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.

Oh! No! He isn't

This week I have a visit to Breakthrough in London in the diary plus the Vodafone World of Difference program starts in earnest with a visit to the The Custard Factory in Birmingham. In the middle of all this I am off to a Panto (For my American friends: Men dress as women, the principle boy is a girl, food fights, and extreme silliness they even have a superhero called Dick Of Damascus. I can almost hear it ringing in my ears now "Ten miles to Damascus and still no sign of Dick!"..... actually, you'll have to come over and see one.) Traditionally they are at Christmas but this is an AMDRAM version in Worcester. It may seem a little like a blog storm but I'll up date you all next week about the two visits, in the meantime, the week that was went like this!
One day with a glimmer of sunshine and we are back in the damp miserable fog! Come on Spring, get it together for goodness' sake. I need a vitamin D boost and slightly drier underfoot would be a real treat please! I have had a couple of run-outs, still testing my leg's bendy bits, before I hit any serious road work and everything is promising. What has surprised me is that my recovery rate hasn't dropped off! I'd like to thank Dr Mike Baron VAT and EOF (Exponent of the chord “F”) for this. His program has been brilliant. He has allowed me to knock it back a bit because of my short time off but I am really pleased about my basic state of fitness. Resting heart rate  isn't too bad either. I have also taken steps to really look at my diet. I have lost weight (a stone and a half) but I still need to up certain foods. Overlord Sarah of the Bean Lentil and Walnut Society is helping a treat. She sorts out all the long words and places a bush tucker trial in front of me every night. I have also been drinking a litre and a half bottle of water a day on top of other bits and bobs. (Bit too much information but my feet have lost twenty years and my hands are all Soft Soft!) As I am out five sessions a week I have put myself on a strict no fizzy fall-over juice at all until after the marathon. I'm not a big drinker by any stretch of the imagination but I would hate to not get round the marathon in April or fail on a training run because of a curry frenzy and three pints the night before!

Facebook really does shrink the world. Last weekend I was having a swift drink (Soda and lime!!!) at the Dancing Dog and someone mentioned to me that motor cycle stuntman Eddie Kidd was doing the London Marathon. Then later this week I received a message out of the blue from his wife Sami wishing me well for my London Marathon run and I felt very humbled. World record motor cycle car leaper Eddie Kidd had to pack up the wingless flying over things due to a severe accident in 1996... leaving him critically injured, in a coma and wheelchair bound ever since. Determined as anyone can possibly be in these circumstances Eddie is driven to walk again and has entered this year's event using a specially built frame. The 26.2 miles will take him an awfully long time, but he will be taking his favourite quote “Rome wasn't built in a day” with him. Need any fighting inspiration? Click on this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8JSc2SGsBM

Thank you Sami. Love and best wishes to Eddie.

It's what this is all about, after all!

There is a great local website called Rochester People. Just like the radio I mentioned last week, I like to keep an eye on all things local so I joined the site. I put the word out about it to a few folk and then all hell let loose! I was nominated for a “Local Legend” competition. Entering into the spirit I told friends about it and votes seemed to pile in. At one time I had 30% of the overall vote! I would like to win this for breast cancer awareness. The more votes we get the more chance we have of scattering a little more awareness. I would appreciate your help and votes. If we win and the publicity we get encourages one person to “Touch Look and Check” then it would have all been worth while. Please click HERE or use the  link to the right. Also use their site too. There's lots going on around here in our fair city. Thanks peeps.

In a couple of weeks time I am flying up to Glasgow to compère the Breakthrough Big Night Out, arranged by Palma McKeown...The event at the Avonbridge Hotel in Hamilton has sold out!!!! Brilliant news and congratulations to Palma and her team. These days when money is so tight people's generosity amazes me. I am looking forward to meeting everybody and having a great night.

OK, the time has come. I have been waffling on week after week about training for the London Marathon. You know about the falls, knees, brushes with Satan, dog poo, cold weather, so on and so forth. I am doing the marathon for two reasons. A personal challenge and to raise as much money as I possibly can for Breakthrough. Remember, every little helps (Oooo I came over all Tesco then) £5.00 all in, a pound a mile (I'll chuck in the 20p for the last bit!) Sell your 2nd car, go dog walking for a week, have your kids clean cars! Or have your kids clean! I don't mind. Send me your stories and I look forward to your donations. I have a £2,000 target that I set my self and it's going well. With over 47,000 women diagnosed annually in the UK and 300 men too I really don't mind asking for donations. I'll avoid doing a “Bob Geldof” but you know where I'm coming from! We have a fight on our hands chaps. Breakthrough is making advances and I am so proud to be associated with them. So please dig deep.
It's simple to donate, use the Virgin Money Giving link on the right. Please Please remember to tick the gift aid box and the government will tag on 25%. Lovely!

In Memory
Seven years ago this week we lost Les Gray, singer, amazing front man for the 70s band MUD and from December 1998 until his untimely death in 2004 my boss. Les was a true pop legend. Funny, a lightning wit and great singer. It seems like it was only yesterday that we were back stage at the 18,000 seater Sports Palace in Antwerp watching Roy Wood, who incidentally, we had to follow and close the show. Roy was getting polite applause, and when he came off, came over to Les and said about the crowd “They're a bit tough tonight mate” Les turned to me, smiled and said “We'll see about that!” I followed the compère out and plonked my some what larger than these days frame behind the drums, on

Les Gray. Good singer, good performer, good laugh!

“Q” I kicked off “The Cat” Les wandered out behind John and Syd clapping his hands high above his head. He beckoned the massive crowd to their feet and they did! To see 18,000 all clapping along was a sight I will never forget. He had them in the palm of his hands. We took the roof off! Tough? For some maybe. One night we were doing a gig overseas somewhere,  and it came to the part of the show when John and Syd do the duck walk together across the stage, this night Les had the devil in him and followed them with a long handled brush sweeping up! I nearly fell off of my stool. It was a pleasure and privilege to both know him and work with him.
Video I found on Youtube Me with Les Gray's Mud

This week is a short week for me training wise because of my trip to Worcester. I have six days to fit the training in. Sloat will be pleased to hear that I will be wearing leg hugging shorts for the marathon so I will be test driving them soon, The cold weather will not be my best of friends. I will also have my shirt from Breakthrough shortly and I will be so proud to be putting it on. It will be much more than a running shirt to me. I know what it represents. More than a charity's corporate colours or branding. It stands for every single one of the now 47,000 plus women and 300 men diagnosed with with breast cancer in the UK annually. Here's a figure for you. I will take about 45,000 steps to get round the marathon (165 per minute x 60 = 9,900 an hour x my rough eta 4.5hrs = 44,550) That's less than a step for each person diagnosed! We all know how far and how hard a marathon is to run. Now that puts it in to perspective the numbers we are talking about! These people , their daughters, grandchildren for generations to come will benefit from advances made today and in the near future by Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Please, every penny counts.

Thank you.
See you next week.