Saturday 29 September 2012

T'was a walk in the park

Well, after months of talking about it, weeks of annoying people on twitter, facebook and this very blog asking for donations, it finally became the time for me to do my sponsored walk.

For anybody who doesn't know..
I signed up to take part in something called the 'Starlight Hike' (10km) to raise money for a hospice which 12 years ago took care of my mum in her final days and I have always felt indebted to them. The hike was a good way to try and raise some cash Wheatfields Hospice in Headingly, Leeds. Unbeknown to me, I was the first man EVER to sign up (Always been female only in previous years), so it turned out to be a bit of a big deal. I didn't do this alone. A colleague of mine, Donna, also agreed to do the walk and help me raise some money


ANYWAY.....
Donna and I arrived as requested about 10:30pm and after dropping of some donations of clothes and stuff at the designated place we got down to business of preparing for the walk. This consisted of two things, a cup of coffee and getting our face painted.

Some people who know me won't believe me but I am a pretty shy guy who doesn't like attention being on him, so it was really bad that while queueing for our blue and yellow stars to be painted on our face, the lady on stage warming the crowd up, actually announced me to EVERYBODY. Needless to say, I gave a little wave, after all, I didn't need to make a big deal, thanks to Donna shouting, waving and pointing to me, everybody knew it was me she was referring too!

The walk started at midnight, on the dot and everybody set off at a decent pace. The walk was dark (Took place at Temple Newsam in Leeds) but the organisers tried to light the place up as much as possible.

I actually found the walk easier than I thought I would, but I think Donna's small talk got me through it. The hills were hilly and the mud was muddy, but we got through it in a not too shabby time of 2 hours and 5 mins. We were welcomed back over the finish line with a big cheer and were presented with a goody bag, a stale bacon butty and a hot drink.

Needless to say, I was very proud of myself and very proud of us for raising so much money for a great cause, so a big thank you to everybody who donated and a massive thank you to Donna who without her, I wouldn't have made it through the walk so easy and would have raised as much money as we did.

The Sue Ryder charity who run the hospice ask each person to raise £120. This would be enough money to cover one nurses shift, we managed to raise (As I type this) a massive £937.50!!

So thank you AGAIN and if you still haven't donated and want to help us raise more, please click here and give anything you can!

As always Thanks for reading
FTD

Saturday 8 September 2012

One man, 10km and a great cause

Well peeps, in a weeks time, I will be getting ready for the joy of a 10km walk, all for a great cause. Would like to say thanks to the small few of you that have donated so far.
Now its everyone else's chance.

I would like to think that if most of you reading this saw me in the pub, they would buy me a drink.? Do me favour, donate that £3 to this cause and help me reach my target.
A couple of incentives, to wet your appetite?
1 - If I reach my target of £500, I'm going to shave my beard off...clean off! Even The Mrs doesn't want me to do that!

2 - If I get 10 donations in the next 24 hours, I will post a picture of myself in the very fetching WHITE T-Shirt they sent me...that's right it's WHITE*
*If you know me at all, you will know, I only ever wear back...so that's kinda a big deal lol

So, wanna see me in white? or without my precious beard? Well, nows your chance. Get your hands in your pockets people and donate as little or as much as you like. Just please donate SOMETHING!
 
Just click here and use your card http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/LewisAckroyd or send me a cheque.

If you want to know more, here a couple of old posts about this..

As always, thanks for reading and thanks for any donation made...
FTD

Monday 3 September 2012

16 weeks 'till Christmas!

Did you know it's only 16 weeks till Christmas? 16 WEEKS!!



Don’t worry, this post isn't about Christmas. Its about the fact that it's only 16 weeks till Christmas. Actually its not even about the fact that it's 16 weeks till Christmas. Its about the fact that in 16 weeks…..I will be a dad of two!
It just doesn’t seem possible! In just 16 short weeks, our second baby boy will hopefully be here, safe and sound.
I don’t seem like I have a lot of time to blog anymore and by the looks of it, my life is only going to get busier….OR, having 2 kids will only mean I have more to blog about!

16 WEEKS!!

In 16 weeks, we will have to teach Benjamin, that this little person (Who not long ago was him), is his baby brother. Of course he wont understand, not really. Or maybe he will. We have told him that there is a baby inside mummies belly. He has even laid his head on the belly but that might be because he has seen me do the same. On one or two occasions he has actually taken his dummy out and pressed it against her tummy, as if to pass it to "Rupert". All these of course could just be coincidence and we see them as we want to see them, little signs that he understands.

16 WEEKS!!!

Other than the issue with the scan, everything has been plain sailing and it's easy for the thought of having 2 kids to look after to escape your mind. With moving house as well, it gets pushed to the back of your brain. But now with the Christmas season only 16 WEEKS away, I'm sure those reminders will come thick and fast. Adverts on TV, decorations will be put up and advent calendars started. All these will be reminders that if "Rupert" arrives as scheduled, it will only be 3 days after the supposed birth of Christ, we will have our own nativity play, with hopefully a bit more of a comfortable setting.
Tell me it will be OK. Tell me that when you had your second child, it went great and this 'Second child syndrome' is a myth. Tell me your willing to send me your life savings, so it’s one less thing to think about…OK maybe not.

Anyway, thanks for reading.
FTD

P.S. 16 WEEKS!!!