Day 133 has seen 4 miles walked, a choral masterpiece, and a hill of 300 feet climbed
Today started as usual at 0600hrs but this time it was straight into breakfast then out and onto the 0724 hrs No.59 bus. I went to Edinburgh to provide some moral support for an important meeting that my friend Allie had at 0915 followed by some encouragement for her singing in the choir at the New College Easter Service as the least that I could do for a person I met on the train in early Autumn last year and who has since then provided such excellent support and encouragement for me, especially during the darker times, over the last 6 months.
But sadly, as I ascended the escalator to the top of the Waverley Steps on Princess Street, into view came the forlorn sight of the young Lance Corporal of Engineers that had so concerned me previously but encouraged me when I no longer saw him on the street. My heart sank at the sight. As I rose up out of the station on the escalator this young man clocked me and his initial look of surprise broadened in to a smile. I knelt next to him and asked him, exasperated, what he was doing back here. I was greeted with the usual tale of ‘well, I had this, then I lost this and now I am waiting for this.’ He assured me that he was being sorted and didn’t need my help so I deposited my 10p and implored him to fight to find himself again. He promised me that he would. I prayed that he will as I departed to catch the bus to meet Allie outside the meeting. As I walked the short distance to the bus stop I passed another 2 homeless people on the street. At each I stopped, asked if they were being helped out of their situation, to which they both assured me that they were and I deposited a further 10p in to each cup.
Needing a walk I jumped off the bus a little early to walk up to the RV with Allie. It was great to see her again and smiling because the meeting went well. Even better my early start was rewarded with the invitation to the New College Easter Service in which the New College Choir was performing and Allie singing. They had a final rehearsal first so we caught another bus then set off for the walk up to New College. As we walked we passed another 3 homeless people sat on the street. At each I stopped, asked if they were being helped out in any way, received a confirmation that they were and deposited a 10p piece before resting my hand on their shoulder and wishing them good luck on their journey. At each meeting I despaired but hoped they felt slightly encouraged that I had bothered to stop and say hello on this bitterly cold late morning with the wind biting through any layers they were lucky enough to have. Each was shivering cold but I hope I warmed their sole even if just a little.
It was a lovely service in New College focused very much on the resurrection of life with some great readings, some great hymns and sung by the choir the lovely pieces of the Psalm 100 arranged by Benjamin Britten and the Lord Bless you and keep you with music by John Rutter. The choral pieces were beautifully sung and very powerful to listen to. I was thoroughly enjoying my time at the service. But it was the last verse of the final hymn, Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son, that so invigorated me. I give you the final verse below with some of the words changed to reflect how I saw it speak to me as we sang it:
‘No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of Life:
life is naught without thee: aid me in my strife;
make me more than useful, through thy deathless love:
helping many more people ‘til taken to thy home above.
Thine be the glory, risen conquering son,
Endless is my service as thou o’er death hast won.’
After the service we went for lunch passing the same homeless people still there and still shivering clutching their paper cup. One had his woollen cap blown over and away by the wind but he caught it and the copper coins scattered across the pavement before I could react. Lunch of Fish Cakes with a salad followed before a quick Mocha and a mad decision on this cold and blustery day. We set off to climb Calton Hill in the centre of Edinburgh. Not the biggest hill you have ever seen but I so badly needed some Physical Exercise and Allie, who came up with the crazy idea, was up for it so I had a walking partner to get me there without getting run over across some of the busier streets in Edinburgh. My ability to judge whether or not it was safe to cross a street in the face of a junction of three or more roads was improving, but not 100% yet. Even in the village with one road only to cross I have twice been lucky not to have been hit thanks to alert and patient drivers and have once recently in the city tried to cross on a green man but one meant for the road going the other way. Cities are busy places and can, when I am running slowly cognitively be very confusing no matter how hard you concentrate.
On the way we stopped for 2 more homeless people but now we were safely at the bottom of the hill and set off up the steps. Then the next set of steps and then up the hill to the top. The wind was very blustery at the top so I removed my cap and lived with the light moisture, carried on the wind, on my glasses. We enjoyed the view over the city and the sight of the Pentland Hills, some of my favourite hills, behind the city. We took in the Nelson column with it’s unique timeball mechanism by which ships used to set their chronometers and the Scottish National Monument to the Soldiers Lost in the Napoleonic Wars as well of course the trig point marking the highest point of the hill. Not dressed for such weather after a church service we quickly chilled and turned to head back down and as we did so the blue bonnet flew off of the head of a gentleman with a stick who proceeded to start chasing it down the hill and tring to stab it with his stick. He was bow legged and clumsy in his determination which made the whole visual event highly comical and I struggled to be heard over the noise of the wind and my own giggles as I ran after him and down the hill to try and prevent an injury to this chap on the hill by catching his bonnet for him. I got it and still giggling returned it to him. The Chinese gentleman was hugely grateful but spoke little English so expressed his thanks in broken English and shallow nods of his head. Reunited with Allie we stood at the top and enjoyed the view once again but buffeted by the wind to the point at which it became impossible to stand still in one spot we turned and headed back down. On the way back to Waverley Station we saw two more homeless people and as I again stopped to talk to them and heard the same old stories of what was meant to be happening with them to help them my thoughts were turned to the story, that we all know, about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done to help the homeless and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have.
This story isn’t strictly true as there are many excellent organisations out there doing what they can to help the homeless off the street and into life, such as Start Up Stirling. But this story is, I think, very symptomatic of our attitude towards the homeless problem and the way in which we tend to ignore them as somebody else’s responsibility. My 10p gifts are only but a drop in the ocean for what they need but the minute spent stopped in the blustery and damp conditions chatting to each of them will of helped, I hope, to remind them that they are important, do matter, and that we care. If enough of us do that I hope it will help them find themselves again. An important first step in helping the homeless charities to help the homeless.
So 80p lighter than I was when I started today I wondered what else I could do and was reminded on the train of a wonderful message sent to me since my last post on the problem of the homeless on the 30th March.
‘Hi Archie, Another great post! Your idea of putting 10p in the collection bowl of homeless people is an excellent one, but I wanted to give you something to consider. Homeless people are hungry. If time and your pocket allows, you might want to consider buying hot take-away soup from Gregg’s, or even a cheeseburger and coffee from McD’s to go. The look of gratitude on the face of the person you give it to makes you fully understand how meaningful this simple act is. (But keep on with the 10p coins too!) And keep up with your mix of healthy living, faith and service . . . you’re doing so well and you inspire so many! – Kathy’
Kathy thank you, a great idea when in a position to do so, and so good to know that I am not the only one thinking and doing what we can for our homeless.
Have a lovely evening but before you do:
The challenge so far in numbers in total since the start:
Days completed: 133
Total Miles Cycled: 635
Total Miles Walked: 671.7
Total Miles Run: 44.2
Total Miles Paddled: 7
Total Distance Cycled, Skied, Ran and Rowed in the gym: 28.3
Total Distance Swum: 2,420 metres
Total Miles covered under own steam.1,389.5
Total Height Gained under own steam: 34,979 feet
Mountains Climbed: 5
Hills Climbed: 19
Days of Voluntary Activity: 8.5
Organ tunes learnt and performed: 5
Salmon Caught: 0!
Bats Found:0!
Curling Matches played in: 8
Curling stones placed on the button (the centre of the target): 3
Weight Training Sessions: 10
Weight shifted: 10kgs lifted over 102metres or 2040kgs moved over ½ a metre,
Aerobic Circuit Sessions: 7
Press Ups: 380
Pull Ups: 79
Sit Ups: 465
People Met and Hands Shaken: 383
Pots of tea shared: 29
Prayers joined on the top of a hill: 2
Prayers joined in the street!: 4
Prayers joined in a Train Station: 1
Prayers joined in a Café: 1
Pills popped: 692
Days until Driving Licence (lost to epilepsy) possibly Returned: 663
And most important of all – Money Raised as at Day 126 – £6,710.77
Considering I started this challenge 6 months ago very quietly with no target beyond a fiver, thanks to the brilliant advice from a friend of mine, I am absolutely thrilled and again thank you all. That is £53.26 for each and every day that I have managed to find the will and energy to do something worthwhile and my goodness it has been worth it for my peace of mind, for my healing and for the five wonderful charities you are supporting through your generosity. Long may it continue. May I also ask however that if you are not sponsoring me to please consider it for as much or as little as you can afford. My rate of revenue raising has slowed from £70.00 a day to £60.00 a day to £53.26 a day so please sponsor me and encourage your friends to as well.
Thank you all for your incredible comments and support. Please continue to spread the word.
If you see me around do please give a cheery hello and shake my hand or toot your horn and give a cheery wave to show your support and encourage me on.
Thank you for joining me on my own personal journey and encouraging me to walk, cycle, climb, paddle, sport and do good deeds each day to ‘Beat the Beast’ while helping to improve the lives and life chances of so many more people through sponsorship. The Five Charities that I have selected to support are:
- Cancer Research UK – My Father Succumbed to Lung Cancer; a couple of friends are currently fighting cancer and I am fighting a brain tumour. Let’s Help to Beat Cancer Sooner.
- The Prince’s Trust – Inspiring and preparing disadvantaged Young Lives for success.
- British Red Cross – helping those in need around the UK and the world whoever and wherever they are.
- World Wide Fund for Nature – For a Living Planet and a Future Where People and Nature Thrive.
- Help for Heroes – Support for our Wounded and their Families. To learn more about my story that brought me to this point, how I plan to ‘Beat the Beast’, what activities I plan to do within the challenge and why, please see my welcome video on this page.
How to Sponsor Me
The Beat the Beast Challenge is self funding through my own contribution while keeping costs to a minimum with voluntary support and corporate sponsorship in kind. Therefore the entirety of every penny donated will go directly to the 5 charities listed above.
Please sponsor me by completing a standing order form either through your own personal internet banking or by completing a hard copy standing order form in your branch of your bank and then handing it in to the teller.
It is entirely up to you how much you would like to and are able to sponsor me for so do please give as much or as little as you can. Every penny will be very gratefully received.
While I hope you will encourage me to keep going by sponsoring me for every day I survive and am able to find the cognitive and physical capability to complete a day’s task designed to improve my chances of ‘Beating the Beast’ or improving the lives of others, 5 days a week, four weeks a month, for as long as ever I can. Any One off Cash contributions will be most gratefully received and distributed in exactly the same manner to the five charities as the sponsorship. Any one off donations can be made by BACS or cheque.
Thank you for having enough faith in me to sponsor me.
Yours aye
Archie