Next Year's Challenge

Prior to the Speyside Kiltwalk, I signed up for my next big challenge.
Over the past year I'd spoken to various people about their experience and their fundraising efforts.  While contemplating a big challenge, I thought I would do it when the time was right.  Checking the dates of various overseas Kilttrek's next year, I noticed one that might fit in with school holidays.  That fact alone was enough to seal the deal and I signed up to climb Kilimanjaro next year with the Kiltwalk.
We've done quite a bit of fundraising since December 2009.  When it was discovered that Isla still had cancer following surgery to remove her tumour, I decided to shave of all my hair for Cancer Research UK, raising over £4700.  Ross and friends decided to join in with hair removal (body) raising money for the Neuroblastoma Society, raising about £1000.  Once Isla’s treatment was complete, I fundraised to do a sky dive for Sparks fund into Neuroblastoma research raising over £2000.  When Ross and I were married, we requested no gifts, and instead collected money for Yorkhill (Schiehallion Ward), Archie (parent accommodation and Moray Friends of Archie) and SAAFA, raising almost £2,400.  We also gave guests a card detailing a donation that had been made to FAN in their name instead of a wedding favour.

   

When Isla was declared in remission we held a disco fundraising for Malcolm Sargent House, Calum’s Cabin and Christian Lewis Trust (now called Kids Cancer Charity) who had all provided holidays for us during and after Isla’s treatment to spend quality time together as a family, raising £360.  We are so grateful to the support we received from charities, and want other families to receive the same support, so we like to give back and raise awareness.

As well as this fundraising, Isla also had her own appeal, raising money should she ever relapse and need treatment abroad.  Almost £23,000 has been raised in Isla's appeal.  We made the decision that if Isla reaches the 'All Clear' in January 2016 this money will be given to Neuroblastoma research.

With all this money and events, we've had our fair share of fundraising, experiencing the good and the bad.  Actively fundraising for your own child's appeal was tough mentally, people will let you down, but also the kindness and generosity of others will astound you.  Fundraising alone can be tough, but also dealing with your child undergoing treatment and the anxiety associated with that can make you a touch more sensitive!  When we stopped fundraising for Isla's appeal, we wanted to step back a bit emotionally.  Then the Kiltwalk appeared in our lives! 

Thankfully the emotion experienced with the Kiltwalk has been a positive one, and hasn't required too much out of us mentally.  We fundraise because of what our daughter went through, what friends of ours children go through and what we know other parents will go through.  There is a spirit in the Kiltwalk community, which really emphasises why we do it - for the bairns!  The blipfoto written by Ian was also a nice reminder of why people do it, I think I cried at nearly every one.  Check it out if you can.

Our Kiltwalk fundraising for the last two years has been for Logan's Fund and will continue to be.  Supporting a local cause, where you know the parents, and so closely linked with our own experience means it is extremely important to us.  I haven't felt too stretched emotionally doing the Kiltwalks. This break has been enough to allow me to step up for one more big challenge; climbing a mountain!

This big challenge also fits in with something 'big' that Logan's Fund want to achieve.  A new initiative; 'Logan's Sunny Days'.  They want to purchase their own caravan in Lossiemouth so they can offer respite holidays to families undergoing treatment for cancer.  We know first hand how valued these types of holidays are thanks to Calum's Cabin, Christian Lewis and Malcolm Sargent house.  So, next year the challenge is to raise £4,200 to get me up a mountain to undertake a very physically demanding challenge but I'll be doing it so that Logan's Fund can provide respite holidays to families, just like we had.

You can donate to this challenge here:

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=simpsons4logan&pageUrl=4

Kiltwalks 2014 Complete

Another year of Kiltwalks complete.  As a family we took part in all five.  Ross and myself did all 5, but not all of them were full walks.  Hats off to anyone who manages all of the full walks in one year.  A lot of people managed this year including Jock, Richard and Cameron from our team.

Ross completed the full walks at Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee.  I completed the full walks at Glasgow and Dundee.  The reason for not doing full walks at all of them was Isla.  She really wanted to be part of it this year, and was just old enough to do so.  We decided that she was definitely doing the wee walk at Speyside and Edinburgh.  After doing Edinburgh in May she was desperate for the next one and so signed up to Aberdeen. At the start of the year, we didn't know exactly the walks we would be doing, but started with Glasgow in April and took it from there.  With Jock deciding that he was going for all of them this year, I felt I wanted to be there too at all of them offering team support, and that's how we ended up being involved in them all.

My last blog was written after completing the Edinburgh Kiltwalk, when Isla caught the Kiltwalk bug.  She signed up to do the Aberdeen one straight away.  The Aberdeen Kiltwalk was a longer walk at 8 miles for Isla.  Due to the route at Aberdeen there is only 2 walks rather than 3.  The walk started at Banchory.  At the start Isla and I met up with Keane and his granny Hazel.  Isla and Keane hit it off and got along the whole walk.  The walk took a long time with this pair, stopping every couple of steps, but they were funny together.  Isla was delighted at the end when her Clic Sargent social worker was there and presented her with a Clic Sargent medal, aswell as her Kiltwalk one.

With the Aberdeen Kiltwalk being at the beginning of June, there is a break before the next Kiltwalk at Speyside in September.  Isla was excited once again for her walk.  As I have already completed the half and full walk at Speyside I was looking forward to just doing the Wee Walk, Of course there was an element of guilt for just doing a Wee Walk, but I would rather walk with Isla.  If the need takes me I can go for a walk there anytime!  I would also say that the Wee Walk at Speyside is lovely, a flat route where you walk from Aberlour to Craigellachie and back again.  Speyside has the advantage of the hills in the middle, with a downhill, then a flat finish.  Speyside also boasts magnificent scenery and more importantly a brilliant after party in the Mash Tun.  Ross, myself and Isla walked along with my brothers daughter, it was her first walk.  She definitely wanted to be part of the Kiltwalk as well.  My Dad also appeared on the day and supported us by walking with us too.

Of course, we're just a small part of a bigger team for Logan's Fund at Speyside.  Here's more of them, but not all.  Go 'Logan's Tartan Turtle Army!'

The last Kiltwalk of the year was Dundee.  Our team of Cameron, Richard, Jock, Ross and myself were completing the last full walk of the year. Not forgetting Holly, who was completing her fifth and final wee walk of the year alongside mum Eli.  After walking with Isla for 3 walks, it felt very strange to walk at Dundee without her.  I really missed her and all the other kids who walk on the wee walks.  However, it's not a challenge for me to walk a wee walk and you almost feel guilty for doing so (almost).  

Dundee started wet!  There had been a few days of rain prior to the walk so the park where we started was wet.  Earlier in the year I bought myself a new pair of walking trainers online claiming to be waterproof.  The material on them may be waterproof, but the hundreds of little holes to make them breathable do not make the trainer waterproof!  So, with wet feet at the start, it caused a few minor problems for me.  I usually put  Zinc Oxide tape on my feet.  With Ross in charge of packing painkillers, tape etc, I didn't realise my tape was not packed until it was time to tape up my feet.  Instead I put on podiatry felt, which is almost good enough.  However, when this got wet, a little bit of it peeled off my foot, just under my toes.  About 3 miles into the walk, I felt I was maybe developing a blister.  I think, because of this, I was walking differently to protect that area.  Later on I started to experience sciatica.  I kept stopping every so often to stretch my back or squat to ease the pain.  The pain in my back obviously messed with my head a little and put an element of doubt into my ability to complete the walk.  This thought coupled with missing Isla, led to me becoming a little upset and fighting off a panic attack.  I stopped a couple of times trying to compose myself.  A very kindly gentleman and master tablet maker sensitively stopped walking after he passed us, allowed us to catch up and offer us a piece of tablet.  This little act of kindness helped a great deal.  He obviously could tell I was struggling emotionally, rather than offer words of comfort where I would start greeting, he offered a distraction - very clever man!  Turns out being nice to someone like me, will just make me more upset, distraction is the key!  

After passing the half way point, I was beginning to feel a bit better emotionally, just needed to keep plodding on.  I posted online and also checked up on the status of others in our group.  I reckoned that they were about an hour in front of us.  About a mile later, at beautiful Broughty Ferry imagine my surprise to discover Jock and Cameron, alongside Team Simba's Allan and Tudge, sat in front of a pub enjoying an unofficial pit stop.  Apparently it was the second one too.  No longer an hour in front!  After some banter and some pain relief supplied by the boys, it was time for Ross and I to get walking again.  Twenty minutes later we were passed by the 'pit stoppers' walking very briskly on the lookout for their next pit stop.  The scenery along Broughty Ferry, and along to Discovery Point was a welcome distraction, and passed quite quickly for me.  By Discovery Point, we decided we need some refreshment and lo and behold discovered Jock, Cameron, Tudge and Allan once again.

 Topped up with painkillers we were off again walking along to the airport, then back through Dundee to the finish.  The last pit stop was offering soup.  That soup was just ideal.  I don't enjoy eating all the sweet things offered on a Kiltwalk, so this was perfect.  Ross was struggling more towards the end with pain, but mine was bearable.  When I finished I booked in for a massage due to the sciatica I had experienced.  She warned me that as I'd been protecting the side with the sciatica the other side of me was really tight. The next morning I woke up with a sore neck, that I couldn't turn to the left!  So, getting wet feet, led to sciatica and the resulting sore neck.  Next time I think, either new waterproof trainers or carrier bags on your feet like the couple I'd seen at the start!  My neck pain lasted almost 4 weeks.

But, what's a sore neck compared to what the kids go through?  Nothing, not worthy of noting really.  Only an experience for future walks, to make them that little easier.

Our fundraising for this year is now complete and between Ross, Isla, Becky, Cerys and myself we raised £1662 without gif taid, so a big thank you to everyone who supported us along the way.

Of course, our Kiltwalk experience does not end there, there's always next year!

Oor Inspiration

Yesterday, we took part in our second Kiltwalk of the year. The first Kiltwalk was in Glasgow on 21st April, and yesterday we were in Edinburgh to do it again!

We knew after doing the full walk at Glasgow last year, that we definitely wanted to do it all again, with one change, having the day after, off work.  Luckily I'm working part-time this year, so it was possible to swap days.  This had the added benefit of being able to join in with the Kiltwalk after party!

Although keen to do the Glasgow Kiltwalk, there was one thing worrying me - a repeat panic attack.  Last year, I'd been hit by strong emotions walking through the grounds of Yorkhill hospital.  I had been caught unaware with my feelings, and I believe this resulted in me having a panic attack later in the walk.  In the lead up to the Glasgow Kiltwalk this year, I'd been reflecting on Isla's diagnosis.  It's the anniversary of her admission to hospital on the 15th of April, and I just can't avoid thinking about it.  I don't think it would do me any good to avoid it, it just makes me a little 'out of sorts' for a while.  The reflection is also a good thing, as it is a constant reminder to cherish my children each and everyday.  I also think of all the friends who have lost their lives, the families on their journeys with childhood cancer and the newly diagnosed.  I truly do know how lucky I am, especially as Isla has reached 5 year survival.

I knew the route for the Glasgow Kiltwalk had changed this year, but I hadn't paid any attention to the new route, my philosophy is to just turn up and get on with it!  This year the Glasgow Kiltwalk started at the Hydro, and then headed to Yorkhill.  Just before we got to Yorkhill, I got the biggest surprise ever, when one of the children's pictures that you see to inspire you on you on your walk was 'Oor Isla' looking happy in the photo for her first day of school, with the word 'Inspire' written at the bottom.  I was so delighted to see her face (so was Ross), that the approach to Yorkhill was a happy one.  Also, there was an added bonus of just walking around the back of the hospital so I didn't have to look up at those windows of Schiehallion ward.  Oor Inspiration truly did spur us on our walk, no negative emotions felt this time at all.  The negative emotion associated with Yorkhill has absolutely nothing to do with the care Isla received there.  It was absolutely brilliant, without their close care and dedication Isla wouldn't be with us today.  She really was seriously ill, and we came very close to losing her, that's why it's difficult to be there, it's a reminder of those scary times. Just look at her now!

Once again this year, we are walking as part of a team supporting Logan's Fund - Logan's Tartan Turtle Army, a wee change to the name as Logan loved turtles!  Also walking on the Glasgow Kiltwalk with our team was my family -  my 71 year old dad, my brother Richard, my 15 year old daughter Cerys and friends - Cameron Mackintosh and Jock Mckay.  We all walked the full walk of 23 miles.  Also walking for Logan's Fund was Senga Harrison (a new friend), and hopefully we managed to recruit 2 new members to our team for next year in the form of Chris Finlay (Jock's mate) and Grace Hilling (Senga's mate).  We all partied like a team at the end of the walk.

Since we've been taking part in the Kiltwalk's we've gotten to know other regulars, commonly known as the Kiltwalk family.  Just like any family, there are cousins I haven't yet met but have heard of.  This Kiltwalk family have become a great support to each other, one I'm so grateful to be part of.  It's a great feeling to come across your friends along the walk, you get a blether for a while as you walk together, you get to hear stories to motivate you to do your bit, and at the end you get to have a wee moan about your sore bits, or share a drink and a dance with.  You also get the feeling that many of these people are facing their own personal struggles, that these walks are tough, and not just physically for them.  You're all the same, but putting 'oor bairns' first.  I really do love that about the Kiltwalker's.  They are a special breed, when they find out one of their own is struggling, they'll go back after completing their walk to walk with that person.  Last week, John Grigor was spotted doing a solo Kiltwalk in Edinburgh.  It turns out John was determined to do all 5, but was away when the Edinburgh Kiltwalk was on, so decided to do it the week before, that was just a week after Glasgow.  Some of the Kiltwalk family turned up to walk with John and give him a heroes welcome at the end.


Yesterday was the Kiltwalk in Edinburgh, there was my husband Ross, my eldest daughter Becky, my brother Richard, my youngest daughter Isla and myself.  Also, part of our group was Cameron Mackintosh, Jock McKay and Senga Harrison.

I've divided us into two groups, as Cameron, Jock and Senga were brave (daft!) enough to walk a full Kilt of over 26 miles, and we just did the Wee Walk of over 6 miles.  Doing the Edinburgh Walk was a last minute decision.  Jock had decided earlier on in the year that he was planning to do all five, and to me it didn't feel right that he would be on his own, he is, after all part of a team.  Isla was also keen to get in on the act, hearing us talk about it, so we signed up for the Wee Walk that Isla is allowed to take part in.

I wasn't sure exactly how Isla would feel, as she was overwhelmed with the crowd last year in Buckie at the start of the Speyside Kiltwalk.  Isla was really keen yesterday until it came to everyone gathering together for the start of the walk, I could see her getting anxious, so we ended up standing off to one side.  When the piper started to lead us off Isla quickly moved up to the front away from the crowd.  Isla made me laugh with her comment of 'there was no pipe band'!  The Speyside start left a bigger impression than I thought.

As we started walking, Isla did have a moan about how her feet and legs were sore, we reassured her that this was no race, we would go as slow as she liked and take as many stops as she liked.  This seemed to be all the motivation she needed, as she didn't moan again for the rest of her walk.

Ross got talking to a couple who were walking beside us with their daughter Hannah, and Ross introduced them as they were also walking for a Neuroblastoma charity.  I ended up walking and talking with the woman for quite some time, to discover that she was originally from Elgin, that her friend lives in Keith, who my brother knows and she was also a teacher!  Small world.  They had had a difficult time with their own daughter in her first year of life spending most of it in hospital, but had decided to walk in support of her friend whose son was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma last April and was currently in the U.S. receiving treatment.

I'd realised with my talking I'd moved away from Ross, Richard and Isla, so waited with Becky for them to catch us up.  We had also reached the half way point.  Isla was taking the walk in her stride with a big smile on her face.

Becky was beginning to struggle at this point.  Walking a distance hasn't been easy for Becky in recent years.  Becky is double jointed (hypermobile, she likes to dislocate joints!) and she walks with her knees close together and ankles apart, this puts pressure on her knees, ankles and balls of her feet.  We had another little stop to put some moleskin on Becky's feet as she felt they were starting to blister.  Isla wouldn't stop with Becky, as she was in her stride, so Richard carried on with her.  We all met up again and carried on with our walk.  Isla was enjoying the scenery, watching the other families.

Isla was excited when she seen the 1 mile to go marker, but the delight at seeing her own picture was priceless.  I'm sure she walked faster after that!

I love seeing the pictures of all the bairns, especially at the end, it's the final motivation and reminder to keep going.  I also want to be able to identify all the kids from reading the Kiltwalk blipfoto's.  Sometimes I struggle with my emotions after reading the Blipfoto stories, but they're an effective motivator to keep on doing what you can to help. If you have something to give, then you should.  We're surrounded by reminders of how lucky we are to be healthy and able from news stories.  Last week, there were the stories of Stephen Sutton's battle, the loss of life for Alfie Sharpe and Oscar Knox - 2 Neuroblastoma warriors.  Just reading the Blipfoto of Aine the night before the Kiltwalk  had me emotional again!  There are constant reminders to treasure each day.

Isla loved her first experience of the Kiltwalk, cheering on others finishing, getting something to eat at the end, having a dance in the marquee.  She immediately wanted to know when she could do it all again.  I explained she was doing the Wee Walk in September, but that Mummy and Daddy were going to be doing Aberdeen in 3 weeks time.  I explained the Wee Walk at Aberdeen was a little bit longer with a hill, but she wants to do it and signed up today!

'Oor Inspiration'

If you want to sponsor Isla and our efforts as we try to take part in all 5 Kiltwalk's this year, you can do so here:

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=simpsons4logan