After a very successful quiz last weekend, collecting over £70 by being dressed in a monkey onesie, and of course being part of the winning team, my fundraising total is not far off double my original target of £400.
Today almost a full page was dedicated to my cause in the local newspaper, which is fantastic. It's just a shame they got mine and my husband's football allegiances mixed up!!
Just to clarify, I was wearing an Aston Villa shirt in the photo, but I support BIRMINGHAM CITY!!
The challenges have ticked along slowly this week, concentrating on munching my way through as many new flavours of crisps that I can. Up to 26 so far, the latest being roast turkey and chestnut stuffing AKA roast chicken.
I'm up to 1987 in my film watching exploits, Robocop was added to my list last night. It's funny how cheesy that film seems looking back now, whereas then I thought it was very high tech.
On a completely different note I watched a documentary this week about supersized models. It got me thinking about how body image and cancer often go hand in hand. I remember after having my mastectomy people asked me about reconstruction. If I'd had £1 every time my consultant asked if I wanted the other one taken off I'd be rich. I think that women are just expected to want and have reconstruction, whereas for me this was the furthest thing from my mind. I hope never to have to go back into hospital and have another operation. Yes, I have a huge scar across my chest, and I do wear a prosthesis, but that doesn't change me, in fact it makes me stronger. I'm more confident about who I am and what I am since cancer. My scars remind me where I've been, and how far I have come. I am not ashamed of what I am. If only other women could feel so strong about themselves, and not feel presurised into fitting into social norms, I feel that my cancer may have achieved something else too.
Thank you for continuing to follow my blog, and to support this cause. Feel free to tweet me @louise_vernon if you have any suggestions or comments that you would like to add.
Thursday, 23 April 2015
Friday, 17 April 2015
A busy day eating cake
Today saw another few challenges completed and my getting nearer to the absolutely amazing target of £700.
People are stopping me now and asking me what's next and are showing a real interest in my challenges, which is wonderful, almost as good as the amounts of money that have been pouring in!
The coffee morning was another huge success today. As well as generating another £90 for the Centre we got people through the door who didn't even know where we were or what the centre was all about. Hopefully people left today with the same warmth I feel every time I walk in.
Another challenge today was to try a madras curry. For some this might not seem like much of a challenge, but for me the chicken tikka girl it was a biggy! Well I have to say shop bought madras was more than palatable. I'm going have to try the authentic Indian restaurant one at some point, as I fear that might not be quite so easy! I added Peshwari naan to my list of untried foods, and I purchased a jar of peanut butter, after a chat at the coffee morning about peanut butter and jelly (jam I believe) sandwiches. That will be next on my list to try. Surely it can't be as bad as marmite?
It was also suggested that I try being harnessed in and released down a zip wire for another challenge, for me who is terrified of heights, I'm almost considering it!
Today was a huge day all round. I'm getting such a buzz from all these challenges, what will I do when I complete them all? I'm not sure I do "normal"
Anyway tomorrow is the fundraising quiz, dressed as you would expect in a monkey onesie!
People are stopping me now and asking me what's next and are showing a real interest in my challenges, which is wonderful, almost as good as the amounts of money that have been pouring in!
The coffee morning was another huge success today. As well as generating another £90 for the Centre we got people through the door who didn't even know where we were or what the centre was all about. Hopefully people left today with the same warmth I feel every time I walk in.
Another challenge today was to try a madras curry. For some this might not seem like much of a challenge, but for me the chicken tikka girl it was a biggy! Well I have to say shop bought madras was more than palatable. I'm going have to try the authentic Indian restaurant one at some point, as I fear that might not be quite so easy! I added Peshwari naan to my list of untried foods, and I purchased a jar of peanut butter, after a chat at the coffee morning about peanut butter and jelly (jam I believe) sandwiches. That will be next on my list to try. Surely it can't be as bad as marmite?
It was also suggested that I try being harnessed in and released down a zip wire for another challenge, for me who is terrified of heights, I'm almost considering it!
Today was a huge day all round. I'm getting such a buzz from all these challenges, what will I do when I complete them all? I'm not sure I do "normal"
Anyway tomorrow is the fundraising quiz, dressed as you would expect in a monkey onesie!
Saturday, 11 April 2015
£400 and counting
What a busy few days!
Last night was the end of my auction, and it went with a flurry of activity. If everyone who bids pays I will have raised over £150 with the items sold. The matchball donated by Tamworth FC went for a cracking £30.
Today we ran our first Family First day at the Centre. I organised it but had a great team around me doing all the work. The idea behind it all being that we would create a fun, relaxing environment and a release for families dealing with or having gone through some traumatic circumstances. We had a visit from the mayor and lots of activities for adults and children alike to have a go at. The day proved a great success in many ways, including on the challenge front. It chalked off another 5 and a half hours from my volunteering target, plus I managed to add a table top jewellery sale and a Grand National sweep to the list of challenges completed with another £38 and £28 respectively added to the total, which now currently stands at a whopping £540!!
Today also marked day 40 of the fitness challenge. I decided to finish with a little public skipping!
The day was not all about my targets though. Today I met and talked to people who have gone through some really tragic and difficult times. If what we can do through fundraising and holding events like this can help them get through and find some happiness, no price or value can be put on this. My cancer was sent to challenge me, and I've taken the challenge head on and hopefully made a difference. Some people still face the battle and pain of cancer every day, and I do these challenges for them. Many people are no longer with us because cancer took them too soon, again I remember them in everything I do.
On a lighter note, to finish the evening we had a little tea with a few luxury niceties to sample including the really unusual but tasty curry cheese, pepper and chilli chutney and proscuitto. That's 19 out of 40 foods and drinks tried, the second half is going to be harder to complete. I'm now a regular kale eater thanks to the challenges, added to my broccoli every Sunday lunch.
13 challenges completed and my fundraising target hammered. I'm not sure which fundraising target to aim for next. Thanks for following my incredible journey towards 40.
Last night was the end of my auction, and it went with a flurry of activity. If everyone who bids pays I will have raised over £150 with the items sold. The matchball donated by Tamworth FC went for a cracking £30.
Today we ran our first Family First day at the Centre. I organised it but had a great team around me doing all the work. The idea behind it all being that we would create a fun, relaxing environment and a release for families dealing with or having gone through some traumatic circumstances. We had a visit from the mayor and lots of activities for adults and children alike to have a go at. The day proved a great success in many ways, including on the challenge front. It chalked off another 5 and a half hours from my volunteering target, plus I managed to add a table top jewellery sale and a Grand National sweep to the list of challenges completed with another £38 and £28 respectively added to the total, which now currently stands at a whopping £540!!
Today also marked day 40 of the fitness challenge. I decided to finish with a little public skipping!
The day was not all about my targets though. Today I met and talked to people who have gone through some really tragic and difficult times. If what we can do through fundraising and holding events like this can help them get through and find some happiness, no price or value can be put on this. My cancer was sent to challenge me, and I've taken the challenge head on and hopefully made a difference. Some people still face the battle and pain of cancer every day, and I do these challenges for them. Many people are no longer with us because cancer took them too soon, again I remember them in everything I do.
13 challenges completed and my fundraising target hammered. I'm not sure which fundraising target to aim for next. Thanks for following my incredible journey towards 40.
Wednesday, 8 April 2015
Spring sunshine and a quick update
Well the sunshine has made the fitness challenge easier, plenty of walking and playing outdoor games over the last few days. I just wish I didn't need the toilet every time I get on a trampoline!
Just 3 days left of the fitness challenge now!
The nice weather at home has also given me the opportunity to get cracking on some more of the books. The BFG and Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator are now complete. I popped down to the library to get some more books. Some are now on order so I've got a few to keep me going. 16 down 24 left. The ladies were so helpful in the library getting me some reserved.
Board games are being dusted down, old and new Monopoly earlier today, and as quite often in our house I won. We played cheese touch later, a spin off from the diary of a wimpy kid series of books and films. I'm roping all the family into this one.
The holidays are over half way through and I haven't even opened the box for my 1000 piece puzzle. I think the summer 6 weeks holiday might well be jam packed with challenges!
This weekend will be busy, a family fun day I organised at the centre, before my challenges started. I should clock up a few more hours towards my 40 hours volunteering though. I'll get to meet the mayor again, although this time fortunately not in a Villa shirt. That's twice in one month!
Well best get back to munching my way through 40 flavours of crisps and my latest book. John Masefield's Box of Delights.
Hopefully by my next update I'll have cracked my £400 target and I'll be looking for greater figures and greater challenges?!
Just 3 days left of the fitness challenge now!
The nice weather at home has also given me the opportunity to get cracking on some more of the books. The BFG and Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator are now complete. I popped down to the library to get some more books. Some are now on order so I've got a few to keep me going. 16 down 24 left. The ladies were so helpful in the library getting me some reserved.
Board games are being dusted down, old and new Monopoly earlier today, and as quite often in our house I won. We played cheese touch later, a spin off from the diary of a wimpy kid series of books and films. I'm roping all the family into this one.
The holidays are over half way through and I haven't even opened the box for my 1000 piece puzzle. I think the summer 6 weeks holiday might well be jam packed with challenges!
This weekend will be busy, a family fun day I organised at the centre, before my challenges started. I should clock up a few more hours towards my 40 hours volunteering though. I'll get to meet the mayor again, although this time fortunately not in a Villa shirt. That's twice in one month!
Well best get back to munching my way through 40 flavours of crisps and my latest book. John Masefield's Box of Delights.
Hopefully by my next update I'll have cracked my £400 target and I'll be looking for greater figures and greater challenges?!
Sunday, 5 April 2015
Easter Update
Now if my challenge had been to eat 40 days worth of chocolate in a day, then I'd had that fixed in no time at all!
The rugby league match was great fun, and although I got no Wigan fans to post photos or donate, I did get my mention in the match day programme which was great. Geting other people to donate who don't know me or or others to do a challenge is posing me real problems. Please try and get your friends onboard, even if they just share an inspirational photo for me and donate £1 it all helps.
I read The Silver Sword, a favourite from primary school which I picked up in London last week. I think I'm back onto another couple of Roald Dahl loan books. 12 completed so not bad.
I came up with another challenge today whilst playing Risk with my family, 40 games (the board / card variety) alongside the computer game variety. After trashing my PC earlier in the week the computer variety will prove more tricky to complete. I managed to find some apps on the tablet which mimic old games. Who remembers snake from their old mobile phones? or even older the tennis game on the old grandstand computer consoles? There is one of them on display in the science museum! Anyway so running alongside this I'll be playing old favourites of mine such as monopoly and scrabble, as well as dominos, cluedo etc.
I'm into my final week of the fitness challenges, a 5 mile bike ride yesterday and 1000 steps on the stepper today. The end is in sight, and my next physical challenge will beckon as the weather improves. More details to follow .....
Don't forget, this is what it is all about
The rugby league match was great fun, and although I got no Wigan fans to post photos or donate, I did get my mention in the match day programme which was great. Geting other people to donate who don't know me or or others to do a challenge is posing me real problems. Please try and get your friends onboard, even if they just share an inspirational photo for me and donate £1 it all helps.
I read The Silver Sword, a favourite from primary school which I picked up in London last week. I think I'm back onto another couple of Roald Dahl loan books. 12 completed so not bad.
I came up with another challenge today whilst playing Risk with my family, 40 games (the board / card variety) alongside the computer game variety. After trashing my PC earlier in the week the computer variety will prove more tricky to complete. I managed to find some apps on the tablet which mimic old games. Who remembers snake from their old mobile phones? or even older the tennis game on the old grandstand computer consoles? There is one of them on display in the science museum! Anyway so running alongside this I'll be playing old favourites of mine such as monopoly and scrabble, as well as dominos, cluedo etc.
I'm into my final week of the fitness challenges, a 5 mile bike ride yesterday and 1000 steps on the stepper today. The end is in sight, and my next physical challenge will beckon as the weather improves. More details to follow .....
Don't forget, this is what it is all about
I've received no new donations in the last week, so please keep sharing and help me to complete all of my 40 challenges.
Thank you for following my blog, and inspiring me to complete these 40 challenges.
Wednesday, 1 April 2015
Start of the Easter holidays
Now I have some time on my hands I best get cracking on these challenges.
I've got 10 more days to go on my fitness challenge, and so far even if it's just a short walk I've done something every day, and so has Samuel.
I've watched up to 1983 in films, so hopefully I can crack on a bit with these.
New challenges have started, Rob's favourite eating 40 different flavour crisp / savory snacks. Haggis and cracked pepper has been my most unusual so far, although they tasted just like steak.
I also am trying to play 40 computer games from my youth and young adulthood. I managed 8 in one evening, and ended up needing my PC fixing after installing all sorts of spyware and rubbish on it. I may have to be careful on the next 32.
I've invested in a 1000 piece puzzle to work on. Never tackled one this big so should be fun.
My rugby league match is almost upon me, and I'll be going to a sell out local derby. It should be fun. I support the team in red not blue, I support the team in red not blue! And I might get a mention in the match day programme too, fingers crossed!
I now have a coffee morning booked at the centre, so hopefully this will generate lots of support and visitors to see what it's all about. I've been practicing my cake baking skill.
Did I mention that I might have to learn how to play the violin too?! That will be fun.
I just hope I can get everything done before my birthday, and raise lots of money and awareness in the process.
https://www.justgiving.com/Louisevernon4040/
Just in case you've been on a different planet!
I've got 10 more days to go on my fitness challenge, and so far even if it's just a short walk I've done something every day, and so has Samuel.
I've watched up to 1983 in films, so hopefully I can crack on a bit with these.
New challenges have started, Rob's favourite eating 40 different flavour crisp / savory snacks. Haggis and cracked pepper has been my most unusual so far, although they tasted just like steak.
I also am trying to play 40 computer games from my youth and young adulthood. I managed 8 in one evening, and ended up needing my PC fixing after installing all sorts of spyware and rubbish on it. I may have to be careful on the next 32.
I've invested in a 1000 piece puzzle to work on. Never tackled one this big so should be fun.
My rugby league match is almost upon me, and I'll be going to a sell out local derby. It should be fun. I support the team in red not blue, I support the team in red not blue! And I might get a mention in the match day programme too, fingers crossed!
I now have a coffee morning booked at the centre, so hopefully this will generate lots of support and visitors to see what it's all about. I've been practicing my cake baking skill.
Did I mention that I might have to learn how to play the violin too?! That will be fun.
I just hope I can get everything done before my birthday, and raise lots of money and awareness in the process.
https://www.justgiving.com/Louisevernon4040/
Just in case you've been on a different planet!
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