Andrew Little

Mission accomplished

Done and Dusted

Well I did it, after 20 weeks of preparation the day of truth arrived 18^th October 2015, this date will be etched in my memory as a day my mental and physical ability was tested to the max.

My journey thus far detailed the friendships that were cemented, the kindness and support from friends, family and most surprising from people whom I did not know.

I have met some of the dedicated and passionate researchers who without the support of CanToo could not continue their great work.

My time whilst not important was 4hr 55mins, I hit the wall at approx...20km, where my legs and mind decided that this was a silly idea and was telling me to stop. What kept me going was the thought that I would be letting down everyone who had donated money and the people who have encouraged me to do this. Most importantly sufferers of this terrible disease don’t have an option to “quit” when the going gets tough so I owed it to them and to you to keep going.

Great News!!!!

CanToo raised over $45,000 at this event, with over $2000 from the kind donations that you have made on my fund raising page “A BIG THANK YOU” to all of you.

Finally I would like thank my wonderful team mates you are all amazing and it’s been a privilege to have met and ran with you and now to be your friend.

Andy

My Journey - Final week

Your donation will make a difference you can donate on my fund raising page below.

http://www.cantoo.org.au/fundraisers/AndrewLittle

Well it’s only a week to go to the big day, the journey has been a roller-coaster of emotions, ranging from the great feeling that you are doing something that will make a difference by raising funds to help researchers find a cure for cancer, to sadness when we heard the sad news of Drew losing his battle with cancer.

Drew passed away two weeks ago, he came to talk to our group several months, where he explained how this disease had impacted on his family, friends and himself. What was amazing about Drew was that he did not let cancer define him and how he remained so positive.

We (Melbourne CanToo team) are doing this because we have all had family and friends affected by Cancer, we are all bonded by the same goal to raise the as much funds as possible so that researchers can continue their great work.

This Saturday was a special day, all the runners meet at 7:30am for one last 10km run and to take time out to remember those whom were no longer with us.

We also had a special visit from one of the researchers whom Cantoo had donated $200,000 to provide her to continue her work for another two years.

She explained that with government cut backs, without our support a lot of the research would not be possible.

Some people have said I must be mad trying to run 42km (some have added “at your age”) lol so here’s why:

• It’s a great cause and without organisations like Cantoo there would be less researchers
• I have met some fantastic people who are supportive, funny, inspiring and selfless and who are now my friends
• That I have made some difference and have inspired someone else to join and raise funds
• That you have to not just talk about changing things that you need step up to the plate and actually do something
• Finally I feel so much better both mentally and physically

So if you know someone who has been affected by this terrible disease and would like to contribute you can log on to my fund raising page using the link below.

Thank you in advance

http://www.cantoo.org.au/fundraisers/AndrewLittle

My Journey Part 4 - The Homeward run

Help me to help them.

http://www.cantoo.org.au/fundraisers/AndrewLittle

Only 17 days to go until the big day, personally it has been a great journey, I have learnt a lot about myself. I have gone from being an Old grumpy bugger and needing 3 coffees to get going, to enjoy early mornings, getting out in the fresh air. All thanks to my CanToo running partners.

People have asked me how can I get up on a cold wet morning in the dark and go running , well the first time is hard but, once I had meet the people in CanToo it was easy. They are so full of life, encouragement, supportive and above all so selfless. I could not get over how happy and jolly they all were at 6:30am even on a freezing wet morning, they are always having a laugh and a joke and it rubbed off on me;  laughing is definitely infectious.

What I love about these great people is that they do this for others, not to promote themselves, or to gain recognition or promotion; They are selfless some have completed as many as 12 marathons and raised up to $50,000 on their own, without asking anything in return.

To date CanToo have raised over $15m for Cancer Research, all donations go to research, and the admin is covered by corporate sponsors.

But with every up side there is a down side and this week was  an emotional rollercoaster, whilst we were all happy that we had completed our longest run 35km, and ready for the Marathon, One of our team members received the sad news that their friend, and a person who came to speak to our team, had lost his two year battle with cancer.

So this week has been a reflection on just how lucky we are, that if you have your health and the support of loved ones everything else is irrelevant.

It has also given us all at CanToo additional determination to push through the aches and pains and complete the 42km Marathon on behalf of all those who are touched by this disease.

Here are some fun facts about me

• Use to represent my school & county in 100 & 200 metre sprint best time 11.25 seconds (100mtr) and 23.05 seconds (200mtr)
• 5 yrs ago broke my fibula and tibia playing soccer now have a steel rod and pins in my leg
• Never ran or couldn’t run more than 500 mtrs before joining Cantoo
• Lost 18 kg in weight
• Have short legs so have to take twice as many steps as the average person (that’s a joke)

If you would like to support me by making a donation you can click on the link below.

Help me to help them.

http://www.cantoo.org.au/fundraisers/AndrewLittle

My quote of the week “NO Pain - NO GAIN – NO FUNDING – NO REASRCH - NO CURE”

Thank you in advance

Andy

My Journey Part 3

If you would like to donate please follow the link below or copy it into your browser.

http://www.cantoo.org.au/fundraisers/AndrewLittle 

For those of you who have been following this blog, (which I thank you for) this is my third update, and to be honest I am surprised at the changes I am going through not only in body, but mentally too. What is more surprising is the impact that the people whom I run with and those of the CanToo team Australia wide, who I have never met, the impact and inspiration that they are having.

As you may recall, I mentioned I was given a compliment last week and that this compliment brought not only a lump to my throat and made me feel humble but gave me something that no amount of money, or high powered corporate position could give, it made me feel worthwhile and that I made a positive difference to someone else.

What was this compliment, someone whom I had met several years earlier, had read my blog and after reading, wrote to me and told me that I had inspired him to start running, it never hit home to me the impact it would have, until last week, when after I had just finished a 16km training run in Fairfield (not our usual place of training) but someone in running gear and wearing a CanToo singlet, walked over to me a shook my hand and thanked me for inspiring him to sign up and raise money to find a cure for cancer.

I never thought someone saying a simple thank you would make me feel so good, to know that I had inspired someone to make a change in their life, because of something you are doing is such a great feeling, and to know that means that someone else is now committed to raise money to help find a cure is also satisfying feeling.

So this Saturday 19th September, was another PB, I completed 32km in 3hrs and 36mins, a big thank you to Bindi who came back and urged me on, without Bindi and her words of encouragement I think I would have collapsed in a heap.

I have reached a point in my life that I have realised that it is better to give than to take, I see too many people who are only interested in “what’s in it for me” I am receiving more satisfaction from simply running, and trying to help other people that I am in a better place both mentally and physically.

These lovely people I train are true team players, are there for each other, how do I know that, not because they tell me, but because they do it, we don’t have to ask for help, we don’t have to ask for the first ones back to wait, if you are struggling, then there is support, words of encouragement advice and always a big smile.

Next week will be our longest run 35km’s can I complete, I don’t know, what do my team mates say “YES YOU WILL ANDY” and that’s how loud and encouraging they are.

If you enjoy reading my story, and would like to donate then please follow the link below, all donations are tax deductable.

I did promise some photos so I have attached a few just to prove that I do run and so you can see the great team I run with.

If you would like to donate please follow the link below or copy it into your browser.

http://www.cantoo.org.au/fundraisers/AndrewLittle 

My Journey part 2

Hello all

Since my last post, I received the sad news that a friend of mine was diagnosed with cancer, and was admitted into hospital to have the tumour removed. Thankfully the operation was a success and it appears that they managed to remove all of the tumour. However, the impact this has had on his family is a thing that you cannot comprehend, unlike other illnesses, cancer leaves an impression and impacts on how you live your life.

He has to have regular check-ups to make sure that it does not return, can you imagine how living with that on your mind can affect not only your on peace of mind but those of your family and friends.

So for my friend and others who I do not know and who are experiencing the effects of this disease I will complete the Marathon and attempt to raise as much money as I can to help find a CURE

Last Saturday I achieved a PB, I completed 24km, which means I am just over half way to my target of 42 km for the full Marathon.

I have come a long way from the overweight, unfit, grumpy bugger of twelve months ago, yes it has only been twelve months when I couldn’t even run 100 metres.

How life can change, I have been extremely lucky, for several reasons, One, I met Vera who I wrote about last time, Two, I signed up with Can too who have given support and encouragement when you are going through the pain and want to stop, and trust me there are many times you want to stop.

My life has changed for the better, I have had to make some ‘big decisions” and had to dig deep to make those changes, I also had to take a look at myself in the mirror and ask “do I like what I see” my answer was a very challenging and confronting “NO” and that my friends was the beginning, and the hardest thing to admit; the rest is easy “do something about it”

I am doing something and being helped by friends through encouragement, support and above all that in my own small way may be helping to find a cure for cancer so no more of my friends will have to endure the pain and suffering that this disease brings.

The Marathon is on Sunday 18^th October so come down to support all the runners, but especially all the CANTOO team who are raising money for Cure For Cancer.

If you would like to support me then you can follow the link to donate, 100% goes to cure for cancer and is tax deductable.

Thank you in advance

Andy

My Journey

I thought I would write about my journey and why I am doing this..

I have had a good life, have had my ups and downs like all people, and must admit focus was on money and to retire wealthy. It is only when you get to a certain age that you then realise that money and wealth means nothing, if you do not have your health, family and friends.

I have lost a few close friends and family through one form of cancer or another, but that still did not resinate with me that maybe one day that could happen to me. I had a good hard look at myself, and went and had a check-up, my Doctor advised me that I was at least 20kg over weight, high blood pressure 152/122 and that I drank too much. I realised I was not happy in myself, and had sort solace in comfort food and wine.

I decided to start walking, (I couldn't run as I was so unfit) I decided to walk during lunch time at work, and it was at this time that Vera Da Ranong who told me all about Cantoo and how great the people are and how they support you, so I decided to sign up. Because I like to push myself I set my sights on completing the half marathon, I signed up in July 2014, with the half marathon scheduled for October of that same year.

I went from not being able to run, to successfully completing the half marathon but also achieved:

 Raising over $1,800 for cure for cancer

• Completed the course in 2hrs 12 minutes

• Lost 17kg in weight

• Improved my drinking and eating habits

• and made and met some great and inspirational people

I am thankful for two things>

Firstly for meeting Vera and taking her advice... you dont know how much you have changed my life

Secondly joining Cantoo and having the opportunity to meet so many fantastic, selfless people your inspiration and support is "PRICELESS

Andy

I'm training with Can Too for the Medibank Melbourne Marathon! To raise funds for Cancer

I am training for an event with Can Too, a health promotion organisation that engages and inspires individuals and the community to achieve personal health, wellbeing and altruistic goals. 
 
Beginners and experienced athletes alike are given professional coaching as part of a team to run or swim in endurance events- including 10km, half-marathon and marathon runs; as well as ocean swims and triathlons.
 
In return, I am raising valuable funds that go towards innovation in the prevention, care and control of cancer. In 2014, our Can Too community has supported 19 early career researchers through Cure Cancer Australia.

Thank you for supporting me!
 
‘It’s so much fun and I can’t believe I’m going to achieve this goal that I never thought possible. A great program and team support is making it possible. You Can Too!’

Last year I had never run any distance and signed up and completed the half marathon and raised $1,800 I am now aiming to raise over $3000 with your help, and with that have commited to complete the full marathon of 42 KM.

So please help me to help those fighting this terrible disease

 Thanks

Andy Little