Category Archives: Blog

Second Tri of the season

22 Friday Feb 2013

Posted by in Blog, Dan

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Triathlon number 2 of the season complete and it was an interesting one. I must admit when my alarm went off at 4.45am I very nearly rolled over and hit the off button but that’s just not the attitude of a Ironman is it?!

So on arrival to the event, aside from the ludicrously early start, the temperature, wind and state of the sea were all making me feel that perhaps turning over was a better decision. The organisers announced that because the sea was so choppy (2-3ft waves) that we all had the option to not do the swim if we wanted and that they were reducing the size to one lap of 400m anyway for people that did want to have ago. Again I was in an predicament similar to bed one where I was torn between what I should do. The same answer applied! “that’s not the attitude of an Ironman”

So on to the beach and several mouthfuls of sea water later I was out before I knew it. First test of the new bike wasn’t ideal as the chain came off twice right at the beginning which was pretty annoying but unfortunately something that can happen with a new bike. After that however it was nothing but awesome. I flew past people like they weren’t even there (something that has happened to me almost every time) and it was bloody great. Even in to really strong headwind I felt strong over the whole 22km and it fully justified my decision to upgrade!

Off the bike and into the run I felt pretty comfortable and although it was boring it was a pretty strong run and got me over the line in 34th out 95 with a time of 1:11:59. Attention now turns to Abu Dhabi next week where the distances start to increase and the fan base increases from 0 to 1!

 

That’s me in the wheelchair with my flag.

21 Thursday Feb 2013

Posted by in Blog, Colin's Blog

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wheelchair

Let me start by saying that it’s good to be back and feeling more normal and thanks to those who stepped in for me last week to enable my blog to go out.  I’ve a long way to go now to get rid of the clots on the lungs, daily injections in the stomach for up to five months while monitoring the tumour – the clots being the priority now and not to form any more.  I am on oxygen at home at the moment to stop breathlessness and I’m awaiting a wheelchair to be delivered.

So once again I was admitted to Addenbrooks at short notice, not really being sure what was up exactly.  Arrived…taken to Oncology short stay…blood tests…chest Xray…MRI scan and when the results came back it amounted to blood clots on the lungs. They wanted me to stay in for monitoring and so they had to find a bed for me which they did at 10 O’clock at night.

It wasn’t until the staff handover the next morning that I got the technical term for my condition.  As the doctor and night team were handing over, they were going through the other patients.

“This is Mr So and so, bowel cancer.  This is Mr Blah Blah, bone and hip cancer.  This is Mr X, cancer in the femur   and this is Mr Smith, admitted late last night with….constipation!!”

I looked up at them.  “What?”

They were giggling.  I said, “Excuse me.  I’m terminally ill here.  It’s a brain tumour, not constipation!”

Well, thank you all again for your donations and for your messages of support. I try to thank you individually but my computer is as slow as me these days!  I am going back to the hospital again on Friday for more tests, scans and to check on the fecking clots!  A new magazine/publication recently launched by a friend of ours,  Ms Katy Ryan, “In-Spire”,  ran a Headcase article this week and my story  featured under the headline “Six Months Survivor and Counting”  You can find it at  www.in-spirelsmagazine.co.uk.

My two Chelsea auctions have ended this week of my personal collections of programs and ticket stubs. The proceeds will be deposited direct to the Headcase charity once the money has gone to my PayPal account and all the fees (EBay charges, postage, PayPal fees)  have been deducted.

I would like to wish a speedy recovery to our Ironman, Tony, who underwent a more invasive operation on his shoulder than he first thought. My heartfelt message is,  “Get over it and get back training!” I understand that he is on holiday next week to recuperate.

We have encouraged young Bootsy to dust down his cycling equipment in case he is needed to step in as a replacement for Tony on the off chance he doesn’t recover and get fit in time. We’ve also negotiated with the organisers to have a separate competitor to do the running part of the Ironman which Nick has agreed to do. We are frantically trying to locate enough Lycra to custom – make a leotard for him!

Finally, I would like to welcome into the family my latest grandchild, Francesca, who arrived on the night of Wednesday 20th of February weighing in at 9lb 1oz.

 

 

 

The New Weapon

19 Tuesday Feb 2013

Posted by in Blog, Dan

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bike

So I’ve been measured, put through flexibility tests, had body scans, spent hours twisting and turning millimeters here and there and pretty much anything else you can think of  to ensure the bike is specifically set up to fit me! The end result is this little bad boy.

Having ridden a bike 2 sizes too big for me for the best part of 3 years I’m hoping there will be a noticeable difference this Friday when it will get its first race run out.

Here is a little video explaining the benefits and technology behind the bike and its aero dynamics > http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BeP4DgEcCZk

Anyway enough about the geeky features, back to working on the engine!

Recent Article in Nat Geo

18 Monday Feb 2013

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Full Article:

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2013/02/venom/holland-text

Meanwhile, a neurotoxin from the venom of the giant deathstalker scorpion has been found to attach to the surface of brain cancer cells. The overwhelming reason tumors come back is that surgeons can’t reliably distinguish good cells from bad at the growths’ edges. Magnetic resonance imaging—the best available diagnostic tool—doesn’t detect masses smaller than about a billion cells. This means surgeons have to find the boundaries between tumors and healthy tissue “purely by visual and textural cues,” says James Olson of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington. “It’s a very imperfect science. Glioma cells weave into normal tissue, and pieces sometimes get left behind.”
Doctors who treat glioma, the most common form of brain cancer, created a “molecular flashlight” by marking chlorotoxin with a near-infrared dye. On the very first trial, Olson says, the “tumor paint,” as he calls the scorpion-derived marker, “lit up the cancer beautifully. We were literally jumping up and down because we knew what incredible potential this had.” The paint reveals masses with as few as 200 tumor cells. “You can truly see the tumor almost cell by cell,” Olson says. “This will let surgeons get more cancer out, maybe even 100 percent.” Human trials on the dyed toxin will start later this year, and if tests go well, the paint could be used for prostate, colorectal, lung, breast, pancreatic, and skin cancers, as well as glioma, potentially saving or prolonging millions of lives every year.

Bootsie turns from Career to Competitor……

17 Sunday Feb 2013

Posted by in Blog, Tony

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Little BritainIt has been reported that whilst Colin is being treated in order to return to full duty, Bootsie, his lead career on match days, has been spotted on his bike.

Following surgery on one of the IMHeadcase team, Bootsie has stepped in and has begun training for the event……

Commenting Bootsie said ” It has to be done, we are all wishing Colin well and thinking of him constantly, but the show must go on ” he continued ” if I have to do it all then so be it ………but to be honest I have a long way to go and I am getting strange looks with these stabilisers on” Great effort Bootsie.

Our own Fiorenzo Magni?

16 Saturday Feb 2013

Posted by in Blog, Tony

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One half of Team IMHeadcase is out of Surgery, not just a keyhole, a more invasive procedure due to the discovery that the  damage was greater than expected. The code reads L sh ASD, E\O ACjt Cuffrepair- subscap, supraspin LHB tenddesis, for those in the know!  for those of us mere mortals it is replacing ligament into shoulder blade, two rotator cuff tear repairs, shaved collarbone where chipped and whilst in there shaved off a bit of arthritis. But what will it mean going forward?

Firstly tying shoelaces is to be challenging. Pre tied ties hanging on the door and slip on shoes, sleeping sitting up and no driving. Of course the latest fashion accessory – a fetching blue sling with accompanying stabilising pad for 6 weeks.

However the training must go on at some kind of level – so a sneaky 12k the day after and stepped up to 20k the day after although no use of the arm makes for the legs taking the strain and being a little lopsided.

FiorenzoMagni-tmbTaking some inspirational thought from Fiorenzo Magni, cyclist of the 50’s who broke his clavical in the 1956 Giro d’Italia, but with the help of a bicycle inner tube strapped around the handle bar and held in his teeth he fought through a snow storm, and went on to complete the race and finish 2nd.

So 6 weeks of sling wearing, and gentle cycling is the order of the day, assuming getting dressed can be mastered first!

Then gloves are off and the slog to build up the long lack of swimming and running to prepare to complete the course within the allotted time.

The severity of the operation makes the race seem a log way off.

None of this is a jot on the landscape compared to Colin’s situation, but his wishes are to raise the money and that means the journey continues but with him in our thoughts with every pedal strike.

This was always going to be a rocky ride!

16 Saturday Feb 2013

Posted by in Blog, Colin's Blog, Editor's Posts

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I have been asked to write on Colin’s behalf this week as he is unable to post a blog update himself. Alas this is because he is currently in hospital, his condition has taken a sudden turn for the worse with a diagnosis of multiple bilateral pulmonary embolisms ! (blood clots on both lungs) he is having treatment for this and at the moment this condition is serious.

Colin feels that posting his developments like this will help people realise how this terrible disease can so rapidly escalate! He has made sure there has been a wonderful element of humour in this blog to encourage people to relate to the person as well as the disease. We have all read some moving and wonderful postings from Colin’s friends and family and we are delighted to have been privileged in helping providing the forum for everyone to express their support and feelings towards Colin and his family.

However we also need to impart just how catastrophic this cancer is and how fast matters go from concerning to serious. For those who take a serious view on wanting to understand what happens, from a more medical perspective you may want to read: http://www.hindawi.com/crim/medicine/2010/862028/ it is from the USA, but it is one of many case studies available for review.

Gender of people who have glioblastoma multiforme and experienced Pulmonary embolism:
Female – 29.7%
Male      -70.2%

Age of people who have glioblastoma multiforme and experienced Pulmonary embolism:
40-49 – 15.14%
50-59 – 24.29%
60+    -58.04%

Our prayers and best wishes are with you Colin.

Top Up from Tone !!!!!

13 Wednesday Feb 2013

Posted by in Blog, Tony

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So in the words of Delia Smith…..Where are you ? Where are you ? Let’s be ‘avin’ you ! Come on ! ……..whilst the donations have slowed there is a lot of work going on arranging events….

25th February Becca’s cake day approaches and whilst Colin is concerned that Nick may consume some of the offerings he has assured me that won’t be the case……in fact he has been abstaining from beer and sweets for the past three weeks…fair play !
9th March Blazing 80’s at the CROWN
16th March An evening with Chopper Harris and Jimmy Greaves
23rd May An Evening in the City
June Lee’s Cabbies collection
TBA Ronnie’s Boys…., Three Peaks Challenge
  • We also have collection pots in the Prince of Wales (our local Chelsea pub)
  • And DFS – Donnas Furniture Store is open for business
  • We are very hopeful of adding to this and any ideas are welcome…please make that extra effort and support the effort !

We are currently printing the posters so please let me know how many you need, they look great with collection pots in local shops, pubs and even post offices…..

Even our local Chelsea pub has allowed us to do a collection, but we are going to get Colin to do that!!!!!!!

So we really need you to step up and think of something you can contribute to this cause….however small it will go a long way to helping us achieve this goal….please, please put your thinking caps on and go for it…..

As Colin has said I will be having my finger nail fixed tomorrow so typing could be a problem but normal service will be resumed by the weekend…..thanks for listening!

(Doesn’t he like the ol’ exclamation marks – Editor)

Letter from Headcase Cancer Trust

10 Sunday Feb 2013

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Headcase thank you
Dear Tony and Dan

Ironman – Nice 2013

I write on behalf of us all at Headcase to thank you both for your magnificent support by aiming to raise £30,000 for our Research Projects.

I was very moved when I read your story about your friend and know how difficult a time you are all going through. I am sure that making good things happen will go a long way to helping to ease the pain.

We are absolutely delighted with the support we have been receiving from all over the U.K and because of donations from people such as yourselves, we have not only set our first researcher in place at Portsmouth University’s Neuro-oncology Department but are on the point of taking a second researcher on board, also for a three-year term as well as providing the laboratory with some vital equipment which will assist them in their work.

Please be assured that everything which is raised by you will be spent on G.B.M Research and that your efforts, and those of all your friends and colleagues who are supporting us through you, are greatly appreciated and not taken for granted

I wish you the very best and will watch your progress with great interest.

Yours sincerely

Andy Johnson (Honorary Treasurer and Founding Trustee)

 

DFS – Donna’s Furniture Store

10 Sunday Feb 2013

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My whole family have known Colin and Helen for as long as I can remember. Mainly from being neighbours either from Norton Crescent or Hopewell Road where I and Colin and Helen live now.

We wanted to do something to help raise money for Headcase, those of you that know Colin or Helen, can understand why.

We need pre owned, pre loved, pre-used, old, antique or (just plain old junk ) small pieces of furniture that we can paint and sell on. Please check your sheds and lofts and email me donna.foster11@ntlworld.com if you think you might have something. I will let you know if its what we are looking for or not.

At the moment I have had a few donations to keep me going but this will be an ongoing idea until June. My husband calls me DFS… Donnas Furniture Store and I call him MFI Mike Fosters Irritation lol as he is tripping over pieces of furniture haha – maybe I shouldn’t have left that chair on the stairs!!!  #lifeinsurance

We hope to raise over £100.00 if you can help in any way please get in contact.