A.W.O.L

I will start this post by apologising for being a little quite over the last couple of weeks.

I have, along with a small committee, been arranging a charity event in aid of Cancer Research UK called Dumfries 500.   The idea for the event came about following a visit by Mum and Dad to the cinema , last year, where they saw Sunshine on Leith and Dad (in his infinite wisdom) though it would be a good idea to walk 500 miles in aid of cancer research.  Time wise it wasn’t possible for us to do it alone so we came up with the idea that teams of people would walk together and their total miles covered would be 500.  We found a lovely route starting and finishing at the Mid Steeple, Dumfries.  From there we found  teams of people who were willing to commit the time and energy to help us.

The date was set for Saturday 23rd August 2014 and to make a day of it we arranged for entertainment throughout the day and also a couple of stalls with cake and candy and tombolla to help boost the funds raised.  When we started Dad wanted 250 participants and to raise £10,000.  I have to admit to being a little skeptical of these figures but I didn’t express this doubt at the time.  Well after almost a years worth of highs and lows, my complete naivety of the time and energy that would be required and the support of some wonderful people we managed it.  Even my wish for a sunshiny day came true!!

Here are a few of my favourite images taken from the day.

 

The start

The start

Some of the committee getting into the spirit of the day!

Some of the committee getting into the spirit of the day!

Sunshine on Dumfries Team members

Sunshine on Dumfries Team members

Team members

Having Fun

A wee intro…

A wee intro…

Fairy Bod Mother warming us up.

Fairy Bod Mother warming us up.

The Dilly Dalliers

The Dilly Dalliers

My gorgeous daughters doing their bit.

My gorgeous daughters doing their bit.

Very special ladies!

Very special ladies!

 

At the end of the day we had 281 people register and raised a whopping £13,000!!!!!!!!

I have to admit to shedding a tear or two when I realised how well we had done, Dad just got some grit in his eyes……..

Cancer Research is a charity very close to my heart so to be able to give such a fantastic some of money to them goes a small part to repaying the debt I feel I owe them.  I have so many people to thank that I think google would shut me down if I tried to name them individually so I will steal Dad’s words to sum it up.

If you walked a yard, a mile or 20 miles, if you raised a penny, a pound or a hundred pounds, if you donated, a cake or a prize I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Together we walked 500 miles to beat Cancer!!