I am officially a sucker

[RevdKathy]

A bunch of the women from work signed up to do a sponsored walk while I was off over the summer. Fine But then one of them dropped out.

So yes, you've guessed it, I volunteered to take her place.

And tonight, at midnight (for goodness sake!) I will be walking 15km in aid of Cornwall Hospices. ("Midnight Madness")

Which undoubtedly means I'm officially a sucker. And now I'm looking for sympathy. Sympathise here, please.

 

[tharpdevenport]

You realize 15 kilometers is a bit over nine miles, right? You'll be walking -- even at a quick pace -- for over three hours. Better be wearing good shoes (or your feet will suffer), and no socks that will wear out at the back of the foot.

 

[Lindley]

The few times I've tried to do the Walk for Hunger in Boston, I made it about 10 miles before the people I was with chose to pack it in. Personally I would have been good for a bit more, but.....

 

[RJDiogenes]

Well, at least you're the good kind of sucker. I'll sponsor you if it makes you feel any better.

 

[RevdKathy]

You realize 15 kilometers is a bit over nine miles, right? You'll be walking -- even at a quick pace -- for over three hours. Better be wearing good shoes (or your feet will suffer), and no socks that will wear out at the back of the foot.

Not worried about the distance: I did something similar a couple of years back as part of a bed-push for the local breast-cancer unit. I will be a bit stiff tomorrow, but it's not the walk that concerns me.

What worries me is the time: I don't DO midnight. I'm a lark - early to bed and usually getting up around the time I shall be going to bed tonight. And the idea of driving home at around 4am... That's the bit that concerns me.

 

[broberfett]

I wonder if the hospice actually gets the money for care or are you walking so some assholes can have a nice night out for some beers and spending cash.

I had a girlfriend that worked at a Spencers in a mall. There was a box for something called the Jimmy fund. She said that no one actually collected it and the boss would open it and go out for beer after work. She seemed serious about it.

 

[RevdKathy]

This event is organised by the hospices themselves (link here) so there's no risk of them not getting the money. I know there are cons out there - the trick is either to do something big enough that it's organised by the charity itself, or so small you're involved in handing the money over (as I was for the bedpush).

 

[Santaman]

A bunch of the women from work signed up to do a sponsored walk while I was off over the summer. Fine But then one of them dropped out.

So yes, you've guessed it, I volunteered to take her place.

And tonight, at midnight (for goodness sake!) I will be walking 15km in aid of Cornwall Hospices. ("Midnight Madness")

Which undoubtedly means I'm officially a sucker. And now I'm looking for sympathy. Sympathise here, please.

*big hugs* If I were there I'd walk with you.

 

[Mr. B]

...can't you just buy the $25 T-shirt and go home?

 

[Misfit Toy]

Kathy, I'm pretty sure that the beer at the end of the walk will taste even better after midnight! Good luck, dear!

 

[trampledamage]

ouch! You definitely have my sympathies! Who's idea was to do it at midnight for goodness sake? Not going to get many people watching you go by and donating money at that time!

Still, at least they're giving you breakfast!

I'd recommend having a nap before driving.

Is there any way we can donate online?


EDIT: Never mind, continued looking at the site and found a link - http://www.justgiving.com/cornwallhospice/

I'll send some money - you're a braver woman than me for walking that far at that time of night

 

[Lindley]

I dunno, I think it's kinda cool they're doing it at night. I always liked being outside late at night....there's something very tranquil about it.

Of course, being in the midst of a huge walking crowd might reduce that somewhat.

 

[M'Sharak]

I had a girlfriend that worked at a Spencers in a mall. There was a box for something called the Jimmy fund. She said that no one actually collected it and the boss would open it and go out for beer after work. She seemed serious about it.

Was the boss's name Jimmy, by any chance?

Kathy, I'm pretty sure that the beer at the end of the walk will taste even better after midnight!

I do believe he's onto something here.

 

[Captain Ice]

Kathy, I'm pretty sure that the beer at the end of the walk will taste even better after midnight!

I do believe he's onto something here.

He is onto something....

And I think it would be fun to do this at night once. There's something very relaxing about walking at night amongst the stars.

 

[trampledamage]

And I think it would be fun to do this at night once. There's something very relaxing about walking at night amongst the stars.

This is Cornwall in September, it'll be walking under the clouds and probably raining!

Wrap up warm, RevdKathy!

 

[RevdKathy]

Wow! thanks for the response guys!

I didn't create a donation page as I stepped in a bit at the last minute. But if anyone feel inspired to make a one-off donation, I'd be delighted. Cornwall's adult hospices are struggling at the moment, as there's a campaign to open a children's hospice (which is great) and they're getting all the publicity and support. In the UK, oddly, while hospital care is state funded, most hospice care is charitable.

I'll copy the comments from my blog rather than rewrite it all - a bit too knackered to type it again!

I’m alive, and still standing. HUGE thanks to all who sent good wishes for the walk!


It was a brilliantly organised event - kudos to Cornwall Hospice Care for counting us all out and counting us all back, providing T-shirts (in two colours depending on the length of walk) so every walker was instantly recogniseable, a free glow-stick for light, a medal to prove I’ve done it, bananas and water half way and a free bacon bap at the end. Along with countless marshalls and police to see us over every road crossing, marshalls to walk and even a ‘blister bus’ to pick up the fallen.


I admit to being a little stiff - though it’s not from the walking. They started us off with a ‘warm-up’ - for which I expected a few gentle stretches to flex the muscles before setting out into the cold night air. It proved to be a 15-20 minutes aerobics session which used muscles I don’t normally know about either from dancing or walking: they’re the ones complaining today. I am also suffering from mild ‘jet-lag’ - time displacement. My group met at 9ish (Past bedtime!) in pizza hut: I declined pizza at that time of night but did have bruschetta followed by ice cream. Then there was the simple act of staying awake that long.. which blew my sleep pattern. Not to mention the bacon bap at 3am. So the body is … confused.


Very proud of myself though. I have collected the Murph from my Aunt and Uncle (they have kindly walked him so he won’t need much today) and yesterday I did quite a lot of study so can relax a bit. Plan to sleep some more this afternoon.

I'll even risk pics:


This is the effect of 340 people in glow sticks and illuminated rabbits ears at midnight


This is the bunch I walked with. I'm the short one.


It didn't rain. It wasn't even muggy: quite cool and fresh actually. Pleasant for walking in, even a tad chilly.



Now excuse me... I have just forced myself to eat a piece of bread and cheese to convince my body it's lunch time, and I feel a post-prandial nap coming on.

 

[Pingfah]

^ Where did you walk RevdKathy? The picture is too dark to make out your surroundings.

It was a lovely evening in Falmouth yesterday, I was at my best friends' wedding at the Falmouth Hotel down by the beach and it was just great, we were outside for most of the evening.

 

[RevdKathy]

From Truro College down into town, Up Hendra hill, down Pydar St, Trafalgar Roundabout and back up the bloody bypass - Morlaix Avenue is one hell of a pull uphill!

Truro was lovely - starlit and crisp. Dew on the grass by the time we got back.

 

[Pingfah]

What, out on Tresawls Road past the golf club? Yeah, that's quite a long haul, I assume it was a round trip and you walked back to the college up Morlaix?

Morlaix Avenue is like being on a racetrack when I go down it on my bike, great fun

 

[RJDiogenes]

Well, I just sent over twenty whatevers. I hope they're similar to dollars.