Scrambled Legs need your support
A group of Mums will be taking part in the Chudleigh Carnival six mile road race on 18 July to raise much needed funds for Cancer Lifeline South West.
Lisa Lea-Weston lives and works in Chudleigh and was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in November 2011. The Cancer Lifeline Southwest leaflet was given to Lisa mid-treatment and provided Lisa and her partner with the opportunity to go to Sharpham for three nights and be enabled to think about their experience in an active way and be offered the opportunity to learn mindfulness techniques to help manage the fear as Lisa tried to rebuild her life.
Lisa mentioned to a few of her friends that she wanted to run the Chudleigh Carnival six mile Road Race for Cancer Lifeline South West as she felt it really offered her a lifeline which had given her the courage to change her life.
A friend Lisa made that weekend who was living with cancer, died earlier this year and made Lisa even more committed to take part in the race and encouraged others to join her. The team name is Scrambled Legs.
Andy Palmer who runs the gym in Chudleigh offered to train Scrambled Legs in support of the charity. Andy’s wife, Alison German also offered to help with the training. The Scrambled Legs are: Sarah Lea-Weston, Jo McConville, Tracey Mills, Bobby Hughes, Kirsty Fee, Hayley Jones, Rebecca Hill, Sheena Taylor, Jane Millson (training in Tunbridge Wells), Helen Palmer (training in Sidmouth) and Rachel Hughes (training in Llanelli).
The Scrambled Legs hope to raise £3,000 for the charity through sponsorship and donations and would like the support of readers to reach their target.
Kirsty has said: “Not coming from Lisa’s close circle of friends I have not been involved from the beginning but have been quietly inspired by Lisa’s professional decisions and bravery in taking risks to follow her dream. The Scrambled Legs has been a large step outside my comfort zone and I am hoping just one of many that will bring me closer to my dreams too”
Hayley’s husband has described her joining the Scrambled Legs as “the biggest surprise of our married life”. He is surprised that not only that Hayley is doing it but actually enjoying it!
Jo McConville was talked into it by her husband and says: “Having lost my mum to cancer at a young age I like to support charities that help people fight cancer. Lisa works with our son and has had a huge positive effect. We are grateful to Cancer Lifeline South West for supporting Lisa in her fight against cancer so she is able to continue to help our son, so I am delighted to be raising money for this charity.”
Andy states that he: “Really thought it would be a wonderful idea and a bit of a challenge. We not only want Scrambled Legs running 6 miles by July but also want them to realise their potential and post some respectable finishing times. Ali and I join in as much as we help out so it’s a bit of fun and all for an excellent cause.”
The founders of Cancer Lifeline South West – Margaret Merrington and Sarah Delfont trained as counsellors with Macmillan in 1995 and went on to work at the cancer support charity’s Mustard Tree based at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth. It was whilst they were working there they noticed that the fact that the Mustard Tree was one floor up from the oncology department could be daunting for some patients. The idea was then hatched – to provide short restorative breaks outside the hospital setting.
Stepping off the treadmill of hospital appointments, endless tests and sometimes gruelling treatments, people are expected to get back to their lives again. Taking stock and looking back is not always easy; sometimes there may be anger around a slow diagnosis or a misdiagnosis or a sense of unfairness – why me?
Looking forward may be difficult as life can never be quite the same as it was. Lifeline was set up to support the onward journey for both patients and their carers; to help create an inner calmness and develop strategies for coping with life when it becomes difficult.
Margaret and Sarah saw a need and worked tirelessly to set up this unique charity.
If you can help Scrambled Legs with their charity fundraiser, please make an online donation at: http://www.everyclick.com/scrambledlegs1
Follow their training at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Scrambled-Legs/1475643279338296
