8th December 2006 £4,000.00 in Four Weeks

The support from everyone is marvellous I can hardly believe it, people are so generous it really makes all the physical effort on my part worthwhile. We have a meeting tomorrow with Macmillan and some fellow walkers that should be interesting.

The training is really going well I have increased the evening walk to 3.1 miles, its funny really I would have laugh myself silly if someone had told me that I would be walking that distance every night, only a few short weeks ago. I'm still doing my yoga/pilates on a Tuesday, I'd love to be a fly on the wall. Just me in a class of women, them "glowing" sweetly me surrounded in a pool of sweat, still it feels good afterwards.

29th November 2006 £3,000.00 in Three Weeks

Absolutely fantastic support from many of my colleagues and friends, quite remarkable, I feel very humble that so many people I don't know have supported me, I suppose they can identify with the cause, Macmillan are a fantastic organisation.

Cat almost had me over again today, He's never been the same since he saw the lions bring down the elephant on Planet Earth! He hides under the washing on the dryer and ambushes you as you walk past. He's quite fearless and ends up being dragged down the hall all four legs wrapped around mine, I tell you, you've got to keep your wits about you, little sod.

25th November 2006 Increase the Distance

2 miles kid stuff, tonight I have increased the walk to three miles, and five on the weekend. I can't believe I'm doing this every night, but I'm feeling good and I have no reaction to the walking which is brilliant.

Spoke to one of my fellow walkers today he's a fitness instructor, can't be bad.

I also spoke to my local Macmillan rep a really nice lady, she recommended that I get down the gym and get on the step machine. She did this walk last October and said that she built up to one hour on the step machine 1 HOUR, have you ever tried to do that for 10 minutes, its excruciating. This has not been an encouraging day!!

Towel and throw in spring to mind, just joking of course I'll finish on my hands and knees if I have to. This walk has really changed my life and refocused my attention on something positive and worthwhile, I feel good.

22nd November 2006 £2000.00 in Two Weeks

What incredible support I have received since the web site launch, two very nice ladies helped me (they know who they are) to circulate an appeal letter and put the wed site on the company intranet. What a response, I can hardly believe it!

My training is continuing and I am walking every night, so far so good! Started to walk four plus miles of a weekend both days, housework is taking a bit of a back seat. I've started wearing my boots and they are quite uncomfortable at present I hope they improve. I have got my jacket, fleece and inner layers now and they really do make a difference. The way I book it If I can get any advantage from a piece of kit I'm getting it. I need all the help I can get. I've started to lose a few Pounds nothing spectacular but all in the right direction. One of my sponsors has promised to double her donation if I weigh less than 16 stone before or after the challenge. Iam going to enjoy taking her money I can tell you, cheeky b***h.

11th November 2006 Create a Web Site

Jason will sort this out, later

I hate computers 2 hours to do this, a child of 6 could have done it 5 minutes, but my web page disappeared so I did another one. Then the old one came back and now I had two, talk about confusing worse still I had spelt Hiking, Hicking. "The Great Hicking Challenge" can you believe it and I can't access the page to edit it. Anyway the just giving crew sorted it out, what a palava.

My Nephew sorted out the picture for me and a great job he did, the best photograph I have of my dear wife, it does make me feel terribly sad.

The address by the way is http://www.justgiving.com/KeithEnglandspage should you fancy a visit.

Big day on Monday with the website launch.

2nd November 2006 52 and the Training Starts

Its my 52nd birthday and I feel its time to start my training. I have measured a route in the car of 2 miles and so it begins!

I can't wear my boots at present to walk in as their too uncomfortable so I'm wearing them in doing the ironing. This is not as easy as it sounds, the're so bloody big I keep tripping up the ironing board legs and twice nearly killed the cat. He keeps giving me very nasty looks, biding his time no doubt for revenge.

I still haven't got all the gear, inner layers and the like, so I'm just making do for now but getting in the routine of walking. This is a whole new experience for me!!

22th October 2006 Reality Sinks In!

What have I gone and done? Here I am fat and fifty Two (almost), signed up for a five day trek along the Great Wall of China, approx 130 Kilometers, 7 hours at a stretch, five consecutive days. I must be stark raving mad!!

The furthest I walk these days is to the car, if its not too far. Thank god its not until next March at least I have half a chance of getting myself into better shape. I'll need every minute, I bet everyone else is 18 years old not 18 stone (yes when did that happen!). Mind you as you get older I ask that question every time I look in the mirror and my Dad's looking back.

You can't say I got involved because of the uniform although the anorak is rather nice and the boots remarkably light, considering the size of the box.

Anyway to late now the deed is done!