I’m proud to announce my fundraising wheelchair push/walk is going ahead in just 5 weeks time.
Push It is a 10k fundraising wheelchair push/walk for ME Research on Sunday 11 Sep 2011 in Lichfield, Staffordshire, UK.
My condition means I can’t run a marathon or do a skydive to fundraise. So on Sunday 11th September 2011 a team of volunteers will push me in my wheelchair over a 1o km (6.2 miles) route around Lichfield. Some will walk the full distance, others maybe just 1km (3/4 mile).
Sitting in the wheelchair while being pushed might not sound like hard work for me it’s actually going to be a huge effort on my part. Due to ME/CFS I am mainly housebound and when I do go out it requires careful planning or my condition can be worsen very easily.
I’ll be documenting what happens and keeping you all informed through live updates via twitter and facebook
I hope you’ll join me on my adventure and help me raise money for ME/CFS research.
You can donate online or in the UK text “PUSH 50 £5″ to 70070 (you can choose any amount up to £10 per text donation).
More information about how to join me and route/schedule
This is so cool, Rachel!!!
What an awesome idea. I am so impressed. Has it been a lot of work to organize? Maybe we should try something similar here – I will be very interested to hear how it goes. And I will certainly contribute!
Way to go!
Sue
Thank you so much Sue
Well like all things I formulated my plan slowly and have paced the organising. I had to postpone for a bit over a bad health patch but finally in the swing of things again.
I talked over my plans with family and they were able to say what seemed good and bad ideas (like distance etc).
I used google maps to plot a route as it measures the distance automatically and then lets you share the map. It took a few attempts to get the right distance and my husband was able to check over the route for access as he cycles a lot. So for instance I avoided doing too much in the cobbled areas of my city centre which is realy exhausting for me in a wheelchair.
Because it’s just an informal thing we can keep it really simple. Just turn up at an agreed time and do the distance, maybe make a bit of a picnic/social of it too.
I’m looking at getting a little bit of promotion done – maybe a couple of photos and article for the local press. And some ribbon sashes and cards to hand out with the details about how to donate.
I’m a bit nervous and the responsibility of involving lots of family and friends is a bit daunting but I just have to remember to keep things simple.
I realised that friends and family helping me around the 10km route, both pushing my wheelchair and walking with me, is a great metaphor for the love, help and support they give to me all year round. Kind of like all of us versus M.E.