The Abbotts Ann Fandango!

RACE TEN: ABBOTTS ANN - 16TH SEPTEMBER 2012

Exactly eight weeks after our ninth race, our tenth and final event took place in Abbotts Ann.  This was not an official Race for Life, but the Abbotts Ann Sports Field Association worked hard to create the well-organised and fun atmosphere associated with such events - with music, a man with a megaphone and medals. 



Fraser studying the route map

The route would take runners out of the Bulbery playing field and along tree-lined footpaths, around fields and out into neighbouring villages.  It is fair to say that the route is somewhat harder than the average Race for Life event, especially for those pushing pushchairs due to the uneven terrain.  Several of our team 'upped the ante' by entering the 10km event, although the word on the circuit is that the route is actually a bit further than 10km! 

Team Tonia had our best turn out yet, with over 50 members taking part.  This time the race was open to men as well, so our loyal Team Tonia ladies denied their husbands their Sunday morning lie-ins and dragged them around the course!  A big thank you must go to Team Coach Ian Oldacre, who marked the route, gave the briefing, provided all the equipment and timed the runners in - he put in a huge amount of work prior to the race despite going back and forward to London to be a gamesmaker at the Olympics.

Emma and I decided to end our series of ten races as we began – by running the race together.  The advantage of this 'buddy running' was that we could offer each other moral support and share the excitement as we crossed the finish line.  The disadvantage was that we could not resist the temptation to chat all the way round, which meant no personal best times – but we did catch up on the gossip!  Our main topic of conversation was our delight at the number of runners and walkers who had turned up, and how thrilled we were that the organisers had kindly agreed to donate a proportion of the takings to Team Tonia.

The Team consisted of a large number of children, some of whom ran the entire distance and even spurred on the adults with whom they were running.  It was quite unnerving to actually have to work hard to overtake my son.   He finished in under 45 minutes, not bad for a 5 year old! 

Angus with cousin, Lewis.

The Team babies in buggies were rattled, bumped and shaken by the time they crossed the finish line, especially 1yr old Alice Ross who I thought was going to be bounced out of her pushchair as her Dad sprinted for the line.  Special mention must go to another Team Tonia Dad, Adam Knight, who crossed the finish line carrying two of his three daughters – Maya on his back and Tabitha on his front. 

Leighton sprints for the finish line

In the canine category, Race for Life regular, Keswick, was joined by his running buddy Marley, as well as superdog Max (ranked 25^th canine home at the Southampton race), speedster Sweep  and cockerpoo Bella. 



Family Bone

As Emma and I made the final turn into the playing field, we approached the finish line to the sounds of cheering, applause, and the chink of glasses, as Emma’s husband Roy held a bottle of champagne aloft!  This was the incentive we needed to sprint for the line, entering the finishing tunnel for the final time.



Amanda and Sylvia Kane-Smith

Once all the runners were home, prizes were awarded to the fastest runners – Team Tonia’s very own Emma Roberts collected the prize for female winner of the 5km race, and honorary male member Rob King collected the prize for the men. 

After the prizes had been awarded, there was one final presentation to make – the moment Emma and I had been waiting for.  We were thrilled and extremely honoured to present Lea Blake from Cancer Research UK with a cheque for £7,000.  We set out to raise £3,000, a target we were not sure if we could achieve.  But to double it and then some…….we never thought our team could raise so much.

But we couldn’t have done it without you.  And Emma and I want to say

THANK YOU - THANK YOU - THANK YOU 

to all of you for running, walking, sponsoring, supporting, and being with us every sweaty, panting (and sometimes painful!) step of the way.  At times it has been emotional - looking around and seeing so many of our friends wearing t-shirts emblazoned with Mum’s name; having to cheerily explain over and over again why we are doing ten races; hearing about other people’s experiences of cancer and how it has affected them; reading out our Team’s dedications at the start of each race.  But it has also been great fun and very, very special, with lots of laughter along the way - a sound that will always remind us of Mum.  So as I end our series of Race Reports, I want to end on a high note, a positive tribute to a mother full of laughter.   

Thank you once again - from Emma, Kate and Tonia (who I know has been laughing with us all the way!)


An Ode to the Inopportune Giggler 

Uh oh….I’ve got the giggles - I don’t think I can stop
This sofa that we’re carrying might be about to drop
I tried to lift and shift and shove the sofa as you said
But now I’m full of laughter and I’m giggling instead!

Uh oh…I’ve got the giggles – I don’t know what to do
One foot’s on the riverbank, the other mid-canoe
The more I laugh the more it moves, I’m going to get wet
But even in extremis, I’ve not stopped laughing yet!

Uh oh…I’ve got the giggles – I really can’t laugh here
In the middle of a meeting, I hope the Boss won't hear!
I’m trying to look professional in front of all the staff
But the Boss has said ‘a funny’ and I’m trying not to laugh.

Uh oh…I’ve got the giggles – it’s not the time or place

As the acupuncture needles are protruding from my face
It wasn’t my appointment, I just brought my aged mum
If they knew we’d giggle this much they would not have let us come!

Uh oh…..she’s got the giggles – even though she’s really ill

In spite of all the chemo and the horrid tasting pills
She finds the strength for laughter and the energy for fun
Even though she’s well aware this fight just can’t be won.

She left us with an order, to live for every day

To be all we could be and have fun in every way
She made us see that life’s too short, it soon comes to an end
So we must make time for giggling and laughing with a friend.

She lives on through our laughter, so we’ll be sure to laugh each day.
So we can feel her near us as we go along our way
We’re left with lovely memories and when all’s said and done,
A legacy of laughter, of kindness, love and fun.


Kate
20th September 2012