Teacher swims Thames for Leukaemia Research

A TEACHER will test his stamina by swimming 135 miles along the Thames next month to raise money for leukaemia research.

The challenge - the equivalent of six and a half trips across the English Channel - will see Kirkby Stephen Grammar School’s Mark Walsh spend five days submerged in the southern waterway, in memory of former colleague Dave Hicks.
The epic swim will start at Cricklade Bridge, Wiltshire in the early hours of August 24 and Mr Walsh, 34, and his brother Richard, 32, aim to arrive at Teddington Lock in the western suburbs of London in time for dinner four days later.
“We’re hoping to raise in excess of £2,500 and all the money will go to Leukaemia Research in memory of Dave Hicks, who was an IT technician at the grammar school,” explained the geography teacher.
“I worked with him for three years until he died in December and he was an all round good guy who is missed by all at the school. The students think I’m a bit mad doing this because it’s a long distance, but as I said to them: this is a test of my endurance just like teaching them is,” he joked.
As well as swimming the Caledonian Canal in Scotland, Mr Walsh and his brother swam 50 miles across each of the lakes in the Lake District in 2007 - a challenge the duo completed in less than 48 hours to raise thousands for Guide Dogs for the Blind.
For their latest test the teacher, from Hunters Croft in Kendal, is training at Kendal Leisure Centre and heading to Windermere at weekends where he is in the water for up to five hours.
“Only about six people have swum the Thames before and this is the biggest challenge we’ve set ourselves,” he continued. “It’s going to be tough because we are going to be swimming for ten to 12 hours a day for five days - doing around 28 miles a day which is more than the Channel. The only breaks will be when we have to get out at the locks too, of which there are about 42.
“It’s a challenge though and we’re up for it.”

To sponsor the siblings, log on to www.justgiving.com/riverthameschallenge2009/

Story courtesy of the westmorland gazette.Webpage is HERE.

Leukaemia mum Karla, 21, loses brave battle

LEUKAEMIA sufferer Karla Neckles has died, tragically two weeks after a bone marrow donor was found.

I remember posting the story about Karla only a short while ago on this blog.It is so sad that yet again I have to report of the tragic death of a fellow leukaemia sufferer, and all the more tragic as a donor had been found for her.

Most sincere condolences to her family at this difficult time.

To read the story in full pleas visit the Ilford record site HERE.

Rabbits,rabbits everywhere.....but how ?

I forgot to mention in my Saturday post that there has been a few new additions to our household population recently.
I was made aware of it when I overheard Rachel telling Teresa that "The rabbit has had some babies!".I was in the back garden at the time and decided that obviously I had mis heard her comment as the rabbit (mother) in question had only been part of the family for a little over 3 and a half weeks, and had in that time (to the best of my knowledge!) not been involved in........erm.....natural persuits...!.........with any male rabbits during that time.

As I entered the house I commented about what I has overheard a few moments earlier, and was at that point advised that far from being mistaken, It was quite true that "Echo" (mum) had produced a litter of 5 kittens (baby rabbits...so i found when I googled the question!).

The main question now of course is "when was she...well, when did she.......erm.....WHO IS THE FATHER ?

The best guess must be that she was..got at.....in the week before I picked her up to bring her back home....either that or we are looking at a rabbit version of immaculate conception :-)

I just want to tell my Daughter how proud i was of her today :-)

My eldest daughter Rachel has been a member of 2160 (Sleaford) Squadron Air Training Corps for some time now, and today I took my 6 year old son to see her attend the opening of the new building that has been built to replace their current one which itself was opened in 1962...which makes it even older than I am !.

She, along with her ATC friends did a fantastic job today, and all of them were a great credit to not only the Air training Corps, but also to their obviously proud families. Far too often people are very negative about the young of our country, but I can honestly say that today I saw a great bunch of young people who are a credit too their parents,Sleaford,the ATC and most importantly of all ....themselves.Well done to you all.

I was myself a member of the ATC many years ago, but as my home town was Mansfield, I was a member of 384 Squadron. Standing there today watching the event take place, i thought of my own experiences as a young lad in the Air Cadets all those many years ago, all the friends that I made,the meetings every Wednesday and Friday night, the summer camps,the rifle range and of course the flying experiences..........fantastic !.

Of course after I left the ATC I then went on to join the RAF and served with it for 12 years as an Airframes Technician, but this does not mean that all the young people who join the ATC are destined for the regular air force,but the experience that they gain by simply being part of the organisation is something that they will find invaluable in their future lives.

Anyway, as I said at the start of this blog entry, I just want to tell you Rachel how proud I was of you today, your a great daughter, and made your dad smile today when he saw you march up to receive your awards.well done :-)

Scarlett's off to the Heckington show !

If you are free over the weekend of the 25th/26th July 2009, and you are within a fair drive of the village of Heckington (just a few miles outside Sleaford), then pack up your picnic hamper,stock it with lots of cucumber sandwiches and lashings of ginger beer....and head off to the 142nd annual Heckington Show.

Myself and Scarlett will be attending on the Sunday (can't get Saturday sadly ! :-( ), and of course we will have the now (in)famous trailer in tow.

For more details of what you can expect to find at this awesome venue, just click HERE to go to the official website.

Balham neighbours support milkman in leukaemia battle

A small Balham community has united in declaring their milkman of 16 years a “local hero” after beginning his tough battle with leukaemia.

Last week residents on Round 16 threw a huge party for Grant Ramsay, 60, who they said always looked out for them and once even saved a church from burning down.Mr Ramsay gave up his round to undergo treatment, but customers missed him so much they arranged for notes to be attached every milk bottle inviting neighbours to send cards.Kate Cheshire, 48, of Balham Park Road, said: “He is just the kindest man, and he has made us into a community. He looked out for everybody and put everybody before himself.“We wanted to say thank you. To us, he’s a local hero.”Mr Ramsay, who was born in the borough and now lives in Lucien Road in Tooting with his wife Linda, 59, was presented with more than 80 cards last Wednesday at St Mary’s Church in Balham.
The vicar was only too glad to host the celebrations, since Mr Ramsay had once spotted the church ablaze and called in the fire brigade.Mr Ramsay has now set himself the task of writing back to every card - at a rate of 20 per day.The much-loved milkman is undergoing a two-year treatment programme after discovering his illness at Christmas while giving blood.He said: “I miss my round. When you talk to people, it’s so nice - I couldn't be stuck in an office all day.

“I would like to thank my customers for all their loyalty and commitment over the years. The people of Balham have done me proud.

This story was published by "Your local guardian.co.uk".To visit their site, please click HERE.

My Sisters Keeper Trailer

What!. I am being overcharged for a sandwich ?

Yesterday I popped over to the "Volley Shop" (Voluntary Services if you like!) and purchased a rather nice combo of 4 (quarters!) of Tuna and Red Chutney sandwiches, served up with a selection of veg (Carrot sticks,Celery and Cucumber...very nice!) and a smashing cheese and chive dip. I paid £1.70 for it and to be honest thought it was well worth the cash :-).

Imagine my horror then today, when upon asking for the "same again please", i was asked to cough up £2.50 !.

Now, anyone who knows me well will tell you that I am not one to complain or make a fuss (yeah...really!), but i decided that a price increase of 80 pence in less than 24 hours was a little unfair, and for this reason I did some checking up.....

It appears, dear readers, that (horror!) The volley shop at Kings Mill are charging £2.50, whilst up yonder at the Millbrook unit, the cost of these heavenly morsels is a mere £1.70!.

The reason that i got mine for £1.70 yesterday? Apparently the company that produces these sarnies delivered a "cheapo" to the wrong location, and this has (as you can probably already tell) let the proverbial "cat out of the bag".My investigations will continue...watch this space :-)

Inexplicable leukaemias rock small German rural region

For 20 years, children from a small rural northern German region -- where Alfred Nobel invented dynamite -- have been contracting leukemia at a higher rate than anywhere else in the world and no one knows exactly why.

To read more about this story, please click HERE to go to the Yahoo News Website.

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I stayed positive with leukaemia

Press Packer Jake had leukaemia - cancer of the blood - but tried to keep a positive attitude while he got better.This is his story:

Click Here for the full story on the CBBC Website.

Trading house scion Robert Louis-Dreyfus dies of Leukaemia aged 63

PARIS, July 5 (Reuters) - Robert Louis-Dreyfus, the main shareholder in one of the world's leading commodities trading houses and a leading French soccer club, has died aged 63 after a long battle against leukaemia.

To read more about this story,follow this LINK to the Guardian online web page.

Many condolences to his family at this difficult time.

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THE TACKLE THAT SAVED RUGBY-MAD SAM’S LIFE

A CRUNCHING rugby tackle which left teenager Sam Sugden lying bloodied on the pitch has saved his life.
Sam, 13, was playing in a cup final when he was accidentally kneed in the lip during a challenge. He suffered a cut to the mouth which took a long time to stop bleeding.

Read the full story about how a rugby injury inadvertently saved this young fellas life!.Click here to go to the story at the Daily Express website.

Despite leukaemia, 20-yr-old scores first class in BCom

When the going got tough, 20-year-old Bhakti Galiya, got going. Bhakti, a student of Mithibai College who has leukaemia since three years, has just passed her BCom exam with 62 per cent marks.
This, despite juggling studies, visits to doctors and coping with the stress of an illness.
“A few months before the exam, I was nervous, but I was sure I had to appear,” said Bhakti, the determination in her voice evident.
“Thanks to the support from my professors, friends and family members, I soldiered on,” said Bhakti.
She has had to complete nine cycles of treatment that included 30 chemotherapies and nine radiation sessions.
Also, the treatment cost was too steep for Bhakti’s family. Her father, Umesh, is a real estate agent. They live in Jogeshwari (East).
Due to the stigma attached to her disease, she lost out on many of her school and college friends. “Now I am left with only two college friends who have been there for me through thick and thin,” Bhakti said.
Her best friend Kinjal Shah, said: “I have learnt a lot from Bhakti. She is an inspiration for me.”
Her professors too have a word of praise for Bhakti.
“During my 22 years of teaching, I have not come across anyone like her,” said Professor Sonali Chatterjee. “She did not opt for a writer despite having difficulty writing papers.”
She now aspires to do an MBA, after which she hopes to reach out to cancer patients in whatever way she can.
Today, Bhakti’s ailment is down from 77 per cent to two per cent although she has been advised to continue chemo-therapy at regular intervals.
“One should never lose hope,” is Bhakti’s credo in life.
Bhakti believes her family’s encouragement has helped translate her dreams into reality.
“We do not know what life has in store,” said Bhakti’s mother, Geeta. “But, as parents we want to make her strong enough to face anything that comes her way.”

A mixed race model with leukaemia has been given the gift of life.

A SERIOUSLY ill model has been thrown a life-line by a complete stranger after a bone marrow match was found for her in Germany.
Mum-of-two Karla Neckles from Hainault has been given the gift of life after being told she only had weeks to live.

Read the story in the Guardian by clicking here

All Ireland chronic lymphocytic leukaemia conference held in Dublin

The story of CLL biology and therapy is just beginning and we can expect “more exciting progress in the next decade,” according to Prof Kanti Rai, chief of haematology and oncology at the Long Island Jewish Medical Centre in New York, US, who was a guest speaker at the recent All Ireland Conference on the Management of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL).

Click here to read more.

(Content from the Irish Medical News)
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