My Story

Fundraising update: 13 August

All done!

Jill and I have been really touched, now receiving almost 300 donations: they really helped to motivate us to keep going through the pain. One of our fellow runners reminded us that it was a privilege to be able to do this challenge, and that also helped to put the discomfort in perspective and kept us going forward. I have tried to thank you all individually, but if I have missed any of you - my apologies. 

In addition to the donations on this portal, CRUK has received several direct payments .  Collectively, these add around £1k to the total, so taking it to around £28k.  This will be increased to £56k, after my "birthday matching".    

These funds will be make a positive impact in CRUK's More Research, Less Cancer campaign. 

Please read on for more information on my challenge. 

A monster 60th birthday challenge 

I’m celebrating being fit and healthy at 60, by taking on my most audacious sporting adventure: trying to run the length of Britain, starting from Lands End on 31 May and hoping to reach John O’Groats on 4 July.  The route is 1000 miles long.

Some of you will recall that Peter Summers and I cycled the classic end-to-end route 20 years’ ago. I had not long got back on my bike, having been a keen cyclist in my youth but my twenties and thirties were more sedentary. I took up running in my early 50s, primarily as a way to keep the weight off as I lacked the discipline to eat sparingly and the spare time to burn calories through cycling. 

The London Marathon will be a final training day

Trying to run the End-to-End ups the ante considerably. I've been training in all weathers to improve my strength and stamina, so I can hopefully tackle distances of 30-35 miles day after day.  One of my final training days will be wonderful festival of running that is the London marathon on Sunday 27 April.      

Why support Cancer Research UK? 

I have been in the fortunate position of being able to support the important work of Cancer Research UK for the last decade or so. Collectively, cancers are the most common cause of death.  Whilst survival rates are improving, there is so much more scope for further gains.  My involvement has opened my eyes to an array of exciting projects in the pipeline that will improve early detection as well as treatment.  Cancer Research UK funds, through donations, work that commercial pharma companies would not touch.

Doubling your donations

In celebrating moving-up into the M60 age bracket, I am pleased to match your donations up to £30,000.  Collectively, it would be great to get to £60,000, or £1,000 for each year I’ve been on the planet. 

I hope that you will consider joining me in supporting this worthy cause. 

Lang may yer lums reek,

Douglas