Jungle Marathon 2007 Leukaemia Research sponsorship
I am taking part in the Jungle Marathon in October 2007 and have decided to raise money for Leukaemia Research.
This charity was chosen
for a very good reason; not because it is such a worthy charity but
because of David Headworth. A normal bloke and pretty much like most
people; hard working, soon to be married, first child on the way,
enjoying an active healthy life – pretty ordinary.
Which is why I ask you to read on; because this could happen to any one of us at anytime. So anything we can do to help Leukaemia Research help people like David keep their belief, keep their dreams alive, keep the illness at bay; then we have at least done something and something is so much better than nothing.
And just in case you are not yet convinced, I will be running through the Amazon Jungle, across 200kms with 7 days worth of food and equipment, sleeping in a hammock, running up to 87kms in one day – you don’t of course have to join me but just sponsor me – PLEASE!
You can donate online now at: www.justgiving.com/petergold
But please also read David's story so far to fully appreciate why it is so important that I raise this money.
In early March 2007 David was a very healthy, fit 39 year old. He was an active sportsman playing squash, golf and running and maintained a healthy lifestyle, and as a successful Principal Hydrogeologist with the National Rivers Authority, his career was going very well indeed. David and his Wife were also expecting their first baby in the August.
By the end of March he had started intensive chemotherapy, been put on indefinite sick leave with immediate effect, and had his whole life turned upside down literally overnight.
Over the course of two weeks prior to diagnosis, he had felt unwell and had visited the doctors several times. Then nine days into feeling unwell, he then came up in a rash that covered his whole back, and subsequently he returned to the doctors the next day where they took blood tests. Four days later - the same day as the their first ultrasound baby scan - he was diagnosed with T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia - common in children, but not in a 39 year adult.
Further bad news followed when it was discovered that a chromosome abnormality had occurred, a condition called Philadelphia Chromosome. This added complication strangely increased the cancer's speed of growth, and meant that chemotherapy alone would not be enough to get rid of the leukemia.
You can donate online now at: www.justgiving.com/petergold
After the first course of chemotherapy test results, David was given the shocking news that the leukemia was not getting any better, but was actually getting worse (due to the Philadelphia Chromosome discovery). At this stage there was a genuine worry that he wouldn't get to see his child being born. To try and arrest this latest development, they gave him the maximum dose of chemotherapy they could, which fortunately got the leukaemia to a level where they could consider the only option available. The one chance of any longevity at all is a bone marrow transplant, and they started the search for a donor.
Due to the rare combination of factors they only came up with two matches in the World! Currently one of these two donors is going through the final stages of testing, for the planned transplant in September.
As anybody who has seen people go through chemotherapy knows, it is a horrible process of poisoning the body to try and kill the cancer, and the side effects are very unpleasant. David has suffered most of them, with the most pronounced being the unavoidable weight loss.
But now for some good news!
David has achieved his first goal of seeing his son being born, now he hopes he can achieve the next - playing football with his wife and his son in the garden.
So, I am now asking that you sponsor me as part of my Jungle Marathon race in October 2007 to help raise much needed funds for Leukaemia Research.
And to make it simple and cost effective, I have created an online donation page at www.justgiving.com/petergold.
Please do give generously as every £ will help David and anyone else with this terrible illness.
