3 days and counting

Today's the day - a very exciting day - for all our amazing paralympian athletes. The Paralympics 2016 Opening ceremony is tonight (9pm here in the UK).

The British Paralympian Association is my final charity and today is a very very special day, after many years of hard work; atheletes, coaches, medical staff, families, friends - each athlete is actual a team of people.

I'll be closely following one very special person - Rhys Jones. 

Rhys Jones - T37 Paralympian

Our daughter, Philippa, met Rhys through her work with the Young Ambassadors for Sport and her time as a Games Maker at the London Paralympics. She studied at South Wales University, close to Rhys' home town. They worked together for the YA scheme, Sport Wales and RCT; Rhys and Philippa were two of the VIP Commonwealth Baton Bearers when the baton traveled through Aberdare in 2014.

Rhys and Philippa - Commonwealth Baton Bearers

Rhys has worked so hard, achieved so much, his Rio bio reads:

 'Jones started athletics in 2009 and after three years, qualified for a home Paralympic Games in London. Still only 18 at the time, the Welshman finished 8th in the T37 200m final in front of the biggest crowd of his career.

Fast-forward four years and Jones has faced several injury problems in that time including surgery last year. Instead of threatening to derail his career, Jones was selected for the team in Doha where he reached the 100m final.

2014 had been an encouraging year for Jones, winning bronze for his beloved Wales at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow before winning another bronze medal on home soil at the European Championships in Swansea, a few miles from his home town.'

Saturday is a very exciting day for Rhys too - its race day !! 

Rhys' parents will be there to watch, very exciting - Go Rhys Go !!

Follow Rhys on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram 

Supercharge has been the very successful campaign for the Rio Paralympics 2016 - it's been so exciting to follow all the news, but the British Paralympic Associations work is endless - already looking at Tokyo 2020. 

Their dedication to sport, support, and training is amazing, at all levels, helping our para-athletes achieve their dreams. 

Channel 4 is covering Rio Paralympics 2016 with a catch up each morning and coverage from 1pm in the afternoon through to 1am in the morning. There is so much to watch and so many athletes to cheer for. 

The British Paralympic Association is also hosting Carnival events throughout September across the UK - you can try the various sports, meet Paralympians and celebrate Brazilian style.

Thank you to everyone who has donated - 25% of all donations will go to the British Paralympic Association. You can follow their amazing work on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

If you'd like to donate directly to the British Paralympic Association please use this link

Donation to British Paralympic Association 

4 days and counting

Cancer is a word no-one wants to hear but these days there is so much more support and hope for many. The main problem is that although it's one name it has many many forms and affects so many different areas of our bodies.

Research into cancer and treatments really has improved over the time of my MS diagnosis but not for all forms of cancer - no cancer is worse than any other but funding, awareness and research is still not equal.

One such cancer is pancreatic cancer - something that touched our family 26 years ago which is why Pancreatic Cancer UK is one of my four charities.



Our wedding on 24th June 1989 was amazing, as all weddings should be.

Nothing outlandish, just a great family wedding, very traditional church ceremony followed by a celebration at a large hotel.

One of the long standing memories for me was dancing with my new father-in-law, he was a good dancer.



Nick's Dad, Ron was always making others laugh, cringe sometimes with his jokes and always jesting.

Unfortunately a few months after our wedding Ron fell in and was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

He passed away just 8 months after our special day - he was only 55.

Ron Hearnden

A couple of years ago we had a celebration to mark our 25th Anniversary, meeting again friends and family, some we hadn't seen in over 20 years. It didn't seem right for people to give gifts so we requested donations for Pancreatic Cancer UK - we were overwhelmed with everyone's generosity reaching a total of £540.


This form of cancer has affected so many including Maggie Watts who lost her husband in 2009. 40 years earlier his mother had also died of pancreatic cancer and Maggie was astounded to discover the survival rates had not improved over those years.


Since then she has worked so hard to raise awareness, successfully petitioning Parliament for a debate. Her fundraising and work is endless, inspiring so many to help. Maggie would be the first to say she is not the only one, there are many in the Purple Army working hard.


Pancreatic Cancer UK offers support, advice and information for those affected by this form of cancer, they also work hard to increase awareness and develop research.

Thank you to everyone who had donated - 25% of all donations will go to Pancreatic Cancer UK. You can follow their amazing work on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

If you'd like to donate directly to Pancreatic Cancer UK please use this link

 Donation to Pancreatic Cancer UK

5 days and counting

Diabetes UK is one of the other charities that I am fundraising for - actually that's wrong.

The Challenge is for me - just me, so I can say I've done it - in the same way I achieved my teaching degree!


However I could not be that selfish and miss the 'helping hand' aspect of doing a Challenge ..... but why Diabetes UK?


My late father had diabetes in his later life, nothing when he was younger but as he got older, had more episodes of bad health his diabetes developed until in his final years he needed insulin.

Dad has always been a big part of my life, always helping us, going on holiday with us, just always there.

At home before my Godmother's wedding (1971)

On my wedding day - 24th June 1989

Father's Day - Narbonne Plage 2002 with impromptu hat!!

He was so proud of his grandchildren (2007)

His health did deteriorate from his mid 70s and his last ten years had quite a few inpatient times. Our medical staff work so hard, everyone across the NHS from ambulance staff, receptionist, doctors and nurses. I know Dad was grateful for the care he received.

Diabetes also affects a number of our friends, worryingly it seems a condition that is on the increase. Is that our diet and lifestyle or a reason we've not discovered yet?

Diabetes UK provides support, information and most importantly research - such a vital charity for those in need of advice and guidance.

Thank you to everyone who has donated - 25% of all donations will go to Diabetes UK. You can follow their amazing work on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

If you'd like to donate directly to Diabetes UK please use this link - Donation to Diabetes UK

6 days and counting

This time next week it will be all done ..... and so will I, done in !

I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1999. That summer we (Hubby, Dad and our two children) had enjoyed an amazing end of May holiday in Austria. A beautiful place, lots of walking, including up the small hill next to our campsite. I was a typical 34 year old mum, our children just 8 and 5.

At the top of Austria's highest mountain - the Grossglockner
with Philippa and Michael (1999)

Picnic in the mountains (1999)

The last half term at school suddenly seemed tricky, I realised I needed longer and longer to walk to and from school to meet the children. My legs also began to feel numb and it increased upwards. Our GP and subsequently the hospital specialist were amazing and within a couple of weeks I'd been in hospital, had many tests and the diagnosis given.

And so life went on - it took many many weeks to start walking again but with my families help I could again get to school and back. Some things did not improve 100%, the palm of my right hand remained numb and now 17 years on both my hands feel like I am permanently wearing gloves.

My legs have surface numbness, quite often tremours inside and my walking at times is very slow. The bottom of my feet can have pins and needles when I'm tired, my hands don't always grip things if I'm not actually looking them - not funny in the night when trying to grab the bed covers !!

Heat can be an issue as I feel totally drained and if too hot I lose the vision in my right eye, and without going into any detail there are days when my insides are not so good ;-\

But my life is good - in fact it's pretty amazing - if anything my MS has given me extra strength. I always wanted to teach but things didn't evolve that way when I left school in 1982. As I recovered back in 1999 I decided I would like to restudy and get my teaching degree - and I did, graduating in 2004 the day before my 39th birthday.

Oxford Brookes Univeristy 2004

My facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and blogs are full of our holidays, my stitching, my wine tasting, events I've organised and fundraising I've done. I'm a very positive person and for me there isn't any point or benefit in showing the world the bad days so to the world everything looks good (and it is).

The photos rarely show me standing, it's far easier to smile when sitting down as I don't have to worry about holding on to anything to keep my balance. It's easy to organise events as I am in control and can plan around my need to rest or have quiet days. It's easy to do my cross stitch as it's just holding a needle (so long as I watch to make sure my hand hasn't let go) however I no longer knit as I haven't the movement in my hands.

I am no longer teaching, but am happily looking after our home and my family. My MS was not a reason for leaving but being able to plan my time myself has been a huge help in keeping control of my symptoms. I spend my time writing my three blogs; Aimetu's, Aimetu's Stitching and for the last year this one.

I also run two forums; Needlecraft Haven and Cuvée Reserve. The first being for my crafty friends, a place we share our work including my baking (MS Cake Bake especially) and the second is all about wine - my joint hobby with my lovely Hubby. We've held some great wine tasting events and holidays too, anything is possible with planning and timing and determination!

Holiday picnic this summer in France (sitting down haha)

Stitched gifts for my colleagues
when I finished teaching (2013)

Wine tasting weekend earlier in 2016 with my Cuvée Reserve friends

I'm not sure I would do quite so much if I didn't have MS - maybe that sounds odd but I am determined not to let it rule my life and that being said maybe I try to do too much - if there is such a thing!!

The MS Society is an amazing organisation - looking at their web page alone gives so much support to so many. There is of course all the offline support and advice, the many links to other organisations that can help, the feeling of not being alone and the endless and amazing research. Things have changed so much since my diagnosis in 1999 and with all their hard work there is so much more information and support.

Thank you to everyone who has donated - 25% of all donations will go to MS Society. You can follow their amazing work on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

If you'd like to donate directly to the MS Society please use this link - Donation for MS Society

7 days and counting

But where was 8 days ????

Well I was counting including the current day but if I count tomorrow as day 1 there's just 7 to go !!

Counting and maths has been a huge part of the Challenge - dates, miles, time and of course donations.



I am so so grateful to everyone who has donated - the total today is amazing, I really didn't expect to raise so much for my chosen charities.


This was always a personal challenge but it seemed only right to use the event to help others too.


When I started I hoped to raise £100 for each charity - it's so humbling to see how much more has been given.


Thank you to everyone -  small or large donation put together can make such a difference.



Dates have been a tricky side to this Challenge - we are quite busy, I have a very active life (although most things involve sitting the car or on a bench or in a pub!!) so balancing our lifestyle with my rest and the walks was not always easy.

Any excuse to put their photo up haha

The day (or few days) before a walk need to be quite easy, not doing nothing but no long drives, or walks and the following day is usually a wipe out. Sometimes it's been a sofa day, sometimes I've gone out but needed a trolley for support (Majestic Leicester haha).

I am not sure what will happen next Sunday - the walk will be tiring but then I have the emotional excitement (and a little more walking) of Proms in the Park with Michael Ball and Alfie Boe.

Our picnic chairs are a vital part of the packing for the weekend :)

Mileage - mmmmm - 26 isn't it ? Well actually not for me - we've walked far more than the London Marathon as with getting to and from the station at home, round train stations with their many stairs and tunnels, getting the the various start points and getting back to a tube from various finish points has added an amazing amount to my walk.

It's hard to calculate exactly, especially the walking in tube stations to change trains but a quick add up of just getting to and from each start/finish point is an additional 6 miles over the 7 routes.

So a week today we'll be walking the 'last leg' - hopefully the weather will be kind.

I've put a request in with Matt Taylor and BBC weather so fingers crossed.

9 days and counting

So just 9 days to go, this time next week we'll be packing ready to leave for London just after mid-day. Our son and his girlfriend are travelling with us in our car as this time we're driving down. Our daughter who lives in Cardiff is meeting us there; her journey is by National Express as the train was quite expensive.

Talking of trains I 'd like to use today's post to say a really big THANK YOU to Virgin Trains. This time last year I contacted them and asked if they would be able to give me a set price ticket for each of our journeys.

One of the main problems or me with MS is fatigue - yes I know looking at my wine/travel blog Aimetu's, my Facebook and Twitter we always seem so busy, but I only post the good stuff not the details of some days it's nearly mid-day before I get dressed or how I'm asleep on the sofa mid afternoon or most of an evening.


That being said I knew sometimes we'd miss the best fare on the train as it would be quite close to the weekend before I would know for sure if we could go.

Sadly Virgin Trains couldn't offer that .... but to my astonishment they offered Hubby and me free travel for each trip.

I was really surprised and did explain it would be 8 journeys but they still said yes.

I was even more shocked when each journey ticket we requested came through as First Class ! That made a very big difference in that after each walk when I really struggle to get going we could use the First Class lounge at Euston for a rest, a coffee, the loo and advance notice of the departing platform so I had time to get there. It did also mean that our carriages were the nearest to the exits both at home and in London - a real bonus on an 11 carriage train.

Things change in business and a year is a long time - unfortunately Virgin's charity policy changed and they now focus all their charity work to one charity.                                                                                                                                                                                                            It is good to support many but it is equally as good to give more to just one. I completely understood and will always be grateful for their support on Routes 1 - 6 - without it my Challenge would have been a lot harder, added walking at the stations and of course financially


Thank you so much to all the media team, train staff and lounge staff at Virgin Trains.

We decided to do Route 7 on a week day - this caused a little problem. Looking at taking the train it soon became apparent that both the times and cost was against us so we decided to drive. Here came the next issue - parking.

Majestic Wine Docklands was the finish point for Route 6 and would be the start of Route 7. They were amazing in allowing us to park in their car park all day - as I'm sure you'll appreciate parking in London is very expensive and quite limiting.

Using Majestic's car park made Route 7 easier both in setting off, returning via the DLR and of course refreshment at the end !! Thank you Majestic !!

Route 8 is a little easier - as we're staying for the whole week we'll be parking at our hotel. We mainly use Accor Hotels, both here in the UK and in France and will be staying in one of their hotels neat the Excel Centre. Our son now works for one of their Mecure hotels here in the Midlands.

Transport sorted then from Route 1 to Route 8 - I really appreciate the help from everyone - just need to keep my personal method of transport going for one last time !!

The Countdown begins

Just ten days until my final walk - the last year has been amazing and I do have to re-read my blog to take in just what we've done !!



Today starts the countdown to 10th September and the last few miles to The Mall which is the official finish of the London Marathon - I'm not sure exactly there but I'll find out before the 10th.


I'm so so pleased that we will be walking this last bit as a family;
our daughter, our son and his girlfriend will be joining Hubby and me.

Especially nice as it is my birthday and a year since I announced my challenge.




We are actually staying in London for the weekend - with walking, excitement and emotions I don't think the journey to and from our capitol city would have been possible. It does mean we can all celebrate my birthday.

My lovely Hubby has tickets for the two of us to go to Proms in the Park on Saturday night - a perfect end to my Challenge and birthday celebration - especially as Michael Ball and Alfie Boe (my absolute favourite) will be performing.

Alfie Boe & Michael Ball

But before all that excitement there are a few steps to take from Tower Bridge to The Mall. The route goes along the Thames past many famous London landmarks with views of others across the water. Lots of photo stops which are always good for my legs.

Route 8 on Google Earth

Google Maps

I have not yet looked at rest stops or at restaurants for a celebration meal afterwards - that will keep me occupied over these countdown days (I am getting quite excited already)

You are very welcome to join us on this final part of my Challenge - email me for our estimated schedule aimetu.clare@hotmail.com