Donate to watch me suffer

Fundraising season starts now

Hi everyone

I’ve been spending too much time worrying about the way the world is going, and doing what little I can to change its course. But one way I can do something with direct benefits is to raise money for good causes, while pushing my body as hard as I can. It’s hard to do much more than maintain myself in the subtropical wet season, so my fundraising season is just starting.

First up, in May I’ve entered the Runaway Noosa Marathon, and am raising money for the Melanoma Institute. I have a personal connection here. I lost my brother to this cruel disease. Also, like many Australians I’ve had a non-lethal skin cancer removed (in my case, after spending a week with a preliminary diagnosis of melanoma). Unfortunately, my training has been disrupted by injury and I may have to drop down to the half-marathon. But the more money I raise, the keener I will be to cover the full 42.2km.

Moving on to June, my longest running fundraising has been on the Brissie to the Bay cycle for MS Queensland, helping people living with multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions. I don’t have a particular connection to this cause, but MS Queensland has been really active in encouraging events like this, so I’m now a regular. I’m doing the full 130km distance for this one. At the back of my mind is that I might do the 180km cycle leg for an Ironman team, but I don’t know if this will happen or it.

In August, I’m planning on doing Fred’s Big Run for the Fred Hollows foundation. This isn’t an event - you just log your activities, and aim to reach 150km of running. As well as helping to cure preventable blindness, they have a great T-shirt, which publicises the cause even more. I wear mine a lot, and get nice compliments for it. The website isn’t up for this year, but I’ll publicise it when it is.

In September I normally take part in the Sunshine Coast 70.3 Ironman. But I barely finished inside the 8 hour cutoff last year, so I am holding off entering until I see how my training goes after recovering from injury.

Finally, in October I usually take part in the 100km Brisbane to Gold Coast ride, raising funds for the Mater Hospital. As well as being a bit shorter, it’s flatter and faster than Brissie to the Bay, with a great run through busway tunnels normally off-limits to cyclists. So, a relaxing end to the season, and a good chance for anyone who hasn’t got around to donating earlier. I’ll advise when the web page goes up.

In all of these things, I’m reminded how lucky I am to have made it to the Biblical three score years and ten (next birthday) without any significant impairment to my health, as well as being in good shape financially. I know that many of my readers aren’t so lucky, and need to focus on looking after their own difficulties. But if you can help, please do.

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