So I've set myself 2 short-term exercise goals. I wanted my goals to have meaning and be things I know I can achieve
First Goal: to run 10km in under 1 hour by the end of January 2013. This is something I know is absolutely achievable. I've done this in the past, and I know with some training I'll be able to get back there.
Second Goal: To complete the West Gippsland Relay for Life. This goal is something very close to my heart. Many of you already know my story, but for those that don't let me fill you in.
In 2010 I lost both of my parents to Cancer. My Dad, Nicko, was a tradie, who worked hard his whole life to provide for his wife and 3 children. In April 2008 he was diagnosed with Kidney & Liver Cancer. The tumours were inoperable due to their size and quantity. He underwent experimental chemotherapy to try and combat the tumours and reduce their quantity and size to try and remove them.
In November of 2009 my Mum, Bev, was diagnosed with a very rare kind of Sarcoma called Stewart Treves Syndrome. After surviving breast cancer in 2003, Mum was left with lymphedema in her left arm, a condition that basically meant the lymph fluid in her arm was not draining out properly, so her arm was constantly swollen and enlarged. 5% of cancer suffers can obtain this condition, of that 5%, 0.03% have been diagnosed with Stewart Treves Syndrome. It is a very rapid form of Cancer and my Mum was given 6 months to live. So my family all rallied around my folks to give them every bit of support possible, and my Dad especially told me it was my Mum who needed the most care & attention - he would be fine. He wasn't. After undergoing 2 years of chemotherapy treatment & a botched biopsy by a less than acceptable surgeon/hospital, he was admitted to a palliative care unit to get his pain under control. Less than 24 hours later he passed away on the 14th April 2010 with my Mum by his side. I was fortunate enough to be able to say goodbye, and tell him one last time that I loved him, but I still miss him every single day.
My Mum, sister, brother & I, were left to pick up the pieces and carry on with life without our Dad - it was really hard. Life was so very different. Mum was undergoing intense Chemotherapy for her own condition, so I stepped in as carer whenever I could. Taking her to appointments and the hospital when necessary. It was a very difficult time... but I'm so glad I was able to be there with her. We cried together, we laughed together. She told me stories about her and Dad, she learned to forgive others for their mistakes in life, knowing she didn't want to take any bad feelings with her when she left this world. She slipped away from us on the 30th November 2010.
Burying both of your parents in the one year is something I never wish upon anyone. It is heart wrenching and horrible. But I got through this ordeal with the amazing support of my wonderful Fiancé and a very long line of caring family & friends. I am very fortunate to have such wonderful people in my world.
Mum was 57 when she died, Dad just 56. Far too young to leave this world, but I've never been angry about their deaths. It was not their choosing, if they could have stayed here, they would have, I know this. They both unknowingly contracted incurable diseases - just like thousands of others across the globe.
The wonderful staff at Peter McCallum Cancer Institute did everything possible for my Mum as did the Monash medical Centre for my Dad. It is with those excellent facilities in mind that I one day hope we can find a cure for the awful disease that takes peoples lives long before they are ready. The Cancer Council is an excellent charity that does a lot of very much needed work with current cancer suffers, survivors and carers.
SO.... Mr Fitness and I are taking on the Relay for Life challenge and we're aiming to raise $1,000 for a charity very close to our hearts. Please click on the link below & show your support in any way possible. We're also looking for people to join our team, "Nicko's Warriors", so if you're interested please contact me via my Facebook page and I can send you some info.
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