In less than three weeks (23rd August), I plan to 'fly' (unaided!) off the end of a large ramp (32 feet above the sea) at the end of Worthing Pier for the International Worthing Birdman Competition, dressed as a giant green crocodile. (You can get the latest updates by following me on Twitter - @worthingcrocman)
I have been accused of being a bit barking mad, but then again that is nothing new to any of you that know me !! : )
I want you to please help me raise some money by making a donation on my sponsorship page - please even if it is just a small amount - every £ / $ / euro will help someone suffering with Leukaemia.
WHY ? David, my brother, died from Leukaemia in December 2007. He contracted a particularly rare strain of the disease, that ultimately had no cure.
I am raising money for Leukaemia Research so that they can continue to search for cures for the many different forms of Leukaemia that kill so many people every year.
A friend of David's recently fowarded me a copy of an email (that he had just found in his Outlook archive) he received from David, while he was undergoing treatment.
I wanted to share a section of it with you. It shows David's sense of humour, when things were going so wrong. He is sadly missed. As you will see, his humour is very similar to mine...........
"I have two more injections in my legs before the induction phase (chemotherapy) finishes Monday and then on Tues a bone marrow biopsy to see what the combined effects of pumping landfill leachate (David was a Hydrogeologist and did alot of work on landfills!) into my body has done....There is then a short break before the second phase 'intensification' (nowt like laying it on the line what is involved is
there?!) is scheduled to begin. My hair is valiantly trying to not do a Digs (a hairless friend of ours!) and although not thinning too much is not exactly growing either....we have purchased some clippers so will do the deed before the Bobbie Charlton comb over becomes a reality sooner rather than later.
So in conclusion, re this phase no major side effects and I can only hope a similar pattern emerges next time. Unfortunately, yesterday I learned that my brother's bone marrow was not compatible (but that was only 1 in 4 chance anyway) but that there were 2 'perfect matches' on the English register so we will have to see how this pans out in the forthcoming weeks.
The BM option is not mutually exclusive, i.e. other chemo can be provided if the BM is not a goer which is good but I have an apt with the specialist in a few weeks so no doubt all will become clear then...Just hope there is not some convention of the Cardiff Dog Walkers around at the same time with some carnivorous critters in need of a quick snack on the marrow! The Heath is a big hospital in Cardiff and it might take a while to dig up a bit of bone covered over by the paws of some marauding Great Dane."
David would have loved the Birdman event, and he would have relished "helping me off the ramp" if I had second thoughts!
So you can see it is an easy decision for me to have my moment of madness.
So please go to my fundraising page and make a donation today. You will help save others who have this awful disease.
