<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: normal; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My family had never been affected by cancer, but things changed on the 30th March. My dad was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer. As I write this, he's receiving palliative care and based on the prognosis we've been given it’s unlikely he will see the month of June. I have never been more motivated to raise some money for cancer support.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: normal; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: normal; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before Christmas my dad was a very able 65 year old, working in a job he enjoyed, swimming every day and socialising every night! He was care free and ‘healthy’. At the end of February he had a limp and complained of severe headaches, so went to the doctors for tests. His decline since has been unbelievable. Today he's flat out in a hospital bed, blind in one eye, can hardly string a sentence together and has next to no control of his legs and arms. The cancer spread has been rapid and aggressive. It’s been so quick that we’ve hardly had a chance to understand what’s happening. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: normal; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: normal; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course, we’re not the first family to be affected by Cancer and we certainly won’t be the last, but I have the opportunity to raise some money to help towards a Maggie’s Cancer Care Centre in Aberdeen that will make a difference to those affected in the future.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: normal; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: normal; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have set up this just giving page for the Monty’s Maggie’s Appeal which will help bring some support to the next families who may suffer similarly.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: normal; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: normal; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I didn't feel any one event was going to encourage you to part with a fiver or two so I have signed up for a selection of events throughout 2012 that will mean I have to push myself in return for your donation. I’m also going to find a marathon to compete in during the later part of the year if that helps you part with your hard earned cash!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: normal; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: normal; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So far I have the following events lined up:</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: auto 0cm auto 36pt; text-indent: -18pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: small;">·</span><span style="font: 7pt &amp;amp;quot;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;">Etape Caledonia</span></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;"> (81 miles cycling)</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: auto 0cm auto 72pt; text-indent: -18pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &amp;amp;quot; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: small;">o</span><span style="font: 7pt &amp;amp;quot;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;"><span style="font-size: small;">13 May (</span><a href="http://www.etapecaledonia.co.uk/"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">http://www.etapecaledonia.co.uk/</span></span></a><span style="font-size: small;">) </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: auto 0cm auto 36pt; text-indent: -18pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: small;">·</span><span style="font: 7pt &amp;amp;quot;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;">Cairngorm 100</span></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;"> (100 miles cycling) </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: auto 0cm auto 72pt; text-indent: -18pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &amp;amp;quot; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: small;">o</span><span style="font: 7pt &amp;amp;quot;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;"><span style="font-size: small;">2 June (</span><a href="http://www.handsonevents.co.uk/Events/Cairngorm/cairngorm.htm"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">http://www.handsonevents.co.uk/Events/Cairngorm/cairngorm.htm</span></span></a><span style="font-size: small;">) </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: auto 0cm auto 36pt; text-indent: -18pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: small;">·</span><span style="font: 7pt &amp;amp;quot;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;">Lairig Ghru</span></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;"> (26 mile classic run through heart of the Cairngorms)</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: auto 0cm auto 72pt; text-indent: -18pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &amp;amp;quot; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: small;">o</span><span style="font: 7pt &amp;amp;quot;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;"><span style="font-size: small;">24th June (</span><a href="http://www.scottishhillracing.co.uk/RaceDetails.aspx?RaceID=RA-0067"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">http://www.scottishhillracing.co.uk/RaceDetails.aspx?RaceID=RA-0067</span></span></a><span style="font-size: small;">) </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: auto 0cm auto 36pt; text-indent: -18pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: small;">·</span><span style="font: 7pt &amp;amp;quot;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;">Ride the North</span></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;"> (160 miles cycling)</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: auto 0cm auto 72pt; text-indent: -18pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &amp;amp;quot; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: small;">o</span><span style="font: 7pt &amp;amp;quot;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;"><span style="font-size: small;">21 and 22 September (</span><a href="http://www.ride-the-north.co.uk/event-details/"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">http://www.ride-the-north.co.uk/event-details/</span></span></a><span style="font-size: small;">) </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: normal; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: normal; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am thankful for any contributions, and I am looking forward to making a difference,</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: normal; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ian</span></span></p>
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