Oxford Moonlight Stroll - June 30th '07 (update)

Well we did it. 900+ people braved the rain and walked with soggy feet for 9.5 miles around Oxford at some unGodly hour of the morning! We were dressed in our compulsory Oompa Loompa T-Shirts (my name for them as they were fluorescent orange) so we could be easily spotted in the dark. We had a preparatory feast of Eat As Much As You Like Chinese before setting off. We began our trek at 10.45pm after a soggy warm up at St Edwards School in Oxford. Luckily we all had nice poncho capes to keep semi dry but before long we were squelching along through puddles in the dark.

The first leg up to Maudlin Bridge (the halfway point) wasn't too bad. Kept a steady pace and although it was raining steadily, we got used to it and it wasn't cold. We stopped to re-register halfway and grabbed a banana and water. We then set off for the return route back and it was then the aches and pains began in earnest. Parts of my body were taking it turn to hurt and say ouch. First it was my knees (of which are already buggered with fluid on one of them), then my ankles, then my back and finally the balls of my feet. The last mile took eternity and Woodstock Road near the school seemed 9 miles in itself. That said we arrived back at base at 2am, soggy, wet, exhausted and hurting, but all in all chuffed with our efforts.

We were all given a goody bag and the opportunity to grab 'breakfast' (at 2am!). Most of us collapsed on the gym floor and tried to soothe tired muscles. All in all, I raised £320 online at http://www.justgiving.com/sharonsmoonlightstroll and approximations of about £70 elsewhere. All of us did this in memory of Valerie Connolley, my good friend and best mates mum. Along the walk we all reflected and remembered her with fondness. It was only this time last year she participated in Cancer Research Race For Life with us, despite having painful arthritic knees. She never complained and we raised a lot back then. This time around, I kept fully expecting Val to stroll up beside us wearing a dayglo orange T-Shirt as we all were, or to see her waiting for us at the finish point with a big smile and a cuppa! I really feel she was there in spirit and despite our grumbles about aches and pains, I know we are all chuffed we did it and of how much we all raised for Sobell House Hospice, where Val was looked after. It may sound daft but I felt her prescence there with us all and am sure she spurred us along.

Have uploaded my photos on Flickr so have a look if you like. One more thing, my sponsor page online is open for some time yet so please, if any of you read this and can spare a few quid please donate. Sobell House is entirely run on donations and its events like this that can make all the difference in the last days of someone's life. I know it did for Valerie.

Finally a BIG THANK YOU to you all who did sponsor me. Your money was very much appreciated. Right, I'm off to rub deep heat all over myself!!

Cheers
S x