Shine

Well, we did our 2nd Shine walk last night.  Shine is a sponsored walk, through the night to raise money for Cancer Research.  There is the option to do a full marathon or half marathon, we opted for the half, 13 miles through the streets of Manchester on unforgiving concrete and tarmac.   I am full of admiration for those who manage the full distance and I have no idea how they do it!!!

We did our 13 miles.  Earlier in the week I didn't know whether I would be able to go ahead with it.  I'm at the stage where I want to keep anyone and everything connected with the cancer word at arms length.   But I knew I would feel really guilty afterwards if I pulled out.  So we did it.  Becky, Liz, Simon and me and about 7,000 others!  It was marginally easier than last year and I was so glad that they brought the start time forward to 9.00pm - at least we got home a couple of hours earlier than last year.

The route was better too, a bit more interesting.  We went along Salford Warf which is lovely and deserving of a leisure visit I think.  Off down right though the Trafford Centre.  Boy, it's a bit over the top isn't it?  I thought I had stumbled into St Peter's Square for a moment.  Then off through Old Trafford.  Liz & Becky stopped for the loo and some chips, but Simon and I kept on going - Simon wanted to spend as little time as possible on their property and I would probably have not started going again if I'd stopped at that point!

It was much better organised than last year, bringing the start time forward and staggering the start made a huge difference.  There weren't half as many folks there either, I'm sure they reduce the number of applicants - as the site said the event was fully subscribed, but  Manchester Central was only half as full as last year.

It was lovely to meet up with Shirl before the walk, who joined us for a pre-walk meet up at Felicini's on Oxford Street - we had a really nice pizza.  It was also really nice to see Ray and Sue, Liz's parents again - what a lovely couple and so supportive of us all.

So £160 odd raised for charity, and a big thank you to everyone who sponsored me.  The money is the key thing and much more important than what we do to raise it, although it is good to do SOMETHING and feel that you are contributing in some way.  So major thanks to all my sponsors.  

Simon has just interrupted me to tell me that one of our neighbours, Jeff,  has been diagnosed with stomach cancer and given 2 months to live.

Shit.