About my blog

CLL is the acronym for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia. CLL is the most common cancer of the blood. However, unlike many other leukaemias, CLL is incurable. Innovative research is desperately needed to provide treatments which are more effective than the derivatives of chemical warfare agents currently in use. Research however costs money.

In 2009 I walked from John o'Groats in the north east of Scotland to Land's End in the south west of England. Hence the acronym JOGLE. The purpose of my walk was to make more people aware of this insidious disease and to encourage them to sponsor me by donating to the research groups I was supporting. It was a most enjoyable experience and I met some wonderful people. Together we raised over 2000 pounds for the cause. Thank you everyone!

In, 2010, the blog was being continued for those who may have be interested in following my walking holiday in Wales. This was not a charity walk.

Sadly this year, 2013, Alan Frost, a senior member of the Wednesday Loafers, our cancer support group, passed away. Many medics will tell you that CLL can be cured by a bone marrow transplant. Alan had battled with the cure for many years. More research is needed, but significant progress has been made since I started this blog.

CLL is still killing my friends. The organizations listed at the side of this blog would welcome any contributions you would like to make towards their research.

Please feel free to pass on the details of this site to anyone you think may be interested. The link is www.cancerwalker.com
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Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Day 1, Tue 7 July, Canisby to Dunnet Bay


Summary
Day 1. Canisby to Dunnet Bay
Date: Tue 7th July
Distance: 29.2 Km (18.1 Miles)
Total distance covered: 38.2 Km (23.7 Miles)
Distance to go: 1590.1 Km (988 Miles)

In memory
Today, the first day of my walk, I will be walking in memory of my brother Gordon. The photo on the left shows him as a teenager. Gordon was successfully treated for Hairy Cell Leukaemia (HCL) but then sadly went on to develop bowel and then liver cancer. Secondary cancers are also a common feature of CLL, especially after chemo.

We went camping together in Scotland more than 40 years ago. Camping with Gordon, an ex Queen's Scout, was much more primitive than the conditions I hope to experience on my trip. I at least have a small gas stove to cook on and am hoping to stay most nights at a permanent campsite. Gordon always camped wild and collected dead wood for his fires. I remember the first night of a trip to Scotland, on deciding to set up camp, we suddenly realized we were in an area devoid of trees. No dead wood for a fire! We had to ride 10 miles back down the way we had come on his Norton 99 before we could find a wooded area to with enough fuel to cook an evening meal. I plan to eat most of my evening meals in pubs but I doubt if I will ever be served with mackerel as fresh as I ate on that trip. They were cooked and eaten within an hour of being taken from Loch Long.

Day 1 report
Today, I walked from the Youth Hostel to Brough via Mey. There I asked a man called Mervyn if I could leave my pack with him while I walked to Dunnet Head. Mervyn invited me in for a cup of tea and we had a chat. He recommended that I go to Dunnet Head and then come back and visit him. Dunnet Head is the most northerly point on the British Mainland. When I returned he had made lunch. Because he made me lunch I told him I would donate $35AUD in his name to the charity. After leaving Mervyn’s place I booked in at the Caravan Club Campsite at Dunnet. One of the best things about a walk like this is some of the chance meetings with friendly people such as Mervyn.
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1 comment:

  1. Mikha'elJuly 7, 2009 at 6:05 PM

    Best of wishes on your walk and I will keep updated on your adventure!

    ReplyDelete

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