Running the London Marathon for Sarcoma

Participating today in Fitness Friday.

     I decided to do something different today and I asked my friend Ashley to guest post on my blog, I was thrilled that she accepted the invitation!  I have known Ashley most of my life.  I still remember around the age of 10 running our first race together, a half mile kids fun run.  Also as young kids we would go and wait at the finish line of the St. George Marathon while we screamed and cheered for our dads when they crossed the finish line.  Maybe all or part of that had everything to do with the fact that eventually both of us turned into marathon runners ourselves:)  This weekend Ashley is running the London Marathon, but not just for herself.  She can tell you best in her own words....

" I love running. I also love that I am a girl, an average girl, who can run run run. After a couple of years of trying to get into the Virgin London Marathon I finally was given the opportunity through my local running club. Have I died and gone to heaven? I get to run run run AND do it through the streets of London? Ecstasy! The only way that this opportunity could have been better was to be able to use my opportunity to do good for someone else. My friend Pat was diagnosed with Sarcoma Cancer 2 years ago. The cancer was in the blood vessels of her nose which meant she had to have her nose and a large portion of her palate removed. What a courageous woman. Pat asked me if I would use my Marathon opportunity to raise money for Sarcoma Cancer and I could tell that this was not an ordinary fundraising opportunity, Pat asked me with a look of hope, purpose and a desire to help get the answers and possibilities that would help her in her battle. 

Pat & Ashley

I was honored and quickly realized that the only thing greater than run run running through the streets of London was run run running to give a friend hope, courage and support. I have found that with my running and with life as I have observed sometimes the runs/days are easy, enjoyable, and you move through mile after mile, year after year finding that time has flown past and you are filled with joy. I have also found that some runs/days are painful, discouraging, and I despair as the minutes and hours tick away as slow as molasses in January and it seems I am simply putting one foot in front of the other to endure to the end. Pat has shown me how to endure those difficult days with grace and dignity and an eternal optimism. I have no idea how excruciatingly painful Pat's operations have been, I cannot even begin to, but I know that this is a woman who has endured in a way that I only hope to emulate probably around mile 23 as well as in the challenges that life throws my way. 

I had just finished my exhausting 17 mile run when I received an email from Pat and Malcolm telling me that Pat's Sarcoma has now spread to her brain and lungs and they don't know how much longer she will live. I. Am. Gutted. Pat is hanging on determined to see my run through and to show her support to everyone who has shown their support to her. As I am plugging away through the last leg of the race and I know that my only objective will be to endure to the end I will be thinking of Pat and praying that I have the strength to show the same perseverance and endurance that she has shown me is possible. 
Thank you to those who have donated to Sarcoma and to Pat. 
If you haven't and have any amount to contribute small, medium, or large it would be more than appreciated. "

This link will take you directly to the contribution page. 

http://www.justgiving.com/Ashley-Talbot

Many thanks,

Ashley Talbot - AKA "the Ash-phalt Kicker"

     Thank you Ashley for telling your story and sharing with me and my readers this amazing opportunity!!!

Feel free to leave a comment and cheer my friend on as she gets ready to fulfill a dream and run the London Marathon in a few days:)

I just want to say GO GO GO and RUN RUN RUN and kick some "Ash-phalt" this weekend Ashley!