I posted about a month ago about how I was going to a little bit of a walk to accompany a best mate who is battling Ovarian cancer and walking Hadrian's Wall coast to coast to raise funds for charity.
Well, I/we did it! I'm the chubby one on the left next to the skinny fit one who has just walked 94 miles in 13 days. I did have to use my rollator /walker thingy but actually did abut a mile and a half from North Shields to Tynemouth at a cracking pace of about 2 miles an hour. Thanks to the generosity of so many friends and family including many of you on here who donated I raised nearly £600 towards the good causes, which added to what my friend raised makes nearly £2000.
PPS the Ovacome charity had plenty of merchandise to support their fundraising eg the T-shirts, rubber wrist bands etc, that might be an option for PMRGCAuk?
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tangocharlie
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When our health issues begin to mount up, sometimes it feels like there's an impossible wall to climb and nothing of any significance will be achievable. This picture always reminds me that anything is possible when approached in the right way.
I want to thank you all again for sponsoring me, but some used their HU names, some used your real names, some of you were anonymous so forgive me for not thanking you again individually in this thread - but you know who you are and I am very grateful for your support especially the encouraging words
I wish I'd got one sooner. I bought a cheap one in a charity shop first, but it's slightly too low even at maximum handle extension. I got another one to go on holiday and do the walk about a month ago, it's lightweight and foldable to go in car boots, luggage racks on trains etc. But 3 wheelers aren't as stable as the chunkier 4 wheelers which don't fold much and weigh more and I got a wheel stuck between cobblestones recently and went tumbling over the handlebars adn fell on the pavement which hurt for weeks. So if you want one I'd go to a mobility shop where there is plenty of choice and try some out. I think you can get your GP to refer you to OH to do an assessment but I'd imagine you'd have very long wait. I've just been reading an article PMRPro posted about bone health and it mentions how important it is to avoid falls as we age, especially if like me you have vision and balance problems, and recommends aids such as sticks and strollers and presumably things like zimmer frames for the elderly. I can wizz along on the rollator but hardly walk without it. I know ideally it'd be best if I culd walk unaided but for the moment I can't, and at least it's leting me get my daily steps in and get out more.
Thank you for all that, my balance is getting worse a couple of times my legs felt like they are going to give way. Have seen a few different types but definitely don’t want the lower sort where people are stooped , have Osteo in lower back, have seen higher handle rollators,will look about as you suggested. Keep us posted how things are.
You definitely want to be as upright as possible and don't want to be leaning on it. I'm often stopping people in the street and suggesting they raise their handlebars, it usually feels better as a result they say. I think people just get them delivered and don't realise you have to adjust them
Yes, quite right, I have scoliosis top of back and Osteo in facet joints in base of spine, never sure which way to lean, but for many years have always sat upright with cushions behind me….cannot slouch back.
Yes I tend to lean forward as I'm walkingas it's less painful, but am generally trying to straighten up a bit more and the walker helps me with that. I see elderly people walking around and you can see the pain on their faces. Sometimes adjusting the height of the walker does help, sometimes it doesn't. I only point out the possibilities. I try not to lean on mine but just touch and push the handles. It still really helps compared to trying to walk unaided
Yes the big 4 wheelers have a seat, which is useful for waiting at bus stops or just taking a break when you're tired. But they don't fold up much to go in car boots. So now I have a choice depending where I'm going, the lightweight racer or the one with the seat and big shopping basket 😆
I just got mine, Longtimer, and it really has made a difference . I don't use it all the time, but can walk farther, sit down if I feel like it and am less likely to fall . Like you I had been considering it for some time so go for it !!
PMRGCAuk will be doing ‘Walk a Marathon in a Month’ in July to raise funds and awareness. This will be achievable for many as it can be done on your own or as a group. Information and support to do this will be coming soon from Fran
We discussed this and other ideas in our Yorkshire support group but there wasn't much enthusiasm for the idea tbh. The general opinion is that these things are so dificult to organise, people don't like asking freinds and family for sponsorship and many of us are not very mobile and easily fatigued by exercise so people would just rather just give the money. Talking of which there was a strong feeling that the charity should increase the membership fee and have a way of paying monthly and that woul raise more money than having say a cake sale.
We also need a thought-out strategy for raising awareness, and the money will then follow indirectly. The more people know about the charity the more members and the more people are empowered to get good treatment. There may be say 20,000 people with PMR or GCA in the UK yet the charity has only just over 1600 members. Local action can help eg the Cumbria and IoW groups started from one person or a small number of people handing out leaflets outside libraries, banks, etc etc.
Well done tangocharlie! What an achievement for such a worthy cause! Love your photo, especially the beautiful longsands at Tynemouth, not far from where I live, and of course your very proud smiles. Give yourself a pat on the back. 👍💐🌟
I would love to do that but can't see it happening, even a mile was hard work with PMR and the back problems. I am trying to think of things I CAN do though
I'd love to get to Cromer again sometime, but probably not this year. I'm going to try and get to Portmeirion in June as that's on my mate's Bucket list or as she calls it her Living list. Hope I can manage it on my stroller there are lots of ups adn downs and a bit up the hills in the woods without proper paths
I went once about 5 years ago now and it's a gorgeous place, although that particular October day was a bit drizzly. The village itself is accessible but some of the woodland trails won't be and they're fascinating. I'm sure I can do bit without the walker, just with a walking pole. That's also something I recommend, always have a walking pole or a stick with you if you're unsteady on your feet
*blushing* I'm so buoyed by all the support I'm getting on here. I've been feeling pretty sorry for myself recently and this adventure and how people have helped us has reminded me there are so many good and kind people in the world. Lots of people gave Wendy cash along her journey including the fish and chip shop where we celebrated at the end who gave £40!
Sorry I am late seeing this, but well done. Not just for doing it but for also being prepared for giving it a go. I haven't walked (apart from shopping, appointments) for weeks, but you have spurred me on. Where are the wet clothes?..........................
Thank you! See discussion above about getting a stroller/walker thingy - it's been a game-changer. I'm almost wondering if I could do a sponsored 10k with it next year? It was a fantastic day, we were in T-shirts, she was so lucky, only rained on 2 of her 13 days and that was out on the high rugged bits of the wall
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PMRGCAuk Charity Week 19th-25th June 2017
Musing after the Roadshow
