As most of you know, earlier this year I completed one of my ambitions by finishing the London Marathon.
I knew at the time what “made the marathon” was the training. The training was the true challenge. The 5am starts, the sub-zero temperatures, the alsatians & barb wire and the resulting trip to A&E! It was those long solitary runs which put a smile on face, and if I’m honest, a little tear in my eye as I waited in the starting pens on that April morning.
However, on the day itself knowing I had so many supporters – sponsors, the twitter running family, that woman on the Embankment that gave me her banana – giving up was something that just didn’t occur to me.
Of course, like all the other runners I had aches & pains, but they were instantly forgotten when I reached Buckingham Palace, turned the corner and saw the finish line. A photographer captured that moment perfectly, and it’s that photo that sits on my bedside table reminding me of what I can achieve when I my mind and body face a challenge.
And for the best part of the last six months I believed that was it. Job done, earned the medal, raised some money, next challenge please……..
Well, now I really understand the true value that marathon success has given me.
You see, a few weeks ago I found a “lump”, and making a very long story short which ignores ultrasound, consultation, surgery, further scans and multiple blood tests, in a few days time I start nine weeks of chemotherapy.
The positive news is there’s a 90% cure rate after treatment.
The analogy is simple. I don’t need to spell it out.
I want to thank those of you who already knew this “news”. Family, friends, clients, business associates, and twitter friends. Your discretion, advice, support & friendship over the last few weeks has been a great help to me and my family.
If you didn’t already know it’s simply because the opportunity hadn’t arisen for me to tell you. Now is the right time to share this with all of my good friends.
I have big plans for 2012, both personally and for My Management Accountant. I know I don’t have to ask for your support over the next few weeks to help make sure I put those plans into place.
I just need to remember to take the photo to hospital with me.
