Week 39 has been a week punctuated by increasing frustration manifested by this new sort of seizure, which comes and gets a grip of me, and won’t let go. Eating slowly away at my cognitive and motor function for hours at a time. Washing in and out like the tides of the sea and as constant as the tides of the sea. Unrelenting, unforgiving and just drowning me in wave after wave of discomfort. Not pain. No trauma. Just the grinding uncertainty of what happens next coupled with the temporary physical disability caused by the manifestations of the seizure. Today was a loss of depth perception and dazzling spots in front of the eye much like I had been starring at the sun and making it hard to walk. I was tripping over unseen obstacles and dropping into unseen holes and dips in the pathway. I was just a liability had I not had some help to guide me around obstacles and across the road.
But this week has equally been punctuated by wonderful meetings. At St Marys Church in Dalmahoy to visit my Grandparents I bumped into the Rector’s Warden Alan Coupe and the Rector himself the Revd Deryck Collingwood. We got chatting and before I knew it I was attempting to play the church organ and then so bad it was I decided to introduce them both to the challenge. They were both hugely supportive and have taken a flyer to go and speak to the vestry with the intent of making the challenge the Church’s focus for charitable giving. That was a wonderful result and I very much hope that they do get behind the challenge and help to carry me forward as an encouragement for other church’s to do the same and make the challenge their focus for charitable giving. A trip over to the Marriott hotel followed in which we were made to feel hugely welcome. The hotel manager and Operations Officer were very kind in showing us around the house despite the frantic activity around a large wedding but I found the time to introduce the hotel Operations Officer to the challenge. The Operations Officer told me that he was hoping to introduce a little of the Douglas family history into the decoration of the hotel as it sits within one of the Douglas of Morton houses. I thought that it was a brilliant idea and then saw opportunity to start to spread awareness of my challenge further. As a summary to the fascinating history behind the Douglas family perhaps he could finish with an introduction to what the modern Douglas’ are up to now. It is quite a story with much interest, relevance to modern life and emotion so perhaps he could include a small intro to the challenge and try and encourage some support from his guests. Further opportunity to share the challenge was seized with two of the receptionists as I left. They both appeared to be fascinated by the idea of the challenge and I very much hope to see them come and join the journey, get behind me and help me raise awareness.
Finally, before I round off the week with the challenge in numbers I would like to make an apology for my little outburst of last night. Yes I feel abandoned in some sense by the MoD but I am surrounded by such a strength of love, kindness and generosity that will inspire, encourage and support the children in future life far more than treasure itself. What reminded me of this most valuable of lessons. Of what truly matters was that wonderful quote from the history of St Mary’s Dalmahoy 1970 -2000
‘Yesterday is history,
Tomorrow is mystery
But today is a gift
That’s why we call it the ‘Present.’
Days completed: 146
Total Miles Cycled: 660.84
Total Miles Walked: 763.28
Total Miles Run: 111.5
Total Miles Paddled: 7
Total Distance Cycled, Skied, Run and Rowed in the gym: 35.65
Total Distance Swum: 3,420 metres
Total Miles covered under own steam.1,580.27
Total Height Gained under own steam: 53,074 feet
Mountains Climbed: 6
Hills Climbed: 22
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: 12
Weight shifted: 10kgs lifted over 318metres or 6360kgs moved over ½ a metre,
Aerobic Circuit Sessions: 8
Press Ups: 561
Pull Ups: 100
Sit Ups: 826
People Met and Hands Shaken: 433
Pots of tea shared: 30
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: 832
Days until Driving Licence (lost to epilepsy) possibly Returned: 730 (Re-set as a result of today’s seizure)
And most importantly – Money Raised as at Week 39 – £7,714
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 £52.83 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 £54.02 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