Sore legs

Phew.  Did it.  95 miles last Sunday to Shoreham-on Sea and back.  It was mainly flat but that doesn't take away from how chuffed I am to have done such a distance.  It also doesn't take away how sore my legs are even two days later.  Glad I have booked a sports massage for this Friday.

The ride was glorious - as most of the rides this Summer have been.  We only had a light rain shower for 20 minutes and that was welcome on a warm day.  As we were the "social" group of the three rides on the day we took our time, but still managed to do 13.1mph, which is not bad with a mixed group with lots of stops. It was a long day - we left at 8am and only got back home at 6pm.  Of course we had a nice lunch in Shoreham-on-Sea and a stop for a pint of orange juice and lemonade 10 miles from home.  In fact the lunch was hilarious as everything we asked for they didn't have and when I asked for fries they said they couldn't do an individual portion only a bucket!

I learned a lot on Sunday about fuelling and hydration which I am sure I will use well during Ride London. One particularly useful piece of food advice is that the cheese straws are delicious from the village store in Peaselake.

Woking Cycle Club at Peaselake, where the cheese straws are delicious

Now onwards to Sunday 10th.  I am excited and nervous in equal amounts about the event.  I have never done any event before.  I will only believe it when I am well on the way.

Before then I am meeting more of Beating Bowel Cancer's Ride London team this Saturday to do the hills again - wish us luck. Then another Woking CC social ride before gently tapering next week until the big day. I am also looking forward to attending the Ride London Cycle Show at the Excel Centre to register and pick up my rider numbers.  I hope to meet a lot of our team there.

If you wish to donate you can via www.justgiving.com/Mark-Flannagan3.  or you can text Flan51 and your amount to 70070

Almost there

I am very grateful to everyone for providing names for my 100 miles 100 names list for Ride London. I have 80 and look forward to receiving more. Every name has a story. Some are heartbreaking and I wish everyone who has lost someone my deepest sympathy and promise that we will do all we can to beat bowel cancer in every way.  To those still facing bowel cancer my message is that we are here for you. We provide support and information and we raise awareness so that others get the message that bowel cancer can be diagnosed early and lives can be saved.

The list of names now is as follows: Anne Carlin, Taryn "Smythers"' Gail Allen, Philip Willingham, Bill Bonfield, Beverly Jackson, John Hepworth, Effie Macdonald, Geraint Jones, Hannah Berry, Hazel Elkamouri, Alison Selfe, Alison Michell, Tony Levy, Jane Bardsley, Stewart Coxe, Susan Wilde, John Anton, Lisa Almond, Nia Jones, Ethel Randles, Anne Cole, Heather Spooner, Rose Sloper, Sally Tuxworth, Dafydd Farr-Jones, Susan Hill, Teresa Dealessi, Toni Millard, Mary Woolnough, Bill Luff, Olive Bennett, Melanie McGarry, The "Bum Bandits", Paul Bradbury, Matthew Stockdale, Elizabeth Fountain, Ian Fountain, Nick Busby, Lynda Leach, Steve Smith ("Smiffy"), Billy Randles, Len Miller, Pat Morton, Carmen, Ke'hley, Lucy Edwards, Margery Hunter, Tracey Bushell, Avril Williams, Stan Williams, Andy Higginson, Chris Garner, Liz Torr's mother and father in law, Myra Beckwith, Patricia Johnston, Valerie Johnson, David Hogan, Maxine Gould, Andrea Barlow, Pat Gravell, Ruth Spencer, Jim Marks, Cheryl Marks, Tim Brennan, Bob Johnson, Francis P. Rooney, Kim Cooper, June Watkins, Johanna Wathan, Kathleen Cannon, Elisabeth Strong, Keith Wiggins, Carly Wilton, Genie Henley, Mark Barnard, All those on the Beating Bowel Cancer Forum, David Craton, Peter Bainbridge, Leo McGill.  I have added two of my own, my Uncle and a friend who died of bowel cancer aged 68 and 27 respectively. Bowel cancer can affect anyone at any age.

I would like just 19 more names to reach the 99 I want to pay tribute to. And from that point you can also donate for the last mile, which I will ride for all those who will get bowel cancer in the year to come. I know it shouldn't be about the money and if you have a name and can't donate that is fine, just let me have the name. But if you can, think about this. Bowel cancer is a huge problem, affecting thousands each year - the same numbers pretty much as prostate cancer. Yet our income as a charity is small. We need to grow so we can do more and get the message out that people need to be aware. We need to save lives and help people facing the UK's second biggest cancer killer.

So, back to the training. I think it is going well. I have done the hills including Leith Hill three times. The last time I did Leith the proper route was blocked off for road repairs so we went up another way. That was brutal! Apparently the route was the toughest one to do, so feeling chuffed about that. My nephew  joined us on the day and yes he is wearing a full Team Sky kit.

He is allowed as he works for Sky and is a member of their staff cycling club.  Still, we did take the mickey as all cyclists have to when they see anyone wearing Team Sky kit.  

This weekend we are riding down to Littlehampton and back, which is 90 miles. We will be going over the South Downs which will present some challenging hills. So, completing this ride well will hopefully prove that I can do the 100 on 10th August.  The next significant outing after this Sunday will be on 2nd August, when I will meet a few of our Beating Bowel Cancer team to do a final recce of the hills.  Looking forward to that. I love meeting our team. Each has their story to tell and their commitment to our charity is wonderful.

Nearly there. Just a little over two weeks. Getting nervous and excited. Still can't believe I am doing this. 

Please let me have names by email mark.flannagan@beatingbowelcancer.org or via Twitter (@MarkFlannCEO) or via Beating Bowel Cancer's Facebook page. If you to donate you can via www.justgiving.com/Mark-Flannagan3.  or you can text Flan51 and your amount to 70070

The list of names is growing

It is very touching to receive each name for my 100miles100names Ride London tribute. Each name has a story and I am grateful for all the donations that I receive against them.

I really do want to complete the list so, please, pass this on - I want every mile to be a tribute, to ride each mile for someone with, someone who survived, or someone we have sadly lost to bowel cancer.  I hope that everyone will get something out of the fact that a mile on the 10th August will be dedicated.  I promise to take time on the day to read the list as I go along and to say the names to myself, so no-one gets forgotten.

And the 100th mile will be dedicated to all those who will get bowel cancer in the year ahead, as a symbol of Beating Bowel Cancer's ongoing support and care.  So, if you wish, you can donate for their needs.

100miles100names
Please let me have names by email mark.flannagan@beatingbowelcancer.org or via Twitter (@MarkFlannCEO) or via Beating Bowel Cancer's Facebook page. If you to donate you can via www.justgiving.com/Mark-Flannagan3.  or you can text Flan51 and your amount to 70070

Lots going on

There is so much to tell you, so bear with me while I try and squeeze it all in coherently and sensibly.

First, I am very touched at so many positive comments about my 100 miles100names plan (thanks to wonderful supporter Dafydd for the idea).  If you remember, the idea is that I ride each mile of Ride London for a named person, i.e. someone we have lost, a survivor, or someone undergoing treatment.  Each mile will be both a tribute and a reminder why we need to beat bowel cancer.  I have decided that I would like 99 names and mile 100 will be dedicated to all those who will be diagnosed with bowel cancer in the year to come. A reminder that our fight to beat bowel cancer goes on.  See below for how to let me have your name, or how to donate for that last mile.
The names so far are: Anne Carlin; Taryn (“Smithers”);Gail Allen; Philip Willingham; Bill Bonfield; Beverly Jackson; John Hepworth; Effie Macdonald; Geraint Jones; Hannah Berry;Hazel Elkamouri; Alison Selfe; Alison Michell; Tony Levy; Jane Bardsley; Stewart Coxe; Susan Wilde; John Anton;; Lisa Almond; Nia Jones; Ann Cole; Rose Sloper; Sally Tuxworth; Dafydd Farr-Jones; Susan Hill; Teresa Dealessi; Toni Millard, Ethel Randles; Billy Randles, Carly Wilton.

Canon Hillas

The second item on my list is a giant loo roll!  As part of the City of London Lord Mayor's Appeal last Friday we were able to reach out to the public in the City with our giant loo roll outside St Paul's Cathedral. The Lord Mayor, Fiona Woolf, was there to present us with a cheque for £125,000 and one of the Canons of St Paul's, Tricia Hillas, came to to show her support.  She left wearing a bum badge on her cassock.
A great day with over 1,000 leaflets handed out, many conversations had and a few individuals with possible symptoms directed to go and see their GP. If just one life was saved as a result it is worth it.

Top of Leith Hill

Now, back to the Ride London training.  A good weekend, if not the greatest distance - I did 40 then 50 miles.  But, on Saturday I met up with some of our Beating Bowel Cancer team and, along with members of Woking Cycle Club, we did part of the route, including Leith Hill.  A very early start, 7am, but a glorious day and a great ride.  Only downside was taking my eye off the road and hitting a pot hole resulting in a fall giving me a few bruises, a stiff wrist and a bumped head.  Don't worry, the bike is alright!  It was lovely to meet some of the team who are all raring to go for the day itself.  I really am grateful for their enthusiastic support.  So, thanks Lee, Keith and Jon.  Less than four weeks to go now.  In fact in four weeks my legs will be sore and I will be looking for my next challenge,

And, in more news, I have chosen a bike.  It is a Giant Defy 1 and I hope to pick it up within the next week or so so that I can train on it and then do Ride London on it.  It is a gorgeous machine and perfect for a novice like me.  Take a look: Defy 1.

100miles100names
Please let me have names by email mark.flannagan@beatingbowelcancer.org or via Twitter (@MarkFlannCEO) or via Beating Bowel Cancer's Facebook page. If you to donate you can via www.justgiving.com/Mark-Flannagan3.  or you can text Flan51 and your amount to 70070

100 miles 100 names

As I do the Ride London I want each mile to be a tribute to those with bowel cancer, and to those whom we have lost to bowel cancer. So, on the day of the event - 10th August - I will ride each mile for one named person and I want you to give me each name.

It will be the fact that each mile has a name that is special that will keep me going.  On the day I will carry all 100 names with me and at each stop take time to reflect on the names I have just "ridden a mile" for.

To do this all I need is you to let me have a name and, at the same time if you wish, donate at least £3 via my Just Giving page or via Text Giving.  If I get 100 names, and if everyone donated at least £3 that would raise £300 - the cost of running our nurse helpline for a day.  That would mean we can be there to help more people.

Please let me have names by email mark.flannagan@beatingbowelcancer.org or via Twitter (@MarkFlannCEO) or via Beating Bowel Cancer's Facebook page and I will add any I get.  I would welcome any donations people choose to make.  Our cause is good and the money raised will help us to help others.

If you do wish to give you can via www.justgiving.com/Mark-Flannagan3.  or you can text Flan51 and your amount to 70070

Thank you

Mark X

Remembering those we have lost

It is difficult to write this post because it talks about remembering those we have lost. There are days when I think about the people I had almost daily contact with and I’m caught short by the realisation that they aren't going to tweet, text, message or call me.

Staff at Beating Bowel Cancer talk to patients and their families every day.  Many of them have advanced cancer. Being there for them and helping them make sense of what is happening to them are just two of the many reasons why it’s vital that Beating Bowel cancer exists.  Every member of the team feels it very deeply when we lose someone. Quite truthfully and horribly people die and we mourn them. The fact that it happens too frequently does not mean it gets less painful. It is not for any of us "just a job".

As Chief Executive of a cancer charity I feel it is my responsibility to remember every day that our purpose is to both be there when people need us and to make bowel cancer a rare and not a common cancer killer. This is not for me an abstract motivation.  In the four years I have had the privilege of leading the charity my view on life has been changed by meeting individuals facing the bleakest of prospects.  Each one has shown me that dealing with something that is normally unthinkable, our death, is often done with dignity and humour.

That is why remembering individuals who are no longer with us is, for me, a personal tribute to their life.  I discussed this with colleagues and it was only then that I learned about the Much Loved website that allows tributes to be made to those we have lost.  I am pleased that we have now joined this and hope that this online service will help those who are mourning.  It allows you to leave messages and fond memories of loved ones. It is just one thing we can do to help remember people we have lost.

In tribute to those people, and for everyone who has been affected by bowel cancer, I’ll be taking part in Ride London on 10 August, cycling 100 miles to raise much needed funds for our work. If you can, please be generous and donate via www.justgiving.com/Mark-Flannagan3.