Praise for Breast Cancer Care

The one thing on my priority list this morning was talking to someone at Breast Cancer Care about my experience of the Pink Ribbon Walk last Saturday. I had been so impressed that I wanted to pass the message on to the people who do all the hard work.

Through the medium of Twitter I was able to get a name and number and I've just called the lovely Georgina who was a delight to speak to.

Having worked for charities myself for many years I know only too well how hard it is to fund raise especially in these challenging times, yet how important it is to get that money in. I also know how often we follow up problems and issues to complain and how easy it is to feel happy about something but never quite get round to letting the people that matter know about it.

I got a load of pleasure being able to pass on this great feedback to Georgina who I'm sure will pass it onto her team and I know I made her very happy too.

So, who could you tell today about some wonderful experience you've had? Who could you feedback to? Whose day could you make? ...and is this something you could do more often?

If you're into walking then I can heartily recommend a Pink Ribbon Walk for you in 2010. Have a look at http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/server/show/nav.725

Breast Cancer Care's Pink Ribbon Walk at Petworth 2009

We were probably better trained for this walk than we were for the Inca Trail. There's no great mystery or disillusionment re Peru as it was a fabulous experience - http://www.walkerscoach.com/inca_trail__the_dream_comes.htm I think it's more about circumstances and what was going on for all of us in our lives. This time we were walking very regularly anyhow, had a bit more time and as I running training walks for the Moonwalk ladies, it seemed to make sense to use those as training walks too.

So by the time we got to Arundel on the night before the walk we'd done a couple of 20 milers, a couple of 18 and 16 mile that had turned into 23. We had escaped London ahead of the Friday traffic so were in good form as we gathered to enjoy a drink and a meal together.

Lindsey looks happy to have found the Newcastle Brown.

Half the team (below) relaxed and ready to have a good evening.

After a lovely sunny day, it was a little shock to the system to find fairly thick fog the following morning but I had ordered good weather so I put my shorts on and headed for breakfast.

The fog was still with us, as you can see in the photo, so much so that Petworth House was barely visible but that didn't really matter. We had photos taken, found Gemma who'd driven up from Brighton to join us and declined a second breakfast although it was great that facilities were there to have it.

The East End Girls Team in the fog, complete with tiaras so we can find each other.

After the Aviva Walk in 2006, this was quite a small gathering but that in itself was lovely. It was fun to find a few people we knew, to chat and then after a warm up, we were off.

In the photo you can see the stream of pink as we headed up the first incline still in Petworth Park. The pace at this stage was fast and it was clear that there were a number of people who intended to make very few stops and get round in record time.

We walk fast but on a day like this we were out to enjoy all aspects of it and have some good breaks to recharge the batteries.

Some of the terrain we walked through below.

Two photos were taken on the lower slopes of Bexley Hill where we had great views over the countryside. It was such a perfect day to see it all.

Lunch was calling as we headed into The Cowdray Estate and marvelled at the polo lawns so well cultivated and tended. Then were the ruins of what has to have been a phenomenal house before being destroyed by fire in 1793.

The girls wanted to get a closer look but no one would let them in.

Here also was one of the many fantastic rest stops. I was so impressed at the never ending supplies of water, bananas, apples and wedges of oranges as well as those fantastic Eat Natural Bars and haribo sweets. As much as you wanted at every stop.

It was in Cowdray Park that we choose to have lunch and were lucky enough to find a large tree offering loads of shade where we could enjoy a good 45-60 minutes break.


Thankfully from this point we were into woodland again and dappled shade and were on the return leg soon knowing that the miles to do would now reduce with every step.

Although this was true, this next stage was probably the longest one without a rest stop and we were beginning to run out of water when we finally arrived. There had been more hills and on such a hot day we were sticky and sweaty. In fact quite a lot of my water was going down the back and front of my t shirt as I tried to keep cool.

Vanessa managed a set at the next rest stop while the rest of us collapsed on the grass.

It was about 5.5 miles from this point and we'd overheard someone say that it was all downhill towards the end. As we came across more and more hills we wondered when this was going to start.

Here was another up - why do they call this area the South Downs? as my team said, there are very few downs at all!! At least it was cool in this tunnel of trees.

Then we were into open space and at the top of a hill and there in the distance we could see Petworth House just peaking through the trees. A definite reason to have another photo. It also looked as if it might, at last, be downhill all the way from here....and it was. No wonder we all look happy.

Getting closer to the end and yes, we're nearly on the level.

We could tell by the distance from the house that there was still a mile or so to walk but by now we could see, not only the house, but the finish as well and that large pink arch, what a sight.

Just love this photo of Teresa hugging Gemma after we crossed the line, it says it all.

East End Girls on the Thames

June's walk saw the East End girls on another section of the Thames Path, this time from Tilehurst, west of Reading to Cholsey. It was a 12.5 mile route that had a mile trek to the station at the end.

This photo was taken at Pangbourne, from the bridge over the river - it was so still and peaceful. The bridge is a toll bridge but thankfully not to pedestrians.

We had our morning coffee in a lovely deli/coffee shop in the village.

I only noticed when I downloaded the photos, that this one tells a lot of the story so far. This was taken at Mapledurham Lock where we had a loo and refreshment break - vital to walkers wellbeing!

It has to be pointed out though that we did come from further than Central London. In fact rather than starting at the Thames Barrier, we began our quest at the Woolwich foot tunnel and have to date covered approx 103 miles of the 184 mile National Trail - http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/.

Our next section in July will see us pick up the trail at Cholsey and walk to Culham. We hope to have finished by the end of September although the 4 last sections will necessitate a long weekend as public transport is virtually non exsistent.

As usual we had the great walking weather we come to expect and great view and scenery to enjoy.

It was great to welcome Claire Chapman (on the right with Cajsa and Chris) on her first walk and hopefully it won't be her last. It was also good to have our local expert Lindsey, who was able to get us to just the right pub in Goring at lunch time, one we wouldn't necessarilly have found on our own. Thanks.

The chips were great and eating in the frest air is so good , as is knowing that you've earned these and are going to walk them off again after.

Whitchurch on Thames, on the other side of the bridge from Pangbourne, is very pretty. It has a beautiful church - here are the girls in the church yard.

The Thames Path, contrary to what you may believe is not all flat. On this walk, we left the water at Whitchurch on Thames, such a pretty place, and headed up and along a ridge where the path, at times, followed a roller coaster style.

Here's Lindsey, Cajsa and Teresa leading the way up to the ridge. Great to get a different view of the Thames from here, it's changed so much through the course of it's journey.

I wonder what we'll be doing once we finish this challenge.

Maggie's London Night Hike

If you missed out on getting into the Moonwalk, then you might want to try Maggie's London Night Hike. It's 20 as opposed to 26.3 miles long and easier to sign up for. No, I haven't done it but it looks fun and those bacon sannies at the finish line do tempt.

It's on September 18th and kicks off with a party. Sounds like a good night out. Grab a few friends, make up a team and go have some fun knowing you're doing it all for a very good cause. Find out more - http://tinyurl.com/ogp5dt

Story Of London Walking Weekend, London

Bringing London to life with over 150 walks, this weekend of meanders takes in 2,000 years of history, with Blue Badge Guides leading tours that can take you from the Romans to the 2012 Olympics.

It's a case of pick your subject or pick your area of the city, as you can choose between literature, feminism, architecture or medicine, with everywhere from Edmonton to Lambeth covered.

Transport enthusiasts may enjoy Trains, The Tube And Texts, while those with darker tastes can opt for Burnings, Beheadings and Bodysnatchers from St Paul's.

Some walks are being led in Russian, Polish and Japanese.

Find out more - london.gov.uk/storyoflondon

Walking the Petworth House 20 Mile Pink Ribbon Walk

Yes, I need you.

On June 27th, that's just three weeks away, I'm walking 20 miles in one of Breast Cancer Care's Pink Ribbon Walks. This is the first time I've done one of these and my team of 6, including me, have been training hard. We've done as many as 23 miles so we're all going to complete the walk and in the usual East End Girls Style.

We all love to walk and we're also passionate about using our walking talent to help others. We met when I ran training walks to train local women to do the 60K Aviva Breakthrough to Breast Cancer walk in 2006 and as a result of that formed a fabulous women only walking group. Now we walk once a month at least.

We've all had friends or family who have had this disease, some have survived, some haven't. I've seen a couple of female colleagues not even reach their 40th birthday, 2 children at my daughter's primary school left without a mum, and just over a year ago a close friend lost her battle against this disease which takes away too many wonderful women in the prime of their lives when they have so much to give. Happily, I've also seen wonderful women overcome it and bloom even more as a result of having to face their own mortality much earlier than expected.

I need you to sponsor me and help fund services and support, research and publicity so that this tragic loss of life can be prevented.

Just click on this link - http://www.justgiving.com/heatherwaring1 and follow the instructions.

Thanks so much

Heather

The Wandle Trail

I haven't tried this trail out yet, in fact I only just found out about it, and only then because it's not featured in the Rough Guide to Walks in London and Southeast England. Someone doing a review of the book was rather annoyed that their favourite walk wasn't included and being the curious person I am , I decided to investigate.



The Wandle Trail is a good one day walk for a seasoned walker as it's 14 miles long (20km) and it gets its name from the River Wandle which it follows from Croydon to the Thames at Wandsworth.



Having walked loads in and around London with my East End Girls - http://www.walkerscoach.com/meeting_others.htm I'm not at all surprised to hear that the walk "allows you to enjoy the heritage, flora and fauna of this typical chalk stream in the heart of some of south London’s most industrialised landscape".



The trail is mainly off-road and passes through the London Boroughs of Sutton, Merton and Wandsworth. As it's in built up areas there are of course points where you can access public transport and there are numerous cafes, pubs and restaurants where you can have a break and recharge. There are also local attractions such as Merton Abbey Mills, Deen City Farm and Wandsworth Museum and the Wandle Trail Art Programme is providing numbered gateways, viewing platforms and distinctive waymarkers. A travelling ‘waste wall’ will be the focus of community rubbish collection events - Wandle Trail arts website . In fact it sounds like the kind of trail you could do bot by bit over a number of weekends to take everything in.



The river has been used since the industrial revolution and is dotted with mills, offering glimpses into local history. More than ten parks and green spaces lie on the route, providing a great opportunity to see local wildlife and escape the hustle and bustle of south west London.



The Wandle Trail partners (the London Boroughs of Sutton, Merton and Wandsworth, Groundwork Merton and Sustrans) have published a map leaflet which shows links to other cycle routes and public transport - Wandle Trail leaflet and map


Finally there are places where the ground is uneven which makes the trail difficult for wheelchair users and even those with prams but improvement work is in progress. The leaflet describes alternative routes for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility, where necessary.