It's time to get going

Well that's it - Challenge On !! I think everyone was surprised by my announcement at my party - all my birthday news is in my craft blog Aimetu's Stitching if you'd like to read about it.

I am hoping to do the first section of my London Marathon this coming Saturday - my lovely Hubby surprised me with a birthday trip to Prague and as you'll see in my travel blog, Aimetu's, it was cobbled streets, a little hilly and some walking. It was an amazing time, I am such a lucky lady but the first weekend home was a sofa few days for me and this weekend I've still taken it easy resting at our caravan in Wales.

My legs are ok - a few shakes still but I'm sure I can rest a little more this week. We are away again soon on a holiday we booked earlier in the year and I'd like to start my Challenge before we go. It is a relaxing hotel/pool holiday so perfect for recuperating.

My plan is to take a 9 o'clock train, arriving in London just after 10, I hope that's ok with Virgin Trains who have been so generous. It will take another hour to get across to Blackheath Station and a 1/2 mile walk before reaching the Official Start Line.

Technology is an amazing thing and thanks to Google Earth I have already 'walked' the route.

Google Earth view of Route 1 (red line)

I have found a lovely coffee stop after about 1 mile (it will have been further as I'll have walked from the train station too) I've contacted The Scullery Cafe to see if they will be open (and if they have a loo !!)

Most of this route is residential but there were some large buildings too and will be interesting to find out what they are. After a coffee break I am hoping to complete the other 2 miles with just a few pauses, no major sit down. My pace is quite slow and I'll have my late Dad's walking pole with me - he took it to the top of Snowdon and it has many badges on. I'll be covering it with ribbons in the charity colours and at the end will add a London badge.

Dad and his fellow Scouters on Snowdon leaning on the pole
 (1950s)

My first leg ends on John Wilson Street which actually leads to the Woolwich Ferry. We'll be heading east for another third of a mile where thanks to Google Earth I spied The Great Harry pub !! It's a Wetherspoons brand and will be a welcome rest, celebratory glass of wine and dinner before walking just a short way to take the DLR and Northern Line back to Euston and then the train home, where I think it will be a taxi home :)

Map of route with stations, start and finished marked 

I am excited with nervousness too - I know I can do this and I will do it but it looks a long way. One step in front of the other, chatting with Hubby and the finish line for Route 1 will soon appear.

I have not ordered the t-shirts, we're going to print our own - mainly because the cost of printing seems a waste, it's so much cheaper to do it ourselves so the extra can go in the fundraising pot.

Thank you to MS Society, Pancreatic Cancer UK, Diabetes UK and British Paralympic Association for their kind emails of support, pins, booklets, ribbons - Dad's walking pole will be a very colourful sight.

Thank you too to my amazing friends who have already started donating and before I have even taken a step the total is £75 !!

I will be taking photos and blogging about walking Route 1 - you can follow me on Twitter @Aimetu

Please could you share my blog and my fundraising page on your Twitter/Facebook page - it would be fantastic if my personal challenge could also help others - THANK YOU !

Announcement Day

So the day is here - I've had an amazing birthday with many surprises, cards and social media messages. My lovely Hubby is taking me to Prague on Monday, and my daughter contacted my friends and family asking for photo messages which she's put in an album.

But today is my turn to surprise everyone. It's party time and I'll be telling everyone about my Challenge. The little cards came and look great and I've scheduled a post on Facebook for 10pm.

This is the first post anyone has read as until now my blog has been closed, please read my two previous posts about my challenge.

I hope you'll keep popping my for a news update; leave a comment if you do, it's always good to read messages.

Best foot forward :-)

Things are moving along

I have set up a charity donations page with Virgin Money Giving - a great site that allows you to give to more than one charity. I have chosen to share any donations I receive between four charities:

MS Society - the more research into this restricting condition the better, it may not help me but it will help those diagnosed with MS in the future. Treatments have improved significantly since I was diagnosed in 1999 so with more funding one day MS may be curable.

Pancreatic Cancer UK - sadly my father-in-law passed away just 8 months after our wedding from pancreatic cancer. The survival rate has not improved over the last 20 years (mainly due to lack of funding and awareness), research is so important and needs more funding.

Diabetes UK - my late Dad suffered with diabetes and I'd like to give a little to help.

British Paralympic Association - since the 2012 Paralympics and our daughters involvement with sport we have come to know two great athletes; Rhys Jones (T37) and Paige Murray (T34). They are just two of the amazing athletes we have competing in para-sports who need more support and recognition.

My donation page is: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ClaresChallenge50

I have emailed the charities to check it is ok to use their logos on polo shirts and sweatshirts and Hubby and I are going to have one each. I thought it would be nice to have the logos (as above) on the front top left and across the back 'Clare's Challenge 50'. There is a printing shop near here so we'll visit and check sizes soon.

I'm hoping the charities will be able to provide me with some logo ribbon as I will be walking with my (late) Dad's walking pole. He was a Scouter for over 65 years and his pole has been on many adventures with him, including to the top of Snowdon. I will need a steadying stick (although holding onto Hubby is always good) and it will be great if I can tie ribbons on it.

I have also ordered 100 business cards so I can give them out at my party after the big announcement and to friends/businesses along the way. I quite enjoyed designing them - they should be here soon.

My next plan is to look at the first section as hopefully we'll be going at the end of September or early October. I need to plan 3-4 miles from the start, checking tube/rail links (as I don't want to have too much added walking) and a couple of pub stops along the way for a sit down, refreshments and of course the loo !!

The excitement continues ....

Starting the Countdown Clock

It's a month to my 50th birthday and the countdown has begun - not just the celebrations but the preparation for my Challenge 50 !

It's a secret (just my lovely Hubby Nick knows) - I'll be announcing my Challenge at my party, there will be a few surprised faces, definitely a few tears and hopefully a few 'whoo hoo's. This blog will go 'live' on 11th September but I will be blogging from now until then with updates, adding links and how its all going as the planning starts.

I contacted Virgin London Marathon a few months ago via a face book message ...

... they kindly sent me the link to the Marathon route page.

I also contacted Virgin Trains to ask about advanced tickets - as we will not know for sure which day we'll be walking it will be difficult to buy ahead and I wanted to know if there was a way I could have a set price for each journey. I was totally amazed when they offered free travel for all our trips:

Totally unexpected reply from Virgin Trains

My plans today are to set up this blog :) add links to the side bar, investigate how to set up the donations page and print the route map :)

I'm not having a disco at my party but will be playing a selection of songs that have been important to me over my half century, I will be taking these on my iphone too for when we go walking !!

I have to say it's all very exciting - Countdown !!