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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Saturday, June 27, 2009

Almost time to leave (27th June, 2009)

Preparations are going reasonably well for the walk. I leave New Zealand on the 7th of July and make my way via my sister's in Torquay to the North of Scotland. I plan to start my walk on the 6th of July, bird flu and transport permitting.

Over the last few weeks I have been going on regular day walks to prepare myself for the long road ahead. As I usually have blood tests before and after my walks I considered using the alternative title "A Bloody Long Way" for my web site. Family members advised against it. Having spent many hours working with 1:50000 maps I realise now that such a title is probably a pretty accurate description of how I will be feeling about things in a few week's time.