some of you I see regularly, but some of the people I emailed I haven’t seen in a long time.  Thanks for checking this all out and I hope it’s not too rude of me to make contact to ask for your support.

As you can see, this is legit.  I am actually doing this.  In the same year that my family and I are packing up and moving house and country.  I’m bonkers.  Still, you only turn 40 once.

I’ll be posting things here as preparations continue and I’ll be blogging from the wall.  Which I’m sure is what those millions of Chinese peasants were hoping I’d do when they built the thing all those years ago…

🙂

c