Each and every day is a challenge. My Neurological Dysfunction, controlled, to some extent, by drugs, keeps me living almost permanently on the edge. Having been told, by my Neurologist, that I will never regain my cognitive function to the level that it once was, that I should aspire to nothing more than volunteering in a charity shop, for an hour a week, the temptation to curl up in a ball under the duvet, after what has so far been a 5 year long fight, and give up is strong. So you, as the sponsor, are challenging me to find the resolve and the determination to get that mattress off my back and get up, get out there, and make the most of every single day that I am blessed enough to be given by trying to train the brain through the mediums of Golf, Drama, Music and Writing. So while you challenge me I challenge you to see how many of your friends and family you can find to also sponsor me for £1.00 per month, with every single penny being guaranteed to reach the Disasters Emergency Committee.
Introduction
After a fight of 5 years involving brain surgery, which could only remove 40% of the brain tumour, followed by radiotherapy and 12 monthly cycles of chemotherapy, it is looking increasingly likely that I have beaten the brain tumour that was supposed to end my life. However the tumour, the treatment and each and every epileptic seizure have damaged the brain and left me with a significant Neurological Dysfunction. Having felt that I was paddling hard against the tide and going backwards, I looked my Neurologist in the eyes and asked for the truth. How long will it be before I am fit enough for meaningful employment. ‘Never’ was his stern reply. ‘Archie,’ he continued, ‘your brain is significantly damaged, you will never regain the cognitive function that you once had to fulfil any form of meaningful employment. Perhaps you should aspire to volunteering in a charity shop for an hour a week’. Well I was told I will never beat the brain tumour but I have, and now I have been told that I will never regain my cognitive function I reply, ‘Never say Never again.’ I am going to train the brain through the mediums of Golf, Writing, Music and Drama and, keep healthy through my Balanced Daily Lifestyle, designed by me, with the help of the NHS, after I had made many mistakes, as reinforcement to the wonders of modern medicine. And while I do that I ask you to sponsor me for just £1.00 a month with every single penny guaranteed to be going to the Disasters Emergency Committee in order to help me to feel that my life has a purpose while I try to rebuild my cognitive function.
As I beat the beast
I am inviting you to join me on my personal challenge to Beat the new Beast of Neurological Dysfunction that has been triggered by the damage to the brain left behind by the Grade 3 Oligodendroglioma Brain Tumour, that I have recently beaten, as well as the treatment and each and every Epileptic seizure. Your sponsorship will help improve the lives and life chances of so many more people, at the times they need it most, at times of disaster, while also encouraging me to try and provide the hope, inspiration and encouragement I seek to carry through my story. With your sponsorship for the Disasters Emergency Committee I can make every day that I am blessed enough to be given, count for others.
In order to keep my relationship with you live, I will write a monthly summary of progress including the challenge in numbers while also telling of those moments of light that I manage to find from within the neurological darkness.
Golf Balls
Played
2,254
Height climbed
280,314.96 feet
Miles Covered
Under Own Steam
5,869.92
Piano / Organ songs & melodies learnt by heart
3
Months
Completed
37
Money Raised
£18,066.00
Based in Edinburgh I am so very lucky to have been given sponsorship by the Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club and their most excellent Professional, Scott Dixon, to learn to play Golf on the wonderful courses and facilities at Dalmahoy. I am here as many days a week as my medical appointments allow so come and find me to say hello if you can.
I have just started to explore Drama as a medium by which to strengthen my cognitive and neurological function and am doing so with financial support through the Acting Out Drama School in Edinburgh.
I am learning to play the Pipe Organ as a vehicle with which to train the brain as a student of the resident organist, the most talented and excellent teacher, John Reilly, at St Paul’s and St George’s Church in Edinburgh.
Unable to concentrate for much longer than forty minutes at a stretch without triggering neurological seizures, I have started to write my book at Dalmahoy, using my Golf Practice as a most excellent way to break up my writing day.
I use Hill Walking and Country Walks as a vehicle by which I can clear the mind and concentrate on healing and calming the mind and spend, as a result, many days in the gentle Pentland Hills but also exploring the countryside and hills of the Lothians, Central Scotland and the Borders.
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.
Please sponsor me by completing a standing order form either through your own personal internet banking or by completing the standing order form found here and posting it to your bank at the address found in your cheque book.
The Beat the Beast Challenge Account details needed for the standing order form are as follows:
Payee: 1001-02414-8 Beat The Beast Challenge (It is critical that the entire Payee reference of 1001-02414-8 Beat The Beast Challenge is used to help the bank get the money to the Beat The Beast Challenge account).
Account Number: 03278786
Sort Code: 20-63-33
Remembering that I will complete 20 days of activity each month, suggested but not exclusive sponsorship options, are as follows:
£1.00 per day = £20.00 per month.
£0.50p per day = £10.00 per month.
£0.25p per day = £5.00 per month.
£0.05p per day = £1.00 per month.
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 sent to the following account:
Payee: 1001-02414-8 Beat The Beast Challenge (It is critical that the entire Payee reference of 1001-02414-8 Beat The Beast Challenge is used to help the bank get the money to the Beat The Beast Challenge account).
Sort Code: 20-63-33
Account Number: 03278786
Address:
Kingdom Bank Limited Ruddington Fields Business Park Mere Way Ruddington Nottingham NG11 6JS
Thank you for having enough faith in me to sponsor me.I would love you to get involved. In fact the very success of this challenge both in healing and fundraising aspirations hinge entirely on the support of as many people as possible. So thank you very much for considering to come and join me on the journey to Beat the Beast. I very much hope that you enjoy it and if you support what I am trying to achieve in the challenge do please help me raise awareness by:
- 1. Liking the facebook page
- 2. Sharing the facebook page
- 3. Following me on Twitter @archiedouglas25
- 4. Just telling your friends and family about me and the challenge and making me a part of your daily life and conversation. It is quite a journey and sure to give you lots to think and talk about.
- 5. Please sponsor me and encourage your friends and family to sponsor me too.
- 6. Organise a fundraising event or activity. There have been a number of increasingly imaginative ideas already. A fundraising tea, Christmas card making, plastic bag charge donations from shops et al.
- 7. If you would like to, invite me to come and join you on a walk or event. Or to give a talk. It doesn’t have to be a huge event. This challenge is all about people so I would love to come and join you for a walk or bike ride or presentation or work day one day. Just ask and if I can I will.
Finally I humbly pray, that my story on the challenge provides a source of Hope, Help, Inspiration or Encouragement for you or any of your friends or family who may need it in the future, as it has for a number of wonderfully courageous people already. So just keep in touch and follow the journey.
While fighting my brain tumour I supported five different but brilliant charities. Sadly I found that trying to fund raise for five charities at once created conflict in potential supporters minds as well as possible media support. So for this refresh of the challenge I have decided to support the Disasters Emergency Committee only. It is a wonderful charity that saves and rebuilds the lives of so many people all around the world at times of greatest need. At times of disaster.
I can be contacted by various online means, you can befriend and send me a message on Facebook or an email from the website at archie@beatthebeastchallenge.co.uk.
You can also leave me support and messages here on my blog posts, with Disqus. Simply sign in with Twitter/Facebook/Disqus and leave your message for me. I do try my best to respond to every message.
Messages of support and encouragement are always welcome, but as well as this, if you have any good ideas or invitations for the Beat The Beast Challenge, let me know!
All suggestions welcome!
Beat The Beast Sponsored Charity
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Fundraising for the Disasters Emergency Committee |