Final prep, timings for the 30th and another reason to do this.
29 August 2024I’m not feeling 100% prepared for my run/walk and I’m pretty certain that Carla and her family weren’t 100% prepared for what was to come either. But with the support of Mary Potter, they faced Carla’s last days with courage and dignity.
Today’s walk took me past my Dad’s childhood home. It’s also the home where, aged just 23, my Mum cared for my Granny Badham during her last few months after breast cancer had spread to her bones. Apart from a daily nurse visit, there was no other support for Granny, my Mum or the family. There was no local hospice and none of the other amazing support services, like bereavement counselling, provided by hospice today. Thinking about this gives me one more reason to fundraise for Mary Potter.
Tomorrow I will set out on the first leg of 51 for Carla (and Mary). At 8pm on Thursday 29 August (NZ time 7am on Friday 30th) I will run 5.1km. I hope that some of you will join me in a run at this time (or a walk) to remember our beautiful friend on what would have been her 51st birthday, and to celebrate life like she wanted us to.
I will complete the 51km the next morning. I'd like to be done before midnight NZ time, before Carla’s birthday comes to an end, but the only promise I can make is to do my best and to have fun doing so. I’m sure that’s all Carla would want (though I can still hear her telling me I’m crazy!)
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Kia ora Jo, I think it's such a great thing you're doing - ka mau te wehi!! - and kia kaha over the next 48 hours! I'll join you (kind of) on this side of the world...but over a longer period of time - and walking! I'll do a couple of smaller stretches during Friday, but do most of the 51km over saturday and sunday. Not as challenging as your endeavour, but hopefully there'll be a bit of overlap to be with you at the same time, while it's still Carla's birthday on either of our sides of the world :)
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Wow Kate. This is amazing that you are joining in for the whole thing too. Thank you. It means a lot.