GOOD RESPONSE

I have had a very good response via email today regarding people (mostly MP's) who will make a personal donation and pass on details to their colleagues which I am very happy about obviously.  The £500 mark is very tantalizingly near and after that has been exceeded it is down to concentrating on the first £1,000 mark.

I am very proud with myself for the fact that I am still not smoking and donating £10 to the Charity each week. I rather naively thought that the Charity received all the money we raised but in fact some of the money raised is your travelling costs, accommodation etcetera.  At least by paying £10 per week of my own money, I am offsetting the costs a little. 

I am off walking again tomorrow with my friend who is a great walking partner and it is doing her the world of good to get outside, have some fresh air and help her lose weight - which is what she is looking to do.  We have found a fantastic walk that involves a little hill climbing (not too much as of yet) and walking down hills through woods.  All in all it is a lovely walk with a stream running down the middle.  I shall try to remember to take a picture of it tomorrow and post here.

My Uncle is fundraising very well on my behalf as are my parents and a friend who is doing a sponsored walk.  I am truly blessed to have so many kind, caring people who really want to push me to succeed and succeed I shall.

Quit Smoking

This is such a disgusting picture but they say "a picture is worth a 1000 words"!!! That's what this picture is to me, a 1000 words.

I decided quite a while ago that I wanted to quit smoking. I did quit previously for 7 months but rather stupidly started again.

Now, what with the thought of trekking the Grand Canyon for miles and miles, the kids hating the fact that I smoke (I don't smoke in car or house) and the monetary value in not smoking, I have decided that New Year is the time.

I have gradually cut down and today have only smoked 2 ciggies - it is now 8.30 pm so I am well chuffed with myself.

I will save around £25 per week from not smoking and have decided that I will donate £10 per week to the Girly Girls Grand Canyon Fund Raising Trek. It will for me, help keep me motivated, improve my fitness and stop me from shouting on the trek "stop whilst I have a fag............"!! Not a really appropriate statement is it. So all change for New Year, no smoking, exercising, fundraising and generally getting my life into some reasonable sort of order.

Roll on 2011 - that is what I say!!!!!

The "Grand" or should I say "Mad" Plan

It all began approximately two weeks ago now when my "undiagnosed" bi-polar, crazy, mental mate (she knows I love her really) came up with this hair brain scheme that she wanted to trek the Grand Canyon and raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care. To paint the picture, Chezzy (as she is known to me) gets ideas in her head and who does she turn to, me, the actual diagnosed Bipolar, crazy, mental chick who becomes completely wrapped up in exciting ideas. I think with this blog it is time that I "came out". I am Bi Polar, I was recently given my diagnosis but it does not stop me from trying to do "good" in my life. In fact, my Bi Polar has pushed me to extremes that I would never have expected. Accordingly, I see my "label" as a very good thing especially considering that the Grand Canyon trek is such a very good idea. Thankfully my CPN said "it is the best idea you have had in a long time Suzy.............."!!! To which I replied - "not my idea Gary, Chezzy's, I just went with the flow"! He laughed but he laughed a good laugh!!!

After the initial "how good at fundraising are you...................." from Chezzy, it took about 1 hour for me to contact businessmen that I knew and had very quick responses to which I started thinking "we can really do this"! So from then on it was all systems go. Manic telephone calls to Marie Curie to make sure spaces were still left on the trip, downloading registration forms, photocopying passports, having passport pictures taken to attach to forms and having medicals signed off by our doctors. I'll tell you, us girly girls sure move fast and today, 23 December 2010, we finally registered at the offices of Marie Curie in Edinburgh. The deed was done. We were now committed to the cause and the training ahead.

Let me tell you the itinary we first read sounded great and very doable. Today we received further details which include 'helpful hints and tips for etiquette for using composting toilets in base camp', I kid you not!!! Also more serious and interesting facts that the Havasupai Indians believe that if you take a photograph of them, you can take their spirit!!! Reading the further information we were given today made us realise that this is gonna be one heck of a challenge but something that we will remember for the rest of our lives whilst giving something to a very worthy charity, Marie Curie Cancer Care.

In our very first day posting our Just Giving Page on line, we have so far raised £50 from our wonderful friends who believe in us also. Yes, we have a long way to go - £6,000 but we will do it. We have all sorts of fund raising ideas which will get going in the New Year and we will keep everyone (who is interested) up to date with various events throughout the days, months etcetera ahead.

We hope you enjoy reading our blog as much as we enjoy writing it. Just to let you know it is Suzy writing at present but Chezzy will join in. Enjoy reading whilst we enjoy training !!! Grand Canyon here we come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh and a little teaser - up top is the "bunny" suit Chezzy is taking to wear whilst sleeping in the Canyon. I dread to think what beastie may decide she looks good enough to eat and oh my gosh I am sleeping beside her YIKES !!!!