As I’m sure most will know September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month.
In support of this I’ll be posting on my social media profiles and doing a personal challenge which will hopefully raise some money for Blood Cancer UK.
My personal challenge is to do 400,000 steps through a combination of walking and my exercise each morning.
I won’t post any links here to my fundraising page as I know that’s not permitted on the forum.
Just wondering if others on the forum are planning anything to raise awareness of Blood Cancer this month?
I’ll share some updates once in a while on my progress towards my step target.
I will be wearing my Blood Cancer UK tee shirts all this month, the best advertisement you could have and a definite talking point to spread the word.
September Ist is World Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia ('CLL') Day and I have just come back from seeing my GP about my recurring skin cancer on my head and face, but I did manage to spread the word with my GP and surgery. Now that Parliament has reconvened I shall also write to my MP asking her to highlight and campaign for Blood Cancers at every opportunity.
And it is only the 1st, I also know that Blood Cancer UK will be doing all sorts of things.
No specific plans as such - only to continue to go to the numerous coffee mornings i go to - drink coffee - eat cake - and chat with other blood cancer / cancer patients, their family and / or friends.
Talking is an amazing therapy that we are all capable of and that we all benefit from
I do try to reach 3 goals as far as exercise is concerned at least 3 days out of 7 so that will remain a personal goal for me
Hey @DuncanB I have seen lots about it on Instagram. I decided to walk 70km in October to raise some cash but now I’m very worried. I will be seeing my haematologist on the 30th of September to hear about my bone marrow test results, and he has already indicated to my GP that I will start treatment. I am worried I will have side effects and not be up for walking… I have already raised 50 quid and feel I can’t buckle.
Hi @Erica i am doing this walk I replied to DuncanB, and am chuffed I will get a blood cancer t-shirt. Well, provided that I hit my target!!! #fearoffailure
Great that you have a 70km in October scheduled. If up to doing the walking that’s great and no one is going to think badly of you if treatment means you can’t do exactly as planned.
Hi @CKG
Please go easy on yourself. Waiting for bone marrow results and getting ready to start treatment is a challenge itself, so it’s no wonder you’re feeling under pressure.
Your health comes first, end of story. You’re definitely not letting anyone down, and nobody who donated toward that £50 would want you pushing yourself when you’re unwell.
There’s no need to make any decisions just now. See how your appointment goes on the 30th and listen to what your haematologist says. If you need to scale the walk back, take a bit longer with it, or get some friends and family to cover some miles with you, that’s completely fine.
Don’t worry about the challenge—just focus on looking after yourself.
I noticed that the Fund Raising aspect suggested by Blood Cancer UK was based on Craft projects, so I decided to arrange a Craft Drop-In Afternoon. A friend kindly allowed me to use her home, which is much bigger than mine, so that I could invite more people to attend. I provided materials to do various craft projects e.g. Card Making, Needle Felting, Decoupage Baubles, Watercolour Painting .
It allowed me to step out of my comfort zone somewhat, and proved I’m a crafter with good intentions but really a hoarder, so it was good to be able to provide and share.
Not many folk were available to join us, but those that attended gave generously. I’ve also had a GoFundMe page running on my Facebook, which I will leave up until the end of the month.
To be honest, I was a little disappointed when so few people turned up, and wondered if it was all worth it, but adding up the donations at the end of the day was more than enough to make me realise that sharing my Blood Cancer story to date, and the need for funds for vital continued research, and for patient care and support, really was worth my initial unease.
I’ve also regularly been sharing the small film clips that Blood Cancer UK have been showing on Facebook.
If you are thinking you want to do something, but don’t know where to start, I’d recommend taking the first step, which is probably out of your own comfort zone, and just sharing with family and friends; share posts on social media; hold or get involved in a fund raiser that is within your interest area. For me it was crafts, for you it might be climbing Everest (although my craft session might as well as been climbing Everest for me ). Don’t let you hold yourself back!
All the best.
Hepzibah.
I know you feel slightly disappointed about the turnout which I get 100%
Equally I believe it’s important to focus on the bigger picture.
Ultimately you have raised awareness of blood cancer and raised some funds for Blood Cancer UK.
I know that whatever you raise will be gratefully received.
I’m doing a Step Challenge and had a lovely fundraising pack arrive yesterday out of the blue as well as a lovely email from someone in the fundraising team.
Celebrate what you’ve done and remember ever penny raised makes a difference.
Thanks Duncan,
Although I had a bout of disappointment, the pluses far outweigh the negative:
I’ve stepped out of my own comfort zone.
Having set a conservative, but hopefully realistic amount to raise, believing that if I didn’t raise enough through donations I could afford to make up the difference, I have more than doubled my original goal, (and my Go Fund Me page is open until the end of the month so fingers crossed there will be more).
I spent quality time with others, and it might be the start of some of us meeting more regularly to pursue our craft activities together. That in it’s own way is also helping to build up my personal support team.
At the end of the day, I did count my blessings as well as the money raised - both were definitely on the positive.
The Fundraising Pack is a useful little addition, and somehow makes the decision to do something all the more real.
Good Luck with your Step Challenge. Put your best foot forward - whichever it might be!
Good luck with the 400,000 steps—that’s a huge goal for Blood Cancer Awareness Month!
A full-on fundraiser is just a bit too much for me to take on right now. Being a carer to very poorly parents and my new grands takes up so much energy and time right now. But I’m doing my bit by sharing blood cancer stories on my social feed. It feels like a small, easy way for me to help raise awareness while managing everything else.
Hope the steps go well, keep us posted on how you get on!
). Don’t let you hold yourself back!
