Registered User
Hi all,
I am nearing 6 months all clear now (fingers crossed) and my most recent check up passed without issue, to the best of my knowledge. I am getting to the stage now where I have a burning desire to give something back to the people that helped me (or saved my life if you prefer).
I am looking at doing a sponsored event of some description for "It's In The Bag" which is a testicular cancer charity specifically for the South West of England. I have been wracking my brains for something good to do that will challenge me and therefore inspire people to give more money as what I am doing is a real challenge.
I've looked into "3 Peaks Challenge" where you climb Britain's 3 tallest mountains in one day. I've also looked into doing a London to Paris bike ride but this seems a bit cost heavy. I just wondered whether anyone had any good ideas to help me out?
All suggestions greatly received.
"Physically, half the man I used to be...Mentally, twice the man I've ever been."
"Losers quit when they're tired. Winners quit when they've won!"
Registered User
After posting this I have been offered a place on the National 3 Peaks Challenge on 1st June 2012 and I have taken it. I will be climbing the 3 highest mountains in the UK in 24 hours for "It's In The Bag".
If anyone wishes to donate then my Just Giving page is http://www.justgiving.com/AlexJamesHowells
Thank you all, as always for your support.
"Physically, half the man I used to be...Mentally, twice the man I've ever been."
"Losers quit when they're tired. Winners quit when they've won!"
Moderator
Alex - that is AWESOME! Good luck climbing those mountains.
Last edited by CancerSux; 05-02-12 at 08:19 PM.
Tracy
Cancer pharmacologist, caregiver blog here
Wife to Kel, dx 12/30/11 Stage IIIc (poor) embyronal, AFP 13700, 10x11 cm retroperitoneal mass, 1 cm^2 lung met
Left I/O 12/31/10.
4xBEP 1-4/11, AFP=22, 5*7 RP mass, tx failed
1.5 x VeIP 5-6/11; tx failed, AFP/b-hCG rising
Salvage RPLND @Indy 6/29/11, metastatic mixed germ cell tumor with yolk sac, seminoma and teratoma
Remission! AFP steady since 9/2011; 1.5 years ALL CLEAR
Registered User
Thanks (wo)man, won't be easy but then it wouldn't be a challenge!Originally Posted by CancerSux
Last edited by CancerSux; 05-03-12 at 02:44 PM. Reason: Fixing my gender :)
"Physically, half the man I used to be...Mentally, twice the man I've ever been."
"Losers quit when they're tired. Winners quit when they've won!"
Registered User
Well done Alex. A worthy challenge indeed!
A year or two ago I climbed one of those mountains, Snowdon, for Love Hope Strength. The 3 Peaks will be a fantastic experience and you will raise a ton of money. Count on me for sponsorship!
Nick
Embryonal Carcinoma; Seminoma. Marker negative.
August 2001: Right I/O .
August - December 2001: Surveillance .
December 2001: Relapse - Stage III. Mets in lymph nodes and lung.
December 2001 - March 2002: 3xBEP .
Complications: Neutropaenic sepsis during cycles 1 & 3. I/V antibiotics and isolation.
March 2012 - Ten years since finishing chemo.
Survivorship Blog is here
Registered User
Thanks Smartie. I still would love to meet up in Weston some time, things have been a bit mental over the last few months with Charlie and getting back to normal etc. I'll try and sort something out soon.
"Physically, half the man I used to be...Mentally, twice the man I've ever been."
"Losers quit when they're tired. Winners quit when they've won!"
Registered User
Best of Luck with this.
I have friends who have done the 3Peaks, from what they tell me it is worth giving serious thought to the order (where you start) to make the most of the available daylight and navigational challenges when you are seriously tired. Also need to think about the road conditions in between climbs.
Jan 12 - Suspicious swelling
Feb 12 - Ultrasound confirms, Urologist says probably tumour AFP 2, HGC 3, LDH 644, CT Scan - clear
28 Feb 12 - Left I/O
Mar 12 - Urology review, Classic Seminoma (Alveolar) 3.9cm max, no LVI or RTI, encapsulated and excised. pT1. AFP 2, HGC <1
Apr / May / Aug 12 / Dec 12 - Oncologist - All clear inc CT / CXR
Mar 13 (notionally 1 Year) - next planned surveillance
Grumpy is just a 20 year old nickname not an instruction Okay
Registered User
I'm doing Ben Nevis then Scafell Pike then Snowdon. Looking forward to it and not all at once! Thanks for the support.
"Physically, half the man I used to be...Mentally, twice the man I've ever been."
"Losers quit when they're tired. Winners quit when they've won!"
Registered User
Snowdon has the shortest approach walk which may be the reason many choose that order.
If you do the version that only allows travel by sail, bike and foot it is done other way round I believe starting at Barmouth !
Jan 12 - Suspicious swelling
Feb 12 - Ultrasound confirms, Urologist says probably tumour AFP 2, HGC 3, LDH 644, CT Scan - clear
28 Feb 12 - Left I/O
Mar 12 - Urology review, Classic Seminoma (Alveolar) 3.9cm max, no LVI or RTI, encapsulated and excised. pT1. AFP 2, HGC <1
Apr / May / Aug 12 / Dec 12 - Oncologist - All clear inc CT / CXR
Mar 13 (notionally 1 Year) - next planned surveillance
Grumpy is just a 20 year old nickname not an instruction Okay
Registered User
It'd be great to meet up, Alex. Maybe one evening after work?
Nick
Embryonal Carcinoma; Seminoma. Marker negative.
August 2001: Right I/O .
August - December 2001: Surveillance .
December 2001: Relapse - Stage III. Mets in lymph nodes and lung.
December 2001 - March 2002: 3xBEP .
Complications: Neutropaenic sepsis during cycles 1 & 3. I/V antibiotics and isolation.
March 2012 - Ten years since finishing chemo.
Survivorship Blog is here
Registered User
That'd be ideal. I'm training each night for the challenge at the moment but maybe the 1st week in June? Maybe it will have stopped raining by then?
"Physically, half the man I used to be...Mentally, twice the man I've ever been."
"Losers quit when they're tired. Winners quit when they've won!"
Registered User
Fundraising is going fantastically well and I would like to thank everyone from these forums who has taken the time to donate to the charity. I am well into my training now and the charity are very excited by the amount of kind donations they are receiving. If anyone hasn't donated yet and would like to then please see the page below.
Thank you all again.
www.justgiving.com/AlexJamesHowells
"Physically, half the man I used to be...Mentally, twice the man I've ever been."
"Losers quit when they're tired. Winners quit when they've won!"
Registered User
This time next week I'll have driven to North Wales, climbed up and down Snowdon, and driven home again...and that's just the training! Not long now until the real thing.
All support greatly appreciated...
www.justgiving.com/AlexJamesHowells
"Physically, half the man I used to be...Mentally, twice the man I've ever been."
"Losers quit when they're tired. Winners quit when they've won!"
Registered User
Good luck with it Alex. I found walking down the mountain even harder than going up - so don't use all your energy on the ascent!
Hope you get good weather (unlikely in North Wales, I know!). Do you know which path you'll be taking?
Nick
Embryonal Carcinoma; Seminoma. Marker negative.
August 2001: Right I/O .
August - December 2001: Surveillance .
December 2001: Relapse - Stage III. Mets in lymph nodes and lung.
December 2001 - March 2002: 3xBEP .
Complications: Neutropaenic sepsis during cycles 1 & 3. I/V antibiotics and isolation.
March 2012 - Ten years since finishing chemo.
Survivorship Blog is here
Registered User
I don't know yet Nick, will let you know once I've done it next week. Hopefully its the one with the train!
"Physically, half the man I used to be...Mentally, twice the man I've ever been."
"Losers quit when they're tired. Winners quit when they've won!"
Registered User
Well having now climbed a mountain I can confirm that this is going to be harder than I'd thought.We climbed the second highest peak in Wales on Sunday and I can still barely walk now! Only a few days to go now before the 25 mile walking and going up 10,000ft's worth of ascent in 24 hours. It is going to be hard.
Thank you to everyone on here who has taken the time to read my story and kindly donate to the fantastic charity that I am raising money for. If anyone would still like to donate then all motivation is greatly appreciated...
www.justigiving.com/AlexJamesHowells
Thank you again for all the kind words and donations so far, they mean a lot to me and the charity.
"Physically, half the man I used to be...Mentally, twice the man I've ever been."
"Losers quit when they're tired. Winners quit when they've won!"
Registered User
Hi guys,
My 3 Peaks Challenge is only a day away now and I am having one last push on donations to my wonderful cause. If you can spare any amount to go towards helping men with Testicular Cancer then that would be greatly appreciated.
For more info on my story, my challenge or just to make a donation please click the link below...
www.justgiving.com/AlexJamesHowells
Thank you in advance for all your genorsity.*
"Physically, half the man I used to be...Mentally, twice the man I've ever been."
"Losers quit when they're tired. Winners quit when they've won!"
Registered User
After many weeks of commitment, training and dedication a combination of injury and illness has meant that I have not been successful in my attempt at National 3 Peaks Challenge.
I am massively disappointed to have not achieved what I set out to do but in the end I think everything my body has been through in the last 12 months, coupled with the immense difficulty of the Challenge, has been a step to far.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has donated to my cause for their staggering generosity, by which I have been truly humbled, and I only wish I had been able to repay this by being successful.
If anyone still wishes to make a donation to the charity then my page will remain open for a week or so despite the challenge now being over.
www.justgiving.com/AlexJamesHowells
Thank you once again from myself, my family and my charity.
"Physically, half the man I used to be...Mentally, twice the man I've ever been."
"Losers quit when they're tired. Winners quit when they've won!"
Registered User
Hi Alex,
I don't think winning is always defined by coming in first or even finishing for that matter... but more by our honest efforts. You've been through a lot and I applaud you for your efforts.
I encourage you to try again someday if that us what it would take to put this behind you. I ran my first 10k race in 34 years on mothers day, finishing 42 instead of the second place all those years ago, but I finished without walking and 1.5 minutes ahead of my target time.
And as for celebrating, I get my next "all clear" results back in two days. That's the plan anyway!
Go ahead Alex, celebrate your effort and anything else you can think of.
Greg
2011
Feb 15 - Thyroidectomy - (left side) - Benign, July 3 - Diagnosed / July 7 - Right I/O, Aug 4 - Seminoma - 2.7cm - Surveillance
2012
July 30 - 13 Months Results - CT=Relapse, 3cm node, blood work normal.
Nov 6th - Finished BEPx3.
Dec 6th - CT results show node reduced to 6mm. Back on surveillance.
2013
Mar 5th - Got all clear results for my mom's birthday.
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