International Myeloma Foundation’s Post

Final Charity Update   ✅ Guernsey Marathon ✅ Sark 10 ✅ Guernsey Rotary Round the Island ✅ Jersey Round the Rock ✅ Guernsey Half-Marathon  ✅ Jersey Marathon ✅ Dogbreaker  ❌ GUN31   Sadly, not everything always goes to plan, and I did not finish the GUN31 a week or so ago. I didn't even make it to the halfway point. I twisted my ankle 19k into the 49.8k race and took a tumble into a hedge (rather than the steps I was going down... or the cliff face). Running an ultra-marathon in the dark, feeling fatigued, and in horrific conditions is not advisable, but it is achievable as many people did that night. Perhaps it was just a step too far for me, no pun intended! It was frustrating for it to happen at the end, especially since failure isn't something I have experienced during this journey. The stats show that the training was perhaps more grueling than the challenges themselves, which is quite remarkable. Here are some ridiculous comparisons for the purpose of this post: 👟 830 miles covered (equivalent to driving from Land's End to John O'Groats) ⏲ 189 hours 33 minutes (that's nearly 8 days) ⏳ 22,240m elevation (like climbing Mt Everest 2.5 times) I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who has sponsored me. Your support means a great deal. With the fantastic generosity of so many people, I have raised over £3k. Once my matched funding comes in from Schroders and Cazenove Capital, it will take the total sponsorship to over £6k. I am sure this will be greatly appreciated by Macmillan Cancer Support. If you wish to donate, the JustGiving page will remain open until 31st December. As my JustGiving page says, "Earlier this year, I sadly lost someone very dear to me to Cancer." That person was my Nan, something I couldn't really talk about at the start of this adventure. I know my Nan would have said, "You're barking mad! Why would you want to do this?!" But I hope she would be proud of what I have accomplished and the funds raised. Now, I'm going to rest up and enjoy the festive period. After that, perhaps I'll see what else I can put my body through... https://lnkd.in/e-JXFd6X

116km ran in 72 hours - 6.5km every 4 hours for 72 hours - 18 runs in total €6,757 raised for Irish Cancer Society Firstly, I want to say a massive thank you to everyone that donated to the ultimate running challenge. Cancer affects thousands of families in Ireland including my own and I understand how difficult it can be for families. I got a lot of messages from people acknowledging what I was doing & that it was very close to their hearts too. It was fantastic to get these messages from people and it pushed me to keep going! Secondly, I want to say a big shout out to everyone that joined me on the runs, the support was fantastic. 15 of the 18 runs I had people running with me which just shows how much support there was and I’m very grateful for it! Lastly, I set out this crazy challenge not knowing what to expect really, finished it and still felt I had more to give. It made me realised exactly how far I can push myself and what my body is capable of. I find myself coming across people every day who have completed challenges that seem impossible. People continue to amaze me and it pushes me to challenge myself even more and see what we can do because believe me, you are capable of doing so much more than you know! What I’m trying to say, challenge yours by as much as possible! Get out of your comfort zone and do something that might seem impossible or makes you feel uncomfortable! We strive and become better when we challenge ourselves to do something hard and uncomfortable. You will suffer and it won’t be easy but let me tell you it’s very rewarding when you’ve done it! It could be running your first 5km, first marathon, joining a sports club, or learning a new skill. It might not go to plan the first time, but just remember everybody fails in life even the most successful people. The main thing is to never stop trying. Don’t give up, stay strong, believe in yourself and try again! Most importantly enjoy the ride because it’s some experience on the journey and extremely rewarding when you get there! #running #challenge #irishcancersociety #4x4x72 #dublin #runningmotivation #4x4x48challenge #marathon #charity

Hope everyone is having a wonderful 2023!  I'll be riding again this year in the Georgia Bike MS Ride being held in & around LaGrange, GA this weekend (Sept 23-24).  I plan to ride 130 miles over two days to help raise funds for the fight against multiple sclerosis.   For those unfamiliar with it, multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. Symptoms range from blurred vision, loss of balance, poor coordination, slurred speech, tremors, numbness, extreme fatigue, problems with memory and concentration, paralysis, blindness and more.  MS is different for everyone, and that makes it all the more challenging to treat and find a cure.   This annual cycling event is organized by the Georgia Chapter of the National MS Society to raise funds to help in the fight against MS.  I think this will be my 21st or 22nd year participating.  Before getting involved, I had no idea how many lives of friends, relatives & colleagues have been touched by someone suffering with or having lost a personal battle against MS.   But I need your help to support my fundraising efforts ... otherwise, this is just a fun & challenging weekend of biking.  I've already covered my registration fee and the initial fundraising minimum.  Please consider supporting me in the fight against MS by making a tax-deductible contribution to help fund local support programs & services and national MS research toward finding a cure to this devastating disease.   Donations can be made electronically or by check. To contribute quickly & easily by credit card or PayPal, just click the link below to take you to my personal page, then click on the "Donate" button, and follow the prompts to provide the requested information.   https://lnkd.in/gqVsDJ_m   If you prefer to donate by check, please send your donation to me made payable to “National MS Society” and include my name on the memo line of the check.  My home address is: 295 Chattahoochee Street / Roswell, GA 30075.   I'd like to thank all of you who have sponsored me so generously in prior year's rides, and thank you in advance for your collective generosity and support in this year's event!  Last year, through your collective financial support, I was able to raise more than $5,000 finishing in the Top 10 of fundraisers for the event.  I’d love to reach that level again, however my personal goal is to raise at least $4,000 this year.  Big or small, I am personally grateful to each of you for your support and appreciative of any & all donations toward this worthy cause!   Thanks so much and may God bless you!   John Stamey 404-234-1028

𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 | 𝗖𝗛𝗧’𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 One month ago, we staged a relay race, and we plan to keep moving! 💪 While moving we also want to strengthen our team spirit as well as the common good. How do we do all that at the same time? 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲! 🏃♀️ 🏃 Here is how it works: 👉 Starting today, all teams of our #onewinningteam can count their steps with an app for 𝟰 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀. But not just actual steps count: The app can also track biking, swimming, yoga and many other sports activities. All these activities are being transferred into a point system 👉 After 4 weeks, the points will show which of the CHT teams was the best. That team wins a 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 – what exactly that price is will be a surprise 👉 On top of that, the app tracks the total points of all the participants which will be transferred into a 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. With this donation we want to 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 – the foundation “Foerderverein fuer krebskranke Kinder Tuebingen e.V.” to be exact. Let’s do some good with our motivation! 🙌 Are you curious about which team won and how much we achieved in total? 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗱! #teamspirit #sports #teamevent #charity #smartchemistry #motivation #health

Meet Dean Arnolds, a 26-year-old from Gqeberha, who's been on an incredible journey of resilience and transformation. Here's a glimpse into his inspiring story: 1. Which organ did you receive, and in what year? One of my kidneys was removed when I was 11 years old. My condition was managed by specialist until the age of 17 when I was fortunate to receive a kidney transplant in 2014. 2. How long were you on the waiting list for your organ? I was on the waiting list for 6 years for a kidney transplant. 3. What was life like before the transplant? How did you spend your days? I was very sick and spent a lot of time in hospital, my mind was more focused on my health than on schoolwork. 4. Describe the emotions experienced when you received “The Call” for your transplant? For me when I received the call for my kidney transplant; it was unreal because I know lots of patients waiting for transplants for years. 5. What is life like now, after the transplant? My life after the transplant has changed dramatically, I could only thank God for giving me a second chance in life, it felt like I could take on the world and inspire people not to give up. You need to take responsibility to eat healthy, stay active, and take your medicine every 12 hours. I’ve qualified to take part in the World Transplant Games in Spain (2017), the UK (2019), and Australia (2023) for 400m and Pétanque sporting codes. In 2022 I took part in the National Games where I broke the 400m South African record. In April at the World Transplant Games held in Perth, our team won a bronze medal in the double Pétanque. In September, I'm planning to do the Amashova cycling race in Durban to raise awareness and funds for TELL on 22 October. Please support Dean in reaching his goal by donating via https://lnkd.in/eQXD2-w9 6. What advice would you give patients on the waiting list?  Continue eating a healthy diet, stay active, and never give up because your life is in God’s hands. Your breakthrough will come for a transplant, just trust it will. 7. Why do you think there is a shortage of donors in South Africa? A lot of people are fearful about organ donation.  8. If you could describe transplant in one word, what would it be? Life changing

This week I ran my first ever marathon (solo!).... These are the lessons I've learned which are also true in life and business (warning: many puns ahead!) 1. Don't run before you can walk Tackling any major challenge in life can be quite daunting. But breaking it down into smaller chunks will make that pill much easier to swallow! So, if you want to hit the ground running, focus on doing the little things first and take it one step at a time!   2. It’s not about the destination but the journey As a teenager, this cheesy "life lesson" line always made me cringe but it's true. After 32km with still 10km more to go, your mind suddenly becomes very good at reminding you every 30 secs why this is your worse idea ever. Thinking about the finish line (destination) only made it worse. But focusing on putting one foot in front of the other and occasionally lifting your head to enjoy the scenery made me realize that life is a marathon, not a sprint!   3. The only race that matters is the one against yourself There are only two people in life you need to impress: your 8-year-old self and 80-year-old self. When you try to run against someone else’s clock, you'll find yourself running on empty because you can't walk in someone else's shoes!   4. Run the extra mile! Since one can never run too many marathons, I am going to run it again in two months’ time! This time for charity to raise money for the Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. So please be a good sport and make a donation now here (my personal goal is €500): https://lnkd.in/esE5Xutr 🏃♂️💨💰 #marathon #fundraising #motivation

So it’s that time of year where is dust off my training gear and drive towards raising money for cancer research. Any donations would be gladly received as every little helps! The goal is to climb the height of Everest, which is 8,848m, on Snowdon, which means that I need to summit the tallest mountain in Wales at least 10 times over 3 days. I will need to cover the distance of a marathon each day, but uphill! THE CHALLENGE The goal is to climb the height of Everest: 8,848m Snowdon is 1,085m, so I need to make 10 ascents Walking uphill (and down) for 3 days Equivalent effort to running 3 marathons per day… Climbing for more than 12 hours per day Burning more than 10,000 calories per day https://lnkd.in/e7zW4XC8

The Art of Resilience You may have heard about the fact that Bartek Kubkowski is currently participating in the Ultra Baltic Swim. For the first time ever, Kubkowski is attempting to swim the entire Baltic Sea from Sweden to Poland without touching a boat. All for a charitable purpose, he wanted to raise 200,000 PLN for children fighting cancer! The account already has more than 255,000 PLN, while the gathering continues: 👉 https://lnkd.in/gC429mB8 Coincidentally, I am just in the middle of reading the book "The Art of Resilience: Strategies for an Unbreakable Mind and Body," written by Ross Edgley, who in the book describes his preparations and struggles to sail around the United Kingdom in 2018 as the first man in 157 days. In the book, he describes the theory of "stoic sports science," a method in which physical endurance, but also mental resilience, is necessary to swim about 2,000 miles, or more than 3,200 kilometers, with one's own arms and legs. The subject of such extreme swimming in natural reservoirs is quite new to me, but it is amazing how it can inspire, give motivation, because Edgley and Kubkowski show that limitations are mainly in our heads, and that consistency, persistence, overcoming one's own barriers and discomfort help achieve great goals. There are no shortcuts here. That's why I highly recommend delving into Edgley's story and his approach to stoicism, even if the only water sport you do is the occasional hot tub in a hotel. #resilience #motivation #sports #inspiration

🥊 One year ago, I stepped into the boxing ring not just for a personal challenge, but to fight for something greater - a cause close to my heart. 💙 I took on the challenge to raise funds for Duchenne UK, a cause that aims to make a difference in the lives of those affected by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. 👊 Duchenne is a relentless genetic disorder that affects young boys, robbing them of their strength and mobility. The fight against it is tough, but the resilience of those facing this battle is even tougher. 💪 That's why I chose to put myself out there, lace up the gloves, and take on the ring - to show that anything is possible when you believe in yourself and your cause. 🙌 Thanks to the incredible support of friends, family, and the community, we were able to make a meaningful contribution to Duchenne UK. 🌟 It's a reminder that every small effort counts and that together, we can make a difference. ✨ This journey taught me that when you have a purpose, no challenge is too great. Whether it's in the ring or in life, believing in yourself opens doors to unimaginable possibilities. 🚀 Let this be a testament to the power of determination, compassion, and the impact we can have when we come together for a greater cause. 🤝 As we reflect on the past year, let's continue to support each other, raise awareness, and contribute to making positive change. Thank you to everyone who was part of this journey, and here's to many more victories against Duchenne and beyond! 🌈 🌟 Click the link below to contribute and be a part of the fight against Duchenne UK Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy! 👊👉 https://lnkd.in/er595_37 #DuchenneUK #FightForACure #DonateNow #MakeADifference #Boxing 💪

IRONMAN FOR DIABETES PART 5 Five months ago I started training for the Ironman (triathlon) in Italy. I did this to raise money for the Diabetes Fonds. Every month I share my insights of what I learned. This month I learned a very interesting thing about: Life is too short to complain. Before you know it it's over. So make every day a beautiful day and enjoy it. People complain about all kinds of things, this can often be divided into 2 things. Things you can control and things you cannot control. People who can control things by themselves often complain that others are doing better, other people have left their things lying around, that they are under a lot of stress or that they are not keeping up with their work. If you complain about this, do something about it yourself. Clean up the mess yourself, even if it is someone else's, and plan your work well so that you have less stress. Do it yourself instead of pointing to others. People who cannot control things complain about the weather, traffic, stocks, etc. You cannot manage or change this. So accept it. Learn to live with it and embrace it. Life is too short to complain, pick it up if you can and work on it. Make every day a beautiful day, because who knows, it might be over tomorrow. Right now I'm changing my life by training for the Ironman in Italy. So far I have swum 66 km, cycled 1331 km and run 406 km. I will compete the full Ironman Italy to raise money for the Diabetes Fonds. My goal is to reach €5.000 euro, currently I reached almost 60% of my goal!!! 🙏 I still need €2.070 euro. Share/like/comment on this post so that even more people see it. For now I would like to thank all the people who have already donated for their contribution! This pushes me to train even harder, thanks for that! 🙏 And on to the €5.000. You can donate via: https://lnkd.in/ePhCBSd3 Don’t wat for the perfect moment, take the moment and make if perfect! #diabetes #workhard #ironman #DiabetesFonds