Life Affirming

It's 38 days to go, and the drive for sponsorship is slowly starting to hot up; you really get a feel for how big a number 1750 is when it's the number of pounds you have pledged to raise for charity.

It's like.....nearly two grand man!!

Whether I hit the target is anyone's guess, but one thing is for sure; if I don't reach it, it won't be for lack of trying; I'm going all out to raise as much as I can.

Various ideas have been brainstormed on the best way of pulling in the cash. Friends and family are coming through in fine style not only with their donations, but also by getting sponsorship of their own. They're doing brilliantly. There are also the few, frustrating, 'anonymous' donations. These people very kindly leave good luck messages on the sponsorship website, with one very important part missing!! Who are they I wonder?? Personally I think it's Mo Farah, finally admitting who the REAL athlete is (it's okay Mo; keep training, keep aspiring to my level.....)

It's not going to stop there though. I will be passing the proverbial hat around at work; then there is the 'other idea' I have, and even for me it is an ambitious one....it's time for the Adrian Blaydon finishing time sweepstakes!!

The plan is to roam the streets of Edenfield and Bury, posting leaflets to enter a draw at £2 a throw, all based on how long it takes me to finish. It's a slight change to the Great North, when all I was doing was posting leaflets asking for money; this time people can win something as well as doing so much good for charity. But the question was; what would they win??

It's not much of a secret that I have become a bit of a cynic when it comes to people. Whilst not tarring the entire population of the world with the same brush  - there are some good 'uns out there! - descriptives like 'selfish' and 'self-absorbed' do tend to come up a lot when describing the people of the world. So it was with much trepidation and little hope that over the last few weeks via phone and bare-faced-cheek-walk-in-and-ask, I executed my plan of petitioning the business in and around my village of Edenfield to donate the sweepstake prizes.

I could not have been more mistaken, as every single one showed they believed in the charity, in the challenge, in me, by offering something........just listen to these.....

2 x £10 vouchers from the local bakery
£20 voucher from the butchers
A 'cut and colour' (whatever that is) from the hairdressers
Meal for two in the chip-shop restaurant
£20 worth of prizes (probably booze) from Tescos
A haircut and hot towel shave from the gents barbers
Meal for two down the Coach and Horses

Okay, it's hardly five numbers and the bonus ball, but for me the mere act of asking the question of them has given me such hope. I went into it battling with my preconceptions and worrying that they may be validated, and I now leave it with my eyes opened, my heart a little lighter, and a belief that there are more good people out there than I gave the world credit for.

What I love about it, is that as all the leaflets are being delivered to people in the local community; the prizes are just as local. All I have to do now is get those leaflets printed and delivered. I never did like paper-rounds, but after coming this far I can't stint on the circulation can I? Time to get out there and sing my song.

By the way, if you are wondering - if I was able to enter - what prize I would choose, it's simple; a nice hot towel shave, followed by popping to the bakers to order my own body weigh in sausage rolls!!

Keep them crossed that this works, and raises lots!!