A New Year brings new dreams, new hopes, new love (?) and maybe even New Zealand once again...you just never know in this life?
But the New Year does mean a fresh start and hope forever springs eternal as far as I'm concerned.
Welcome to the first of my regular, and slightly re-vamped 'Ramblin' Man!' blogs.
"Above all do not lose your desire to walk: every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness; I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it."
As previously stated I now intend to concentrate a large amount of my efforts towards raising funds for Cancer Research UK, and I aim to do this specifically by organising a charity event in April.
Cancer Research UK is a cause close to my heart due to the recent news that my ex-girlfriend has just been diagnosed with terminal throat cancer. Although we are no longer together, I still wanted to offer her and her family my love and support wherever possible, as our split was amicable and we remain good friends.
She was quite adamant however, that she didn't want me to put my life on hold, and that I should move on as I deserve to find true happiness with someone else. Unbelievably gracious though she is, I still felt totally helpless regarding her situation.
Therefore, I decided the least that I could do was put something back, which is why I'm concentrating all my efforts towards this worthy cause, and organising this charity event.
The campaign that I am organising involves walking the entire length of The South Downs Way along with three workmates ~ a total distance of 100 miles.
This event is now less than four months away, and the confirmed schedule is as follows:
April 23 (Mon) - Winchester to Buriton (24 miles)
April 24 (Tues) - Buriton to Amberley (22 miles)
April 25 (Weds) - Amberley to Pyecombe (20 miles)
April 26 (Thurs) - Pyecombe to Rodmell (14 miles)
April 27 (Fri) - Rodmell to Eastbourne (20 miles).
This route and the locations chosen are determined by the availability of appropriate overnight accomodation, which is why a couple of days are slightly longer than the daily average, and day four is considerably shorter (apparently Rodmell is a lovely pretty liitle village and must be experienced).
As previously stated, a lot of the guide books describe 'The South Downs Way' walk by travelling in the opposite direction, but I've decided to travel west to east for two major reasons:
Firstly, were we to encounter any severe weather conditions it is more likely to come from the west, meaning that any winds or rain should be at our backs.
And secondly, I like the idea of ending up by the coast in Eastbourne, where we intend to relax and celebrate the achievement of completing our quest over the weekend!
For further information about The South Downs Way, please click on the following link:
Joining me on my trek are Alan Curphey, Ross Chapman, and Jon Oakley.
We all have seperate 'Just Giving' Fund Raising pages set up, and our employer, Mercer has very kindly offered to match any donations upto a value of £300 for all four of us.
So if all four of us can achieve this we will generate a minimum of £2,400 which can't be bad, although I remain optimistic that we may raise even more!
My individual sponsor page can be found via the following link:
Alternatively, you can click on the link at the foot of any of my blogs, where it shows:
Steve Muskett is fundraising for Cancer Research UK
Over the coming weeks and months, I shall be publishing further blogs with updates on our progress, as well as sending out e-mails to all of my work colleagues.
I'm also hoping that the local area fundraising manager for Cancer Research UK will be able to organise some promotional T-shirts, to further help raise awareness of my campaign.
I'm also hoping that the local area fundraising manager for Cancer Research UK will be able to organise some promotional T-shirts, to further help raise awareness of my campaign.
And finally...
If you scroll down to the bottom of the blog you will see pictures of two of my inspirations ~ these images will remain attached to my blog as personal reminders.
Firstly, the cyclist is of course Lance Armstrong ~ the legendary seven time winner of the Tour De France, but more importantly, an unbelievable survivor of cancer.
Although all my current efforts are concentrated towards Cancer Research UK, I also remain a supporter of the Lance Armstrong Foundation and LIVESTRONG, as his campaign attempts to raise awareness worldwide of the various conditions, circumstances and treatments for cancer.
The second picture is my favourite and funny photograph of my great friend Angela Paul, affectionately also known as TWL (tiny wee lady). Ange lives in Christchurch, New Zealand and she remains an inspiration to me, as she reminds me of where my spiritual home is, and also because she provides hope and optimism over the rebuilding of this great city, previously devestated by that awful earthquake as well as all the continual aftershocks which are still occurring upto the present day.
I also remain a supporter of the 'Rise-Up Christchurch' campaign, and I genuinely wish all the wonderful residents well, as they strive to rebuild their great city.
Please feel free to send me any questions, suggestions, or points of view, either by commenting on these blogs, or by posting comments on my facebook page, or by e-mailing me at: stevemuskett@yahoo.com
Many thanks in advance for all of your support & here's wishing everyone a great 2012.
Ramblin' Steve
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