| Hi
At the end of my army basic training we were dropped off by truck 40 kms from base on the Friday of our first pass weekend. 3 months basic training done - be back in base by 6pm and you can go on pass weekend. We were fit, we knew no better and we wanted to get out of camp. We formed a squad and ran calling left, right, left all the way to base
Roll the camera forward over 50 years and my niece passes away following a long struggle with breast cancer. I see a Facebook ad for the Sydney 7 Bridges Walk for Cancer Council NSW - the 20th such walk. Walk the 7 Sydney Bridges - 28 kms. I sign up - no worries, mate - done more than that before. What is 50 years between a young man and an old man?
Yep - do some training - maybe 15k steps in a day wearing the boots I will wear. No worries, mate.
Dawns a lovely cool morning in Sydney - my wife drives me to the start and I start. Met The Fonz from Maitland in the Hunter Valley shortly after the start. He has just come out of two cycles of cancer treatment (bowel and liver) 6 months ago and is walking. We have a lot of common stuff to talk about the valley.
I decided to do the walk nonstop. That is what we did in 1974 - run nonstop for 40 kms back to base and a great weekend pass in Grahamstown with friends. And that is what I did this time - walk nonstop - you can read the story and pictures here
What I would really appreciate is a donation in memory of my niece. Colleen was an amazing mother, and her Namibian patients loved Dr Colleen. Gone too soon. And it would mean heaps to my little sis and to me.
I know this is a distraction to what is normal in October. I will be back on the bicycle again for Kids Cancer. We have a lovely cycling weekend coming up and there is a chance I will double the kms done to date. I will pester you on that subject later.
Take good care and we so appreciate your support - the kids, the cancer patients and the people who care for them, and my little sis.
Mark
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