Good Bye To Brave Hayley

Early on Wednesday morning, the 31^st of August 2011, I had a phone call from Lee Mitchell. Lee is the loving and very supportive husband of Hayley. His news was devastating. Hayley had died less than two hours before. Sarah and I had seen Hayley four weeks earlier and she was poorly but high spirited and looking forward to new treatments for her on-going battle against breast cancer.

Sarah and I had become good friends with Hayley and Lee via social media and a joint hatred of the disease. Sarah is a survivor and had been through the treatments, me a supporter of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, a leading charity fighting to see a world free of the fear of breast cancer I am someone who shouts a lot about it, runs a bit and organises the odd event to raise funds.

For two years Hayley had bravely fought the disease, giving me and Sarah some moments that we will never forget. One was during dinner at their house last year. Hayley was sat there, no hair, Sarah with her's just growing back. Hayley had a hot flush boosted somewhat by the chemo. She got up rinsed a flannel under cold water and unceremoniously plonked it on her bald head then sat down with the new flat hat dribbling water on her face and carried on as if nothing had happened. Another I would like to mention was last October. I had arranged a 70s concert at the Chatham Central Theatre to raise money for Breakthrough. My band MUD2 (I used to work with the great Les Gray) The Rubettes featuring Alan Williams and the rather brilliant Too Rex. Original MUD guitarist Rob Davis turned up unannounced to me and as a surprise to everyone in the crowd, let alone Sarah who almost wet herself when he walked out! Hayley was in a wheelchair at this time and really unable to stand much, let alone walk. It came to the end of our set and as we kicked off Tigerfeet she pulled herself out of her chair and danced with Sarah at the front row. I can remember her broad smiling face as she defied any pain, any suffering or any hardship to have a good time even if only for a four minute song. Every time we play the song now at home or overseas I will remember Hayley's face and enjoyment as she laughed in the face of the disease that would eventually take her young life.

Hayley Mitchell made an impression on my life. The way I view things, the way I will continue to do what I can to fight breast cancer. I have the uppermost respect for Lee. He showed strength, understanding and an amazing bond with Hayley, his wife of only a couple of years. They talked as if she had a bit of a cold, never complaining or blaming, just getting on with it!

Friday September the 9^th Hayley made her final mile on this planet. I was there to support and comfort Lee as much as I could. I know Sarah found it hard. No age is a good age to be taken by cancer but 27 is no age at all.

The chapel at Kettering Crematorium was packed. People stood in the aisle and many were left outside. I had the opportunity to say a few words and was so proud to do so.

What ever your thoughts, religion, or faith Hayley is in no further pain. This very brave young lady whom I only knew for less than three years, made such an impact on my life and that of many other people. Then I think, this was one funeral in 12,000 this year as a direct link to breast cancer. 12,000 packed chapels, 12,000 families, countless thousand broken hearts.

Please be breast aware, please check, please look at all of the various websites dealing with breast cancer before you or a loved one is diagnosed. ANY doubts see your GP and do not be afraid to seek a second opinion from your local breast clinic or other GP.

47,000 women and 300 men will be diagnosed in the next twelve months. Treatments are improving but by far the best weapon is early detection.

As for me, I promise, in Hayley's name, to keep fighting this terrible disease in any way I can.

Hayley Mitchell

I will be writing a piece about Hayley this weekend. Please drop by. Her funeral was really well attended and a great send off for such a young brave girl.

Good Bye Hayley

Hayley died peacefully in the early hours of Wednesday 31st of August.. I can't think of any other way to word it. 
Any card still on it's way for Hayley's Post Bag will be passed on to her husband Lee.
I will be writing a blog in a couple of of days but please send as much love to Lee and Hayley's family as you can muster.
Thank you for supporting Hayley's Post Bag the response was amazing.


Hayley's funeral will be on Friday September 9th at 10:30
Kettering Crematorium East Lodge, Rothwell Road, Kettering, NN16 8XE
Hayley had made a request that no flowers are sent but a donation instead to Cransley Hospice. Hayley had nothing but praise about the services she received from the staff at Cransley. You can donate via their website. http://www.cransleyhospice.org.uk/

Hayley's Postbag

Sarah and Hayley during one of her many treatment stages

I really hate cancer! Being so close to it doing "what I do" I read about it every day, talk about it every day and I even have Google Alerts send me info. I know numbers about breast cancer, I know stats, improvements in treatments, sciences and get involved in the politics. I have proudly spoken on TV, radio news programs, phone ins and even had my mug on giant billboards. I have won awards,  and even been short listed to carry the Olympic Flame! I write emails, phone people, help out at fund raising events, arrange them too sometimes. This year, as you all know, I ran the London Marathon for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. For the last mile I carried a flag. This was dedicated to a special person. It was Hayley's Flag, Hayley's Mile.
At the end of all this activity was and still is,  real people and sometimes I forget. I am  so dug in with the "stuff" mentioned above, I just carry on regardless!
Well, I need your help! The flag was to help me on my last mile.  Hayley Mitchell is a true fighter and when I found it tough to go out and train I thought of her with her battles with breast cancer and secondary cancers (YES cancer"S") and I made it out to train in the rain, snow and fog.
Hayley, at only 27,  is now very very poorly indeed. Unable to eat properly and no strength to walk. She doesn't have the strength to go on line, text and only occasionally can make a phone call.

Hayley's Mile flag

I would love it for you all to help me cheer her up. Please SEND CARDS! Loads of them. Ask friends to send them, make your own if you like (Just like Aunty Pat!)
Send them to

Hayley's Post Bag
27 Chevening Close
Walderslade
CHATHAM
Kent ME5 7PZ
United Kingdom

I will then take her a nice full post bag!
Please forward the link for this page to anyone.

The flag setting off down the Embankment. A mile to go!

Cards are coming in already from the UK, USA and Australia. Let's trend this folks. On Twitter #hayleyspostbag 
If you are a company please spread this blog's link on your Intranet system, a radio or TV presenter please give this a mention, post this link on your Facebook pages and Twitters, a news paper, please spare a column inch or two!  This will go big! Not only letting people know how tough the battle against breast cancer can be, but may also raise awareness about this terrible disease.
Please give electronics a rest for a minute and post a card. You only need to find a pen and stamp, remember them?
Thank you so very much.
Phil.

Bruce and Alvin

It's been a while!
This blog will be brief as I need to get my fingers and brain together before any serious writing gets under way.
In September I have the Run to The Beat half Marathon so training is on the up again for that. People wanting to join in on the 1974 fancy dress cheering point stay tuned on here and my Facebook page.
A lot has happened since I hobbled my way down the last few miles of the London Marathon.

Hayley meeting the Rubettes at our fundraiser last October

Firstly and above all is our friend Hayley. (Remember Hayley's Mile?) She is bravely battling on and our love goes to her, Lee and the family. We paid her a visit on Monday and she is poorly. Seeing such a young girl go through what she is going through almost made me quit! I felt lost, I couldn't do any more, I was a mess. But her spirits are high and after talking to Sarah and my dear friend Anna Wallace, I am staying put! I can't say much more on the subject, it is too upsetting. This is the reason I will be keeping it pink, fighting on where I can and doing what I can. Love you Hayley. FIGHT sweetheart FIGHT!

The Vodafone World of Difference program was a mixed bag. We got tons of awareness out there. I even got my mug on two giant bill boards in Rochester! (No one was reported to have crashed at the sight of a bloke in a pink T-Shirt and drum sticks!) Trying to get people to sign up to Project 350 was really hard and we have put it on the back burner. Anna and Becky at Breakthrough were pleased with the awareness side and were lovely, even though I had felt so negative about the final outcome. Still we battle on. I got to meet The Mayor of Rochester for a photo call by one of the posters. I did have a number of calls though "Was THAT you on a poster in Rochester?"

Very proud!

Congratulations to Sarah for running the entire way on her Race for Life in Hyde Park London. 2009 diagnosed with breast cancer, operation, chemo, radiotherapy, further medication and then runs 5k in 2011! Thanks to the ever helpful Mike Baron for the training plan. We had some great runs out at Leybourne Lakes until Sarah picked up an injury (Making her a proper runner!!) This meant she had to ease off in the final weeks to the event. With grit and proud determination with some very important names on her back she made it round in the rain and running all the way .Well done Dinky we are all so very proud of you, just as Kevin would have been.

Me and Eddie
Who better to share a medal with?

The week after I completed the Marathon I returned to London to walk with and help former stuntman Eddie Kidd. His trip was well documented in the press but still, well done mate. Great job.






I will be back in the lakes this week training for my first mini triathlon. It's madness. On the subject of sports, many congratulations to Mark Cavendish for winning the Green Jersey in this year's Tour De France. Great job to him and the HTC Highroad Team.


Thanks to everyone at the Dancing Dog Saloon for supporting a little Breakthrough Fundraiser this weekend. Photos soon.  It pulled in £180. Great job thank you.


We are moving in a few weeks and I will be starting a drum school. So anyone in or near Medway looking at starting or continuing drum lessons please get in touch.



We have two new additions to the household. Alvin and Bruce. We were informed that they were ginger Toms to find out on the first visit to the vet for their jabs that they are both girls! They are as mad as hatters and great fun. Bruce is now Brucie and Alvin is Alvin as it's originally a girl's name. (Don't tell Mr Stardust!)  Her name is a long story!!  I have taken loads of photos and entered one of Alvin for a competition. The picture is below. Please click on her photo to  cast your vote It will make her day (and ours) if she wins. I will keep you updated on breakages and the fact that cat do not have 9 lives they have well over two hundred! Bruce fell 7 foot from the top stair rail on to a wooden floor only to be jumped on by Alvin! No sympathy or mercy given!

If everyone who reads this votes for me I'll get fed!

This is the photo of Alvin in the competition! There are many more photos on Facebook. Feel free to have a look at Alvin & Brucie's Album! I hope to get back to the blogging at a more regular basis. In the meantime please have a moment to think about Hayley. She is deeply in our thoughts and prayers (Even though I do feel god is an ostrich with his head in the sand at the moment!)      


Please CLICK HERE to vote


See you all again soon. 
Phil

RACE DAY

Expo

6am on a Sunday morning the alarm goes off! I didn't throw it at the wall because I had put myself in “early shift” time zone as recommended by the marathon books, magazines, my coach Mike, The London Marathon booklet and the local Witch Doctor. Still 6.00am on a Sunday.... really? Mind you what was ahead was even more nuts.

Today was the day I had been training for, for over a year. A year of short runs, long runs, interval training and hill runs. Knackered knees a sore bum and a crazy time table due to gigs. Some of my weeks had 6 days some as many as 9. Trying to squeeze in that all important long run had become a battle. My friend and coach Mike Baron had displayed the patience of a saint. “Long run this week?”

“Nope! Next Tuesday!”

..and the kitchen sink!

I dragged my sorry self down for my fifty nine millionth bowl of porridge with fruit and nuts, a slice of toast and, for a change, a bottle of water!” I had been through my check list a thousand times. Breakthrough shirt, shorts, two pairs of socks, two pairs of shoes, gel belt four gels, jelly beans, hat... on and on it went, I felt like I was about to embark on a trip to the Antarctic, but that would have needed a tent and line of big white fluffy dogs and I have seen enough dogs for one year! My number was already pinned to my vest then everything went into “the red bag” and Sarah and I set off for Chatham railway station. I was going over the check list in my head “Hayley's Flag, MP3 player, spare shoe laces, Vaseline (For those important little places!) Long sleeve under shirt, short sleeve under-shirt (Or base layer as they call them in the glossy running mags!), just in case of a change in the weather before the start. 

No turning back now!

There were several people with telltale red bags on the platform and we passed pleasantries through half closed eyes! Doubt started running round my head. Have I done enough? I had stuck pretty much to Mike’s training plan but the last three weeks had been chaos. Five gigs in the U K, then Germany and Holland, three visits to Breakthrough including the really impressive state of the art Breakthrough labs. I had also been to Scotland to compère a charity event for a friend running a Breakthrough charity show. Then there was a trip to Salisbury to see Steve Bevis putting together the Hayley's Mile Flag, so all in all a crazy few weeks.

Viv and Clare

We had been to the London Marathon EXPO at the London ExCel Centre the Friday before to pick up my red bag, race number, another bowl of pasta, entered every free draw known to man, sampled every energy drink, chocolate bar, had a massage, some more samples and floated merrily six inches off of the floor!  While We were there Sarah and I paid a visit visit the Breakthrough stand. It was good to see Viv and Clare were on fine form, as the gang at Breakthrough always are. Always smiling. I think it's the pink food colouring in their coffee!!

This was the day though. In what seemed like seconds we arrived at Blackheath Railway Station and followed the swarm of people to the Blue Start. I queued up for a last minute loo visit behind Mickey Mouse, Superman a bloke in a yellow tutu and a man who really shouldn't be wearing a Borat mankini!  Well that's England! It is a free society! I changed in to my other shoes. I had two pairs in case the grass was wet as sticky damp shoes can cause blisters, some people had plastic bags over theirs. I said my farewells to Sarah and made my way through the security barrier. (It's there to stop you getting out!!) Inside there was a line of articulated lorries (Semis for my American friends) all numbered with race numbers. I found mine and handed over my bag. These 37,000 bags were to meet us at the finish! Amazing. I had a little walk about and 

At least I looked like I knew what I was doing!

luckily the grass was bone dry so I soaked up a bit of the remarkable atmosphere rather than dew. The call went out and I started my warm up routine and did some light stretches. Entering the holding pen with the other “Blue 5” runners I waited. There was no pushing but the odd and unrepeatable comment kept me amused. The fantastic marshals did their "Shepard" bit and I was on the road.  Soon we started moving forward to a very familiar tune. If EVER I hear that bloody Heather Small song again, I think I will implode! "What have you done today to make me go BANG!"  I didn't hear the countdown or starting horn but we made our way to the start. I gave the customary cheesy wave to the BBC TV camera for Mum and set off at a very slow pace with those around me. There was the odd madman thinking he was on a 500 yard dash, dodging in and out of the runners. One fell over and created a hold up. He was carted off by St Johns, no doubt for summary execution for being stupid.

That was it, I was on my way. I was finally on my way in THE London Marathon. Just keep going for 26.2 miles. Really? How hard can it be?? I won't give you a step by step because there are about 49,000 of them for the likes of me.

Crossing mile 1 a big cheer went up. Everyone but everyone joined in. I set my pace to about 10 minutes a mile but I could not find the 10 minute pace team. Still I was comfortable and breathing fine and I 

planned to run off of my heart rate monitor and not split times. I wanted to get round safely. A couple of times after about Mile 6 it bleeped at me at 100% so I eased off and brought it back to “Stay Alive You Plonka!” I felt remarkably fresh and this was purely thanks to Mike for setting such a great training plan and Sarah for pushing me out of the house kicking and screaming because it was raining! I was sipping water as practised and advised and kept an even flow going. Timing it to run out at the next water station and then picking up a fresh bottle. The Lucozade feeding stations were a welcome site at regular intervals too. (Other sports drinks are available..... but not today so there!) In what seemed no time at all I was turning right off of Tooley Street and facing the iconic view of Tower Bridge. Yes, Ok, I started to well up! Who wouldn't? Crossing this, one of the most famous land marks in the world, in one of the biggest sporting events in the world representing my favourite charity and supporting all those with breast cancer was amazing. A tear? You bet! The noise made by the crowd was deafening. It was amazing. Even the theme from Thomas The Tank Engine chugging through my Play list From Hell couldn't blot out the roar. I looked to my left and saw HMS Belfast and giggled remembering the fact that if the guns let go a round each they would take out The London Gateway Motorway Services Area on the M1, some 12 miles away! That will stop them charging fifty quid for a ham roll and a cold coffee! Once over the bridge we turned right along East Smithfield towards Mile 13, almost half way and the first Breakthrough Cheering Point. One thing I forgot to pack was ear plugs. I should have taken out my MP3 headphones and filled my ears with expanding foam, cotton wool and clay. The noise these people made was out of this world! I recognised Anna Bedford to whom I am grateful for all of her support with the Mid Kent Group and Project 350. She was surrounded by a mass of smiling cheering faces.. and yes I welled up again! I gave them all a “Thank you” smile through a another tear and looked to the other cheering point over the road and saw Sarah doing an impression of a squid reaching for its pray, six foot something Clive looking over everyone like a king meerkat, Lyn in new shoes, Sarah R from our Mid Kent Group and her son Sam. These brilliant friends were swarmed by another enthusiastic bunch in bright pink (Sorry! Breakthrough corporate magenta) all waving and shouting, slamming inflatable clappers like crazy! This really does give you a lift. Off I went somewhat elated. Thanks also to Siobhan Cronin whom I saw earlier too. I can't remember quite where but I heard them!!

Cheer Leader and "shouter of the Year" Becky Crowe.
Thank you all. Every last one of you!

Marathons do funny things to your body. One minute you are fine, the next you feel like you could crawl into a hole, eat cake and melted Mars Bars. My time was about to come. Out from nowhere my ‘working quite well fifty something year old’ body was doing ok and then... nothing. My hips felt like they were being stabbed with branding iron and my legs felt like I was running through mud. I had found out from my long runs that stopping after a couple of hours trying to walk, my coordination goes gaga and I run like Mr Bean. I carried on running to the next St Johns medical point and woddled in. Stopping I almost went over in a heap. I was seen to by a very caring member of their team. She gave me a quick rub down made sure that I was OK. Questions like “Are you completely mad?” 

“Yes” Pointed me in the right direction and said "See that bloke with a cake on his head? Follow him! He's bonkers too! Then gave me a shove back out onto the road.

I was a lot slower now and my feet barely came off of the road! As I shuffled along, the crowd around The Isle of Dogs were shouting and yelling my name along with other struggling runners. I laughed as I was over taken by a blooming pantomime camel and two men dressed up as a London Bus! That would really put my “time” into the rubbish pit. I was after a 4.50 and told friends to give them an idea of where I would be on certain parts of the course. I tried to phone about my delay but not surprisingly all of the phone networks were rammed! I managed to pick up my step after a while but Miles 18, 19, 20 and 21, were the hardest of the whole run. I never thought about quitting. I thought about the people I was running for. People battling breast cancer, chemo, feeling dreadful and HAVING to carry on with their treatments. Hayley waiting at 25, Sarah coming round from her operation two years ago, Lisa S in the States with her fight, Lisa D in the UK, a breast cancer survivor  running the same race last year with a leg fracture. They couldn't quit and after all the work I had put in, the trust put in me by Mike, Sarah and Breakthrough I was not pulling out EVER! I looked forward to the next milestone of 22 and another  Breakthrough Cheering Point. 

Me at Mile 25 Breakthrough Cheering Point

I saw the flags and sea of pink. SORRY AGAIN.. magenta and a found a spring in my step. I was fifty metres away and the noise started. Cheers, shouting, clappers and Manager Becky Crow shouting loud enough to shatter glass. The pain went from my legs to my ear drums and I trotted past, picking my feet up almost at race pace, but shortly being over taken by Sonic the Bloody Hedgehog put pay to my spirit! I never did like computer games! I thought about tripping the skankie blue rat-bag up, but that would be unsporting of me! My mind turned to Mile 25 and meeting Hayley to collect her flag. After coming under Blackfriars Bridge the road turned and I looked down the Embankment. An explosion of colour, I could see the charity flags, balloons, clappers, banners and cheering point tee-shirts. It was a fantastic sight but I was really feeling bad now. My legs were like jelly, my hips pounding and I was digging up determination from parts of my body I never knew existed. I had to take a break and walk a while. I settled the staggering and I felt a tap on my back “Hello Stranger!” it was Breakthrough runner and superstar Kerry Burton. We chatted arm in arm for a good ten minutes and she managed to refuel my spirit  tank. Thank you Kerry for the chat. She saw her friends and family on the left and I carried on at a trot as she stopped for a chat. I then saw the Breakthrough Mile 25 cheering point and managed to find the strength to pick up to a run. I must have looked drunk as I meandered across the road. In true Breakthrough fashion the cheering point broke into life. Sarah was there with Clive, 

Hayley's Flag Sets Off!

Lyn, Sarah R her son Sam and of course Hayley and her husband Lee. Many tears were shed as I collected the flag and knowing what it stood for. I had to carry on straight away as I was afraid everything inside me would seize up. I set off along the Embankment on Hayley's Mile with the brilliant flag made by Steve Bevis and family. Soon I turned into Parliament Square and the crowd seemed to swell and just get louder. I was hurting everywhere. Not able to hold out the flag high all the time I wrapped it round me like a poncho! Hearing the noise of the crowd as I ran past Buckingham Palace gave me a final boost and I entered into The Mall and knowing that the finish line was ahead I welled up AGAIN.. No apologies!!. Holding the flag high and wearing the Breakthrough vest with such pride I headed for the finish, trying to muster a smile for the camera! I crossed the line. I was zapped! I had done what I had set out to do and finish. Finish for the names on the flag and countless others in the UK and around the world. I was given my.. sorry THEIR  medal and my goodie bag!

Remembering Mikes instructions I had a good stretch out and cool down breaking out one of the drinks in the goodie bag then I staggered the length of the bag lorries to collect my clothes.

JOB DONE!!!!!

I was very light headed and propped myself up against a tree to let the sensation pass. I felt ok to make my way to meeting point “W” to meet up with everyone. (If I do it next year I'm changing my name to Adams!) They were really pleased to see me. Many hugs and photos. Then sadly I felt faint again and had to lay down, I was out for the count. Well actually I blacked out! Thanks to some quick thinking by the now blister footed Lyn (See.. new shoes on a marathon not a good idea, running or supporting!)  I was sorted out by the brilliant folks of St John’s and taken to a recovery tent. It's not that Sarah didn't care, but she's always seeing me fall asleep in a second! I was assessed and moved by ambulance  to St Thomas' Hospital. Even though I had taken on a bath full of water and lake of sports drinks I was severely dehydrated. The doctor said that I was very well prepared and very fit but the weather had got so warm so fast it had caught out some very experienced runners. This being my first I was satisfied that I had done OK. The training for the London Marathon is all in the winter so I hadn't run in warm weather. I stayed overnight and Sarah and I made our way home on Monday morning. The staff at St Thomas' were fantastic. 

You'll love this...

I came home to an email saying that I had won a free place in the Run to The Beat London Half Marathon in September! Here we go again, More warm weather training me thinks.

BUT for now my campaign for Project 350 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer takes centre stage. My next blogs will be aimed at Project 350 and if you live in Kent and would like to take a very small challenge please contact me. I will outline the whole project in the next blog.

Thank you to everyone who sponsored me for the London Marathon. Times are tough and the fivers really do build up and help Breakthrough enormously. The Playlist from hell was hilarious and on its own raised £1000. My overall total was just over £2000 thank you everybody.

This blog will carry on along with the Vodafone World of Difference blog for Project 350.

Training will also carry on, I have the half marathon in September, maybe a 10k in Faversham plus I am tempted to have a go at a sprint triathlon. Being a strong swimmer and reasonable cyclist I quite fancy it. I'll keep you all informed. Until then, thank you all so very much for your support. It really helped me round.

‘Follow Phil to London’ is done and dusted. I made it, ran it and loved it all with your support. I need a new title for my blog, any ideas? Coming up are the events listed above and then there's the band and so on. Please email your ideas. The best will be short listed and I'll think up a final. Maybe even a prize!

See you all soon and please support Breakthrough. Use the link on the right of this blog to visit their fantastic website. GET INVOLVED!!!


And Finally 

My first London Marathon will be a moment to remember and cherish forever. The support, noise and emotions will be with me for a very long time. Thank you to everyone who made it all possible.

It is with heartfelt joy that I dedicate my first ever London Marathon to people touched by breast cancer, Jane and the Running Team at Breakthrough and all the other staff and supporters. And to Sarah. A breast cancer fighter and survivor and without her support I would never have put the running shoes on in the first place. Thank you.

I didn't do this on my own!

EDDIE KIDD HELP

Urgent mini Blog:
If you can help with a lift to South East London from Medway and back over the next few weeks so that I can help motor bike stunt man Eddie Kidd with his London Marathon attempt then please email me ASAP leave your contact details and I will call you.
Thank you ever so much.
philawilson@blueyonder.co.uk

London Marathon Blog will follow soon.

London Marathon

The London Marathon was the most amazing experience. I will be writing up on the adventure and incredible experience very soon.  In the meantime, I am knackered so please bear with me!!!

For a short time only on BBC i-Player
A little bit of my London Marathon story on BBC Radio Kent. Please use the link and then run the program on to 1hr and 31 mins.
Many thanks to Pat Marsh and Laura for taking time out to read it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p00g06dv 

One Week To Go!

Happy Birthday mate!
Future £1000 Challenger Michaela
providing the improvised candle!

Every time I start a blog I usually go on about how busy it's been in Pinkland, with gigs and training. This is then interspersed with the odd anecdote and having a pop at Michalski (It was his Birthday). 

There will be a rest from this for the next couple of weeks. There are a couple of reasons for this. I have a bit of a run around London to do next Sunday plus I would not be able to do justice to the stories I have to tell about the last couple of weeks. To give you an idea this is what I would like to talk about. Seven gigs taking in five UK shows, a trip to Germany and one to Holland. Collecting my new set of Paiste Alpha cymbals from Martin Potts at Paiste, (blinding they are too!) A trip to the Breakthrough research lab in London, winning the Rochester People Local Legend competition, driving to Bristol for the Local Legend photo shoot, going to Salisbury to see the Hayley's Mile flag take shape (It's big!) Being filmed for a student at a local university as part of a media course as she follows me to the London Marathon. A friend Michaela in Milton Keynes is taking on the Breakthrough £1000 challenge (She's going to jump out of an aeroplane!!!) I gave a talk and collected a cheque from Kings School Canterbury. Sarah R from the  Mid Kent Group held a fundraiser for my marathon fund, I have also been to Breakthrough for web training and another day on a brilliant course entitled “Inspiring Action!” Project 350 is moving along, it's going to be tough but worthwhile. Then there's my normal chat about the English Weather, dogs and falling over! So a ten page blog looms!

The very generous Marlene.
Thank you for supporting Breakthrough

It would just be impossible to do the stories justice especially the fantastic Coffee Morning put on by Sarah R and her mum and the very generous Marlene Oranje from Holland who after asking for a pair of my pink drumsticks, following a gig there, handed over a very sizeable donation towards my run. Thank you Marlene. The picture is a few moments after coming off stage so I had "Stage Hair!"

I have just over one week to go before my first marathon. 26.2 miles of our capital city's roads in a bright pink Breakthrough running vest.
So I would just like to focus on the reasons why I do what I do for this week's blog.

Figures released last month showed an increase in the number of cases of breast cancer in the UK to 47,700 (2008). Deaths from the disease are still around the 12,000 mark but are thankfully dropping slowly. This is due to a number of factors including better treatments and earlier detection. Most cases are in women but we must not forget the 300 men diagnosed each year in the UK. In fact did you know that breast cancer kills as many men as testicular cancer? Breakthrough Breast Cancer is fighting on all fronts with ground breaking and world beating research, education programs and campaigning. In short, they are covering all aspects of the disease. They do this with belief and a passion. I am lucky enough to know many people at Breakthrough, Jane and Emma in Running, Becky and Anna in Community, Georgina and her gang at Campaigning and then more!  Many tireless volunteers and fundraisers, including the truly unbelievable Amanda Jones. To know these people, let alone work alongside them is a privilege. The research at Breakthrough is amazing and mind numbingly successful, bringing a number of new drugs and treatments from “bench to bedside” in record time. As well as cellular and DNA research, Breakthrough is running the brilliant Generations Study, following over 100,000 women for forty years to look for common links and hopefully the cause of breast cancer. I have been to the labs and seen the workings behind the study and it is truly amazing. The iPhone Breast Check, the

I'm going in! I may be some time!

Touch Look Check campaigns and campaigning to parliamentary level for the best treatments for breast cancer patients in our hospitals. I did parliament last year with Breakthrough and walking through the great halls of power on behalf of such an amazing charity gave me goose bumps on goose bumps. Getting a result from my MP just added more goose bumps! This all costs money from 10p a litre for liquid nitrogen to freeze tissue and blood samples to several hundred thousand pounds for state of the art lab machinery. So when I say “every penny counts” I mean just that.

I am almost half way to my £2000 target for the marathon and I appeal to your generosity to please sponsor me. (Please use the Virgin Money Giving link to the right of this blog and remember to tick the Gift Aid box if you qualify.) Breakthrough have 150 runners and I am so very proud to be part of that team. Fancy coming on the day? Breakthrough have three Cheering Points. Miles 13/22 and 25. Join the gang and cheer on the runners. It really is a great day. Remember sun tan lotion, a hat, plenty of water and a packed lunch. (Link Below)

Mile 25 Cheering point 2010

I was on the mile 25 cheering point last year and it really is humbling seeing so many runners all with their own stories and journeys, run walk and literally stagger past late on! Mine has been easy in comparison: A few knee injuries, a sore bum, trod in countless piles of dog poo and been jumped on by the odd mutt! That's it really. However your support, whether by coming along for a shout and giggle, spotting pink and white vests on telly (BBC1) or sending a couple of your hard earned pounds really is all appreciated

Something to sleep on, if you go or even see the race on TV just look at the number of people taking part. Hundreds and thousands of runners streaming past is an awe inspiring sight but think on this. That is 36,000 people. It's a lot. Add another 11,000 to that crowd and that is how many people will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Four hours and thirty minutes is the most popular 

As far as the eye can see. Just think about it.

finishing time with 300 runners a minute making their final strides along the Mall towards the finish line. Imagine watching this none stop, without averting your eyes for a second, for forty minutes. 12,000 people will pass in front of you. 12,000! That's how many loose their battle against breast cancer in the UK every year. It's almost impossible to imagine but putting numbers into pictures can help visualise the battle we have. Will 10p really make a difference? Yes. My £2000 target, if achieved, will be a massive success and I will be over the moon. However, on Monday April 18th  I will feel rubbish, knackered, stiff and sore but proudly owning a London Marathon finisher's medal. Also on Monday the 18th April we can expect an average of 180 people to be told they have breast cancer. Tuesday I will feel better, where will they be? How will they feel? This chaps is why I do this and I will not stop after the Marathon. I have Project 350 to run, Breakthrough Mid Kent to get going for 2011 and 2012. The Vodafone World of Difference is helping make a difference and winning the Rochester People Local Legend title was a real privilege and helped me kick on in another gear.. Being involved with Breakthrough is an honour. I know that budget cuts are a pain and belts are tight but really every penny counts. I share Breakthrough's wish for a “World free from the fear of breast cancer” Please help me help Breakthrough to help others.

STUFF

Breakthrough Cheering Points info CLICK HERE Be there, be loud and be pink!!

Fancy following me on the day? www.twitter.com/pipdrums Not on Twitter? Just register and follow @pipdrums 

Full details for a day at the Virgin London Marathon CLICK HERE including maps and travel info.

Please donate by using the Virgin Money Giving link on the right.

Email info@breakthroughmidkent.org.uk if you would rather post a cheque.

Thanks guys.
Phil

Rochester People

STOP PRESS
Thanks to your votes we have won the Rochester People Local Legend competition.
This is amazing. I will be able to get as much publicity as I can to help raise awareness about breast cancer in the local area. In Kent 1,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year and over 350 lose their battle against the disease. Early diagnosis is the best weapon we have at reducing the national figure of 12,000 deaths which includes 300 men.
Winning this fantastic award is a testament to the hundreds of fundraisers throughout Kent and the fighting spirit of the men and women close to the disease either a fighter or supporter, and to the tireless medical teams serving the community.
I will be saving a tipple until after the London Marathon or my coach will be on me like a shot.
Thank you ladies and gentlemen I toast you all.
Click here for the Rochester People announcement

An almighty thump belted out from the front door of something crashing on the floor! It had arrived, the magazine, not any magazine but THE magazine. The London Marathon Newsletter. That means it's a month to go before the big day. Am I ready? I hope so! I think so! I have a lot riding on my pink and white shirt. Tell you what though, I'd love a boost in sponsors! A fiver? Tenner? £26.20? have an ebay frenzy and sell some old tat! Please use the Virgin Money Giving Link to the right and please remember to tick the “Gift Aid” box squeezing 28% out of the government. (This will soon drop to %25!)

The last couple of weeks have been frantic. No change there then. Steamimh Away on Project 350, Training for my first marathon interrupted by the occasional night's sleep, a gig in sunny Bognor, good to see everyone there, and a trip to Glasgow and back.

Our mate "dave" with a new life size 200 seat jet. "Of cause you'll all fit in!

Breakthrough supporter and breast cancer survivor Palma McKeown had arranged a dinner and cabaret evening. I had once again opened my big pink mouth and said I'd pop up and compère the evening. No, I am not going to have a dig at Ryanair. They provide a good service and we did have very cheap flights. For Sarah and I it was £70.00 return all in, total, finish, that's yer lot, not each, TOTAL. But boy do you pay for it! Why oh why do people sit in an aisle seat when the two other seats are still free then grumble when surprise surprise they are asked to move so I can get in? Plonka! The brilliant TV comedy Fly With Me missed some tricks too. The speed speaking, high pitched voice and unrealistic technical terminology of the make up girls. “Oohh your skin looks dehydrated, you need PH 34567 YH 4 version 2c with hello Vera concealer! Only £456.57 with a free poodle” That's nuts. Dehydrated? Boots have bottles water for a quid next door and if Sarah was that worried about concealer she would have stayed in! Anyway, poor Sarah was taken in by this spell casting witch doctor and she spent the price of an average semi detached house in Barnsley on two tins of pink stuff and tube of yellow. I gave the poodle back, it bit me! The TV program also missed the opportunity of ripping in to the veritable parade of cabin crew marching up and down the aisle. First on the bill, and the only thing free on Ryanair, the magazine giver-outer (I nicked one just for the hell of it!) Then the smokeless cigarettes, then laminated menu with hideously over priced burgers that stink if the person behind you is munching on one, then the scratch cards, then the drinks, then the rubbish bag, then the perfume trolley, then the rubbish bag again (Supposedly because the perfume is bought in Turkey and is crap) Then train tickets to London and finally the rubbish bag again for uneaten burgers with one bite taken out of them (some with teeth in) followed by a staff member expert in the Heinrich Manoeuvre. . All it lacked was a clown on stilts, dog jumping through hoops and a fire eater called Smoky. Disney's tune “It's a Small World” blasting through the distorted intercom wouldn't have been out of place either. Still we arrived in Prestwick (Ryanair's Glasgow) to a fanfare and announcement that the flight was on time, in what seemed like only six hours and met up with Palma in arrivals. 

Would I fly Ryanair again? Yes. It is good value if you time it right and it's a right laugh!!!!!

A short drive later we were in the Avonbridge Hotel, Hamilton. Lovely! Time for a quick kip.

We met Palma's hubby,Tony, early in the evening and enjoyed a great meal at the hotel restaurant. Tony had arranged a rehearsal for the acts performing the next day and he had asked me if I would tap along on an electronic drum pad, one that a six year old would get as a fill in present at Christmas because the parents couldn't think of anything nice to buy besides rat poison!

Had a good time though and it was nice to meet up with the performers.

I had been talking about running all night and found out that Strathclyde Park was not too far from the hotel. Ideal for my run in the morning. To make sure I went and didn’t bottle out in the cold, Andy the bass player very “kindly” offered to pick me up in the morning. 09.00am Saturday I amble into the reception and Andy is there as bright as a button. Outside it's snowing! I just could not bottle this one! The jacuzzi was calling me, so was a far heavier breakfast than the "fitness" one I had sort of enjoyed an hour earlier.

We left and soon I was at the stunning Strathclyde park, or what I could see of it through the mist and now rain! I warmed up (well, snapped the icicles off of my nose) and set off on a 4km or so lap of the loch. It was freezing. Scottish runners should be really slow because they are made from concrete! There's me wrapped up for the Arctic and they are jogging round in tartan budgie smugglers and a summer hat! That's just the ladies. During the one and a bit laps that I covered to make up my full session, and I kid you not, I had, snow, hail, rain and sleet throughout. Scottish precipitation goes sideways, and hurts! Did you not know? I must contact scientist of the moment Prof Brian Cox and ask why! Unavoidable puddles were made up from the only water on this planet that can reach temperatures matching that of liquid Nitrogen. My feet would just about settle to the temperature then SPLASH a 

-250c refill. Joyous. Still, I made it round and Andy picked me up and delivered me back to the hotel shaking like one of those hairless Sphynx cats trapped in a fridge.

The room prepared or the event. Brilliant

The evening was brilliant. A fundraiser for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Four acts and then a “big band” made up of all the performers with me on the toy drums. Which, incidentally I did not break and sounded great. My task was to “run” the stage, compère the evening while telling people about Breakthrough, their work and achievements. £3,300 was raised via a raffle, tombola, silent auction and profit from the very nice meal. I could list names until the haggis comes home but in a few words, thanks to to everyone for supporting Palma and Breakthrough. It was fantastic meeting you all and I look forward to seeing you again some time.

The morning came all too quickly and after a very nice lunch with Palma and Tony we were back on a Blue and White Boeing 737/800 heading south watching the character parade again. The landing was horrendous. THUMP! I was gathering my thoughts while the captain was checking the mirrors for any bits of wing that may have dropped off, then, and this is no lie, over the speaker system someone announced, “We hope you enjoyed your flight with Ryanair and hope that you enjoy your week in Stansted!” WEEK IN STANSTED!!! Pins in my eyes first please.

Cliffe Bowls Club
Barking Mad!

Thank you very much to Cliffe Bowls Club £118.00! Top folk. Thank you to the customers from Longfield Fish Bar £48.00 (Apart from the twat heads who put dummy coins, washers and foreign coins in the pot. Not big, not clever and not funny. This is a charity that saves lives, not a failing comedy club!)

Voting has closed for Rochester People's Local Legend contest and thanks to your support we are in the final. The results will be announced on March 22nd. I am neck and neck with another gent at 20% of the vote. Should we get the top spot we will endeavour to make the most of the publicity to raise breast cancer awareness in Kent. Thank you.

Today (Monday 21st) I have some press to sort out including a call to a Scottish Newspaper! A little off patch me thinks but there was a journalist at the Hamilton event and she wants a natter.

I am looking forward to visiting Canterbury University on Tuesday to collect a cheque on behalf of Breakthrough. I have been given the fantastic opportunity to talk briefly to the students about the work Breakthrough does and how well their money is spent. Then it's straight up to London and the Breakthrough office to see Viv about presentations, how to plan my talks better without rattling on at a thousand miles an hour! (I am speedy keen......)

For Peeps in Medway, or not too far from Wainscott, there will be a coffee morning on Wednesday 23rd March at the Temple Mill Children's Centre, Cliffe Road, Strood, Rochester ME2 3NL. 10.00am until 12.00. Cakes, coffee and a chat. I will be there to say hi, tell you about the valuable work Breakthrough is doing, how your donations are being spent and other activities Breakthrough does in the fight against breast cancer. I will also be introducing folk to Project 350. A new local initiative aimed at raising awareness and funds locally for our battle against breast cancer.

Meanwhile any one in Kent who would like to find out more about Project 350, cannot make the coffee morning and fancies a very small but very worth while challenge, please email me.

On Friday I am on a visit to the research centre. Breakthrough have invited all the Breakthrough Marathon runners in for a look-see and I am looking forward to telling you all about it. Also I am looking forward to meeting some other runners and we can bore each other stupid talking about crappy knees, bruised bums and not enough time!

Couple of last bits. Sometimes something happens that knocks you sideways. In my last blog I mentioned meeting, albeit very briefly, Simon Weston at the Vodafone World of Difference launch. He sent me a tweet last week and I quote..... or rather copy and paste “All the best of luck with the London Marathon this year. I think you have more energy than me for doing that. Best of luck” I was gob-smacked! Thanks Simon the message meant the world to me.

Please remember, top trouper Anna Wallace has been nominated for Divine Woman 2011, please follow the link and vote for her. There are two Anna Wallaces, they are both the same lady, nominated twice, now there's well deserved popularity!

On a non-Breakthrough note, I am taking part in “Heartbeat” In Rayleigh Essex. This is a day of all things Drummy! I will be giving a drum clinic during the day. The timetable is to be 100% confirmed, but sometime during the the day I will be presenting my “Starting on Drums” master class. It is designed with beginners to intermediate players. All ages are welcome. Come along for a bash about. I will post more details next week.

I hate to end a blog like this but we lost “chat buddy” Lou to breast cancer this week. Another life taken to this terrible disease. Heart felt condolences to her fiance and young children. Scientists are making in-roads in this battle  but still need as much support as they can get. After all, it's why I am here in the first place.  Please dig deep and help me reach my target for Breakthrough and look forward to a “world without the fear of breast cancer.”

See you all next time.

Dogs, Dames, a Difference and a Real Hero.


Tuesday evening I spoke with amazing campaigner Anna Wallace. I met Anna at a Breakthrough Breast Cancer “do” a few weeks back, Tuesday evening she was packing her pockets to busting with Smarties, jelly babies, fruit gums, concentrated Red Bull shots and anything else that would keep her awake after three days whizzing around Scotland and back before a flight to Orlando to a breast cancer conference. She was looking forward to meeting up with other campaigners at the C4YW, The Annual Conference for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer. I have sent my best wishes to all attendees and maverick campaigner Dusty Showers a man who one day I will meet.

Anna' s charity, Living Beyond Diagnosis, is running a very important and valuable conference in November this year so here is a date for your diary. November 17th -19. at the Park Plaza Hotel, Westminster Bridge, London. This is their inaugural event and will be for 500 attendees affected by breast cancer. It is open to all breast cancer survivors and co-survivors spouses, caregivers, children, parents, friends, relatives etc. Use the link tagged to visit their website and register. Exhibitors are also invited to do so. This will be an amazing few days and the first of its kind in this country. Follow the website on Facebook and pick up on their Twitter feed for up to date details. I for one will look forward to seeing you there. (We could even have a mass jog around St James’ Park before breakfast!!! How cool would that be?..... (Or freezing cold seeing that it will be the middle of November!) Pack your woollies!

Shock Horror!! Wednesday I nearly missed the earth shatteringly important Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day! (Honestly!) I would never have slept a wink had I not realized that I was thoughtlessly ignoring this amazing day of culinary canis lupus familiaris celebration. I was agog to see that Clintons and WH Smith had sold out of cards and balloons marking the crunchy occasion! (or at least I couldn't find any). I did ask the assistant in Smiths for a button badge and flag but she just looked at me as though I was speaking Latin and needed a doctor. Oh well, next year perhaps. The world's gone barking mad! (Pun intended!!!)
With the doggie treat disappointment still ringing in my ears, I boarded a train to London. I had a meeting arranged with Anna and Becky at Breakthrough Breast Cancer about Project 350 and the Vodafone World of Difference scheme. A nice train ride from Chatham to London Victoria where I looked all business like with a small brief case and I wrote, all posh like, on a pad during the journey. I was however only playing hangman against myself. (It's the only way I get to win) From Victoria I took in a sardine experience on the underground that got me, somewhat squashed, to Holborn. (I think the underground was that full because we could be approaching Oily Fish in a Small Flat Tin Awareness Week) We dotted I's and crossed the the “Ts” of the Vodafone paperwork and I came away all happy with things called “Key Objectives and Mile Stones.” Well, I know what a key's objective is but I think the neighbours might object to milestones in the front open plan garden... we'll see

Where to put a milestone?

While I was there I also met with Jane (From the Running Team) She runs everywhere, even jogs on the spot during meetings, even during breaks! Now there's dedication. She gave me my running shirt for the marathon. As soon as I got home I just had to try it on with everything! Just for a look-see. (Photo later Sloat!) Pulling that shirt on felt amazing. What it stands for, who it represents and who it will help in the future. Emotional moment. Thank you Breakthrough for trusting me with it. I look forward to lining up with the other 140 or so runners in the “Team Breakthrough” shirt on London Marathon day.


Project 350 will be raising awareness about breast cancer in women and men, although the figures for male breast cancer are far far lower than women (around 300 a year in the UK) it is something to just be aware of. This week there was an article in the Daily Mail  about Policeman Mark Cross, who noticed a lump only after knocking himself with a ladder. I emailed a comment to the paper's website and they published it. Do have a read later. Click HERE for the report

Oh no here we go again! Dogs! (See last week) This week (Friday) I had my long run. I would be away all weekend so I had to get the 10 miler in early. It was going as well as could be expected, what with it being my longest run on 90% concrete or road since my double knee tweak. So yes I was feeling it. At about eight and a half miles in I see a dog, short gold fur clad tank like thing weighing in at about about 5 tons lolloping towards me with his useless owner shouting commands like “Stay” “Heel” “No!” "back" "Eat!" All of which the mutt duly ignored as he homed in on me with laser targeting eyes, “MMMM Yummy a runner!”

WOOF!!

I stopped and this thing rugby barged me full on to say a playful “Hello” I grabbed a tree and was able to keep upright. Now, I know I have lost some weight, I'd just had my hair cut, was wearing black tights yellow top and a cap. I thought I looked ok. The bloody dog thought I looked fantastic and proceeded to put his giant paws around my chest and try and “do stuff!” As he wasn't my type I pushed him away to which he obviously though “WOW.... GAME!” and jumped up again. The owner took an age to get over, he was apologetic and said “he's only a puppy” PUPPY!? He's as much a puppy as I am Charles bloody Dickens! You could saddle the darn thing and ride him off into the sunset now! Any bigger and you'd expect it to turn grey and grow a trunk! I checked that I was all in one piece and took up a jog. I was relieved that the extra weight and minor battle hadn't caused any problems. (Paranoia) Nope all there, counted my limbs and picked up my pace. About five minutes further on a tiny bead of sweat dripped into my eye, as I brushed my sleeve across I was greeted by a glob of your finest doggie slobber! My shirt was covered in it. “Love him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day is hereby cancelled next year, they can take a run and jump!

The running this week has been just brilliant. I made all five of the sessions including the ten mile long run. The knees (and their owner) are back up to working speed, the Walkman's fine (See blog a few weeks back, plus other MP3 format players are available!)

Dame Donna Kebab! I think I've pulled!
Thanks Fay for the photo

I attended the Panto in Worcester, spoken about last week, and it was brilliant. Many people go to the “big ones” in 2,000 seat theatres, watch people from soap operas no one has really heard of outside of Coronation Enders Farm Hospital, plus a couple of folk from a reality TV show three years back, since taken off air because it was rubbish! Plus there's the £20 a seat, crap view and some of the chorus, going by the looks on their faces, would rather be down the pub. Panto belongs in the village hall! 100 people had crammed in waiting for a cast of all amateurs about to embark on a two hour mission to entertain. All nervous from the drummer, in the simple trio, to the to the seasoned director. It was all there, brilliant dance routines, a sparkly Dick and a baddie played by the local vicar BOOOOOO! HISSSSS!! (That's not me taking on a non Christian religious bent you HAVE to Boo the baddy or you get thrown out!) I was involved in a charity show last year and was helped immensely by a brilliant graphic designer from Worcester called Jeremy Field, He took up the all important role as Pantomime Dame and was fantastic. So realistic in fact I went on the “pull” in the interval! Well done to everybody. Roll on next year.

I'm staying on!

Sunday, during a lunch to celebrate the end of the Panto run my daughter Becky turned up from Wales unannounced! Great to see her and thank you to everybody involved in the sneakiness.


Monday was the day. Off to Birmingham's Custard Factory for the Vodafone World of Difference induction. 500 of us winners filled the venue all excited to see videos, meet other winners and hear talks from past winners and guests. The project’s ambassador Gok Wan was there giving a great welcome speech. The organisation of moving 500 people from one hall to a number of smaller rooms and back, and off for photos was seamless. (Well done everyone) A talk by Simon Weston OBE would be enough to make you feel like you could take on the world with a hand tied behind your back and no pen! He was amazing. Knowing his story or not, (I do) he was a truly inspirational speaker. I had the total pleasure of a brief hello and hand shake at the end so I am ready to turn the county pink! Taking a section from his talk: Life is a carousel full of coloured horses . Each coloured horse is an opportunity. Choose one, climb on and hold on tight. Hold on to that opportunity until your hands grow blisters, hold on until your fingers bleed. Stay on for all life is worth. My horse is pink, with a blue trimmed saddle. Breakthrough and Vodafone have given me the once in a lifetime opportunity to ride it. Ride it I will. With pleasure, with pride and with passion. Pass me some of the best riding gloves you can find. I am not getting off.

Still time to vote for my Local Legend place! If we get it it will be more awareness for breast cancer so please just make a couple of clicks.
See you next week.