51 for Carla (and Mary)
A 51km run to raise funds for Mary Potter Hospice on what should have been our beautiful Carla's 51st birthday.
Wellington
On 30 August 2024 I will be running 51 km on what should have been our beautiful friend Carla's 51st birthday. Carla left us on 5 June this year after a short, but brave fight with lung cancer.
This idea came about because we had joked about running 50km to celebrate her 50th in August 2023 after she had been given what turned out to be a temporary reprieve. Instead, Carla threw an amazing party with a 'Celebrate Life' theme. The cancer returned in September and though Carla was in and out of hospital from then on, she remained so positive and full of life and joy each time I saw her - so full of life in fact that we joked about running 51km for her 51st as we'd not done the 50. Looking back, it was incomprehensible to think that she wouldn't be with us by then.
So even though she won't be joining in, I will be going the distance on 30 August, to remember Carla, to celebrate life, like she wanted us to and to raise some money for Mary Potter Hospice. Mary Potter was a great support to Carla, her husband Ricardo and her family during her palliative care, and her sister-in-law is a Mary Potter volunteer, so this is a cause close to their hearts.
Disclaimer - I'm unlikely to run the distance non-stop, and some of it may need to be by bike, depending on how the training goes. I will also be in the UK so will run 5.1km of the 51 on Carla's NZ birthday. Details to follow for anyone who'd like to join in at the same time.
Latest update
Ring the bells that still can ring 28 September 2024
After my brief sandwich break, I walked for 6km up onto the Common, with a minor detour to Ricardo Road which I had spotted on the map. I thought it fitting that Carla’s husband should feature in my walk. I hadn’t decided on a route before setting out. Maybe Carla’s hand was in that too.
I did then manage to run another 8km, and but the rest was at a slower pace, along the canal path and then up over the hill to home. Dad joined me for the last 5km and I completed 45.9km in just over 6 ½ hours. Meanwhile, over in Brazil, Carla’s sister was running 5.1 km and her nephew completing the final kilometres of 51km in August.
It’s incredible what the body can do if you put your mind to it. But sometimes, mind over matter just isn’t enough… Carla was so unbelievably positive through to the end, but the universe had other plans for her. So, to honour our beautiful friend, remember to ring those bells whilst you can. And if you’ve not yet donated to Mary Potter, there’s still time to do so.
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