The Macmillan Way...
No, this isn't the title of a new novel. This is part of my on-going real life story.
Keeping it brief: following the death of my darling Mike, I was bereft. I didn't think I could ever love again, but fate dealt another card. Allan Shepherd, a friend of longstanding lost his much loved wife a few months later; we shared the grief and in time began to face the future, a future we have now decided to spend together.
Having read 'Coast to Coast' Allan said that the idea of a long-distance walk really appealed to him, so...
In the summer of 2008 we will walk the Macmillan way
to commemorate the lives of Mike and Val.
It is going to be fun and, we think, a worthy tribute to two very special
people.
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| Mike Minshull 1938-2006 | Val Shepherd 1955-2006 |
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The Macmillan way is 290 miles, starting from Boston in Lincolnshire, crossing the country diagonally, coast to coast, to finish in Abbotsbury on the Dorset coast. You can find out more from the Macmillan Way Association
As Macmillan Cancer Support did so much to help Val and Allan and Mike and I, we are using the walk to raise funds for this very worthy charity. If you wish to support us, please visit www.justgiving.com/janandallan
We shall commence the walk on Val's birthday - June 10th, walk 120 miles to just north of Banbury, then take a break and recommence on 5th August for the next 170 miles to finish it on Mike's birthday - August 19th.
UPDATE 23/06/08
The first stage has been completed, not without a few blisters, but we kept smiling and are looking forward to the second stage. We're thrilled that our fundraising effort has nearly reached our target of £2900 (£10 per mile) and hope that it will be exceeded. Having done a third of the walk we reckon the effort has to be worth £15 per mile, we are, after all, averaging fifteen miles per day and it's the last five miles per day that are the hardest. When time allows I will write a full report... or even another novel!