Day 136 has seen 2 miles walked, 320 metres swum, a doctor visited, Organ tunes performed, tea cooked, children cuddled and a Queen’s Birthday.
As I sat and ate breakfast this morning, having collected another bag of litter from around the village, I listened to Radio 4 and was flabbergasted by the vast amounts of money that Adele has declared as earnings. Many, many Millions of Pounds. I will never be able to earn that amount of money but I am not jealous of Adele’s success. Far from it. I applaud it as just reward for the wonderful talent she has and the hard work she puts into her career. I would love to have a talent like that and have the capacity to earn such sums but the reality for me is that I have been declared unemployable by the MoD as a result of the disease and it’s impacts on me. Not because I can’t work but because of the harsh reality of not having a job when diagnosed with the disease meant that I had no job to go back to when stable enough. I have no trade to turn my hand to and although there are plenty of unskilled jobs on the market they all seem to require a driving licence, which of course I lost to the disease. My skillset is one of management, training and operations but these are extremely competitive posts and when sat next to a healthy candidate in interview the reality is that the business or charity, which still has to operate on profitable lines, will not take the candidate that is going to cost them money in a couple of years time. No. They will take the healthy candidate. So I was trapped, but instead of moping about my situation I had an inkling of an idea, prayed for a little guidance, and the rest is history. So here I am on the challenge and jolly thankful for it. But, I haven’t raised huge sums on the challenge so far despite my efforts. It is increasing slowly. But very slowly and as the news continued to report how these huge sums were amassed I have to confess that I did start to feel a little deflated.
But then the news moved onto the biggest story of the day. Today was HM The Queen’s 90th Birthday. Wow. Happy Birthday Your Majesty. I could of course have become further deflated by the ripe old age that the Queen had reached and in such wonderfully good health when I was unlikely to get anywhere near that far. In fact even to get to just 50 right now would be a significant milestone and one that medical facts suggest that I might not reach. But instead of becoming further deflated I became hugely inspired by Her Majesty and her dedication to service. On her coronation back in 1953 HM The Queen made a wonderful promise to the people of the Commonwealth to serve them for as long as ever she can and continues to do so 63 years later and seeming to gain so much strength from the fulfilment of her duty. She has made people the very life blood of her reign and it is the people that feed her so with their love and thanks for her dedicated service.
As I fought through that treacherous 2 years of treatment starting with ear surgery and the total loss of balance commensurate with the loss of the inner ear, followed by brain surgery, followed by the mind numbing 30 treatments of Radiotherapy, followed by the will sapping 12 Monthly Cycles of Chemotherapy I prayed often to God pleading for deliverance from this deathly disease and asking for guidance for the future, and I got it in the idea of the challenge. I started to follow in the footsteps of the light of the world, in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, using his example of selfless service as the one I wished to follow and before I knew what I was doing, I was promising God, that for every day he saw fit to give me I would use it in the selfless delivery of the challenge in order to try and improve the lives and life chances of so many more people. So by following his guidance I was living life to Beat the Beast in order to be healed while raising money for those 5 wonderful charities I support, and I promised that I would do it for as long as ever I can. As taught from the very earliest years I can remember, never make a promise that you cannot keep and once a promise is made, do all that you can to keep it. So I have made the promise and I fully intend to do it for as long as ever I can. Frankly, my life depends on it! But not only that. I have found this journey so far to be truly eye opening and truly inspirational for me and I am quite sure that while the journey and it’s telling has provided much hope, inspiration and encouragement for many wonderfully courageous people it has also given me a focus. Given me a purpose in life. Rewarded me with the chance of longevity but has also rewarded me with the wonderful feelings resultant from knowing that one has done good, and on top of all that has provided huge amounts of fun and extremely stimulating experiences. So if I ever feel deflated by such good news like that I have heard of this morning, I should instead be thankful for their success, wish them continued success, health and happiness and take their example as a source of inspiration for my continued journey on the challenge while remembering the enormous sense of worth and reward one gets from selfless service.
Heather wasn’t at school this morning as she was feeling a little under the weather so I popped over to see her and check that she was okay. She was recovering nicely but on describing her symptoms it was felt that a doctors appointment would be sensible. Appointment made for this afternoon I went home, grabbed my stuff and caught the bus for Callander. I was going for a swim. 16 lengths this time. Another increase in distance swum and clearly an increase I hoped to make without seizure. I was buoyed by the news this morning but also by the glorious sunshine and the sight of the last remnants of snow hanging on to the mountain tops. I forgot entirely about the slight nervousness I feel when going swimming but felt good. I Felt ready. The team at the McLaren Leisure Centre were, as always, friendly and helpful and the lifeguard shadowed my every stroke. I was the only one in the pool having just said goodbye to Ross as he finished his swim so in I got and went for it. It was wonderful and went without the slightest hint of a seizure. 16 lengths completed. 320 metres swum. I was very happy. So clearly it was then time for a celebration. What to do and where to do it in Callander was for me clearly a Mocha and a Flapjack in the Deli Ecosse. It was lunchtime so I even added an egg mayonnaise sandwich with salad and all was, as always, delightful while also having the chance to catch up with Julie and retrieve my umbrella left behind a couple of weeks ago. I am quite sure that Julie’s Mum, Lin, even smiled at me today. What a result and I hope next time that I might even get a hug!!!
Back home and I made two recordings of Organ tunes I had learned to play to try and attach to the end of two audio visual readings of posts I had done. Heather arrived as planned for me to take her to the Doctor and caught me fist pumping the air in celebration at being able to successfully download the video recordings from the camera and onto the computer into the same programme the audio visual recordings are on so that I can tack the organ tunes on to the end of the readings. It doesn’t sound like much but it had taken me several hours to work out so this was a significant victory! I think that Heather was secretly quite surprised that I managed to work it out as she hovered behind me offering help but also actually quite impressed that I did work it out, so a quick hug and then we were off to the doctor. The surgery had been great and squeezed Heather in right at the end of the day so we arrived, sat and waited and not for very long. We were in and after a thorough examination of the heart and blood pressures etc and a battery of questions we were reassured that all was normal for a young girl getting older. Good news, then back home for another quick hug before another quick mile of litter picking before starting to cook tea while Heather tried to write a new tune. I was cooking with a smile on my face. I could see James playing with his friends in the park and I could hear Heather working her way slowly through her composition and as she did so the most wonderful sounds and workings of a great tune started to emanate. Two happy children, beautiful music and sunshine equals one happy dad! We sat and ate my leek, courgette, basil, tomato and cream sauce on pasta with Parmesan. It tasted great and was healthy. The children even asked if I could give the recipe to Mum! So we sat and caught up with how things were going at school. The changes they were thinking of making to their extracurricular activity and the good news on subject choices while also then testing James on the components of an animal cell in preparation for his science test coming up. It was great being able to chat to them both but before I knew it James was giving me a quick hug before rushing off to Scouts and Heather helping me dry up before grabbing my rucksack I have loaned to her for her Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award expedition this weekend. I did get a quick cuddle before she ran though and we even managed a quick giggle as she laughed about my tearful reading at Uncle Euan’s wedding. She had my top lip quiver off to perfection. So a great day that has seen 2 miles walked, 320 metres swum, a doctor visited, Organ tunes performed, tea cooked, children cuddled, a Queen’s Birthday and inspiration and encouragement.
So the challenge in numbers:
Days completed: 136
Total Miles Cycled: 659
Total Miles Walked: 686
Total Miles Run: 48.5
Total Miles Paddled: 7
Total Distance Cycled, Skied, Ran and Rowed in the gym: 28.3
Total Distance Swum: 2,740 metres
Total Miles covered under own steam.1,431.5
Total Height Gained under own steam: 35,681 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: 398
Pull Ups: 82
Sit Ups: 483
People Met and Hands Shaken: 394
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: 772
Days until Driving Licence (lost to epilepsy) possibly Returned: 661
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