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Day 65 has been a humdinger of a day which has seen 4 miles walked, hundreds of pounds donated and left me waddling from over indulgence.

A 1 mile walk with Georgie started the day off well with clear skies and the swans whooping over the ponds as they flew about. The children were both at Panto rehearsals so I was at Church on my own today. The church was also quite chilly as the timer had gone on the heating system but it really didn’t matter thanks to the warmth of the welcome I received and as I sat there I was carried away on the words of a most exquisite sermon which focused on the gospels and how they were so carefully trying to show us Jesus Christ but that perhaps we couldn’t see him because we were not asking the key question enough. A question I have often asked of some of the extraordinary experiences I have had on this short journey on the challenge. ‘What is it that you are trying to show me?’ This was the very question I asked when I was led to the two quotes below, one after the other, in one afternoon of frantic sole searching after having to resign my position as a Director in the Future Nation Foundation and was the very question that led to the seed of an idea for the challenge.

‘Go forth in to the world. Be of good courage; Render to no man evil for evil; Strengthen the faint hearted; Support the weak; Help the afflicted; Honour all men; Love and serve the Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit’

‘Do all the Good you can, by all the means you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.’

The Sermon reminded me, much like my cousin Harry’s visit reminded me, to keep my senses open and alert to suggestion, to stop and take time to listen to all that is going on around me. To ask the question ‘What is it that you are trying to show me?’ and then listen to the answer while being willing to follow the path being shown to me. It is that very process that led me on to the path that started this Beat the Beast Challenge but I have to keep listening to ensure that I do not stray from the path.

The sold out event at Buttercup Cafe
The sold out event at Buttercup Cafe

After Church I was starting to feel a little odd but with an amazing late afternoon to look forward to I was so desperately hoping it would pass. I made lunch for James and I. No prizes for guessing how I cooked my egg or what accompanied it!! But as I tucked in to my raw vegetables, James chatting away about how rapidly Asparagus grows, I started to feel very odd and then suddenly time stopped. James stopped talking, stopped moving, a piece of tenderstem broccoli protruding from his mouth looking like Ermintrude from the Magic Roundabout then my throat suddenly constricted. I stopped chewing panic rising in me rapidly and then it passed as quickly as it came and as I emerged out of whatever gripped me James had obviously seen something because he was asking, concern in his voice, Dad, Dad are you okay Dad? His question was echoing around my head, I felt tears welling up in my eyes, and struggled to swallow but managed to talk. To reassure James. It’s okay. I’m fine. It’s passed. I was frustrated that I had had such an episode. It was very short but very real and more frustratingly James saw something too. He seemed okay but thankfully we both had great afternoons planned. James was off for rehearsals for the Pantomime in the Dunblane Centre. I had a 3mile walk to do with Georgie, had some messages to answer, including an initial reply to a really exciting invitation, before heading to the Buttercup Café to help prepare for the fundraising tea that the Buttercup Café had offered to host to help me raise funds for the challenge.

I left early to see Stacey Campbell and her Mum who have opened an interior decorating shop, Doune Chic, behind the Buttercup Café and wanted to donate the carrier bag charge and any donations customers made to the challenge. It was such a wonderful idea so I went along to drop off a small card for the customers to read about the challenge and hopefully encourage a donation or to come and find me on facebook.

Then continued a most amazing afternoon. I walked in to the Buttercup Café to offer some help in preparation and was instead greeted with such warmth and a Mocha that I knew immediately that this was going to be a good afternoon. The event had sold out. All 32 seats gone. I couldn’t believe it. When Lorna first suggested the idea I of course exclaimed ‘yes please!’ and returned home excited but extremely nervous that no-one would want to come. I of course forgot what a wonderful community Doune is. Not only had all 32 tickets been sold but they had also had additional donations from wonderful people who couldn’t go but wanted to support the challenge. Amazing enough and then I saw the size of the raffle. Again people in the village and the businesses had been so generous. I was speechless. More so when I was then shown some lovely cushions handmade for the raffle. And as I stood there gaping like a goldfish all around me was a swirl of activity. The entire team was working so fast, so hard to ensure that all the food was ready and all the tables immaculately prepared. I had scrubbed pots and pans in a conference centre as a boy before but this was like a scene from a London Restaurant as Mark and his team in the kitchen made the final preparations on delicious three courses and Lorna and her team in the front of house set about their work to get the café ready to receive the guests. I didn’t know where anything was or what way they liked things laid but then Lorna, Amie and Gregor sensed that I really wanted to help so got me bringing in the tables and chairs and as I became more accustomed to the environment I could start to identify jobs that needed doing and set about laying tables. Gregor was very patient as he came up behind me adding forks to the plates and putting things in the right order – but at least I tried! Before I knew it – time was up. The guests started to arrive. I immediately set about welcoming them all in as the team sat them at their tables and started to feel stronger and stronger. I was getting hugs and kisses galore and it was clear that they were coming because they believed in the challenge. They believed in me and wanted to support me. I knew that a number of the village were behind the challenge thanks to the excellent Bridge article but I had no idea that there was such a depth of passion and support behind the challenge throughout the village. And then as I turned around from one table I was caught completely off guard by the arrival of two dear friends made while working for 51 (Scottish) Brigade in Stirling a few years ago and had no idea were coming at all. It was a wonderful surprise. I was on a high and as the café filled to capacity so the positive energy of the atmosphere increased and like a leech I gorged on it. I was feeling great and with tea started it was time to sell raffle tickets. I started to work the room hoping to sell one or two tickets per person at £1.00 per ticket but instead was blown away again by the generosity of the village as each couple bought 5, 10 or even 20 tickets at a time. All tables done and the next course was coming out. I retreated and counted the raffle money £145!! Coupled with the one off cash donations I had been given as I went about on the challenge over the last couple of weeks that was now £265!!

The wonderful crew of the Buttercup Cafe
The wonderful crew of the Buttercup Cafe

Then it was time to draw the raffle and before I did I thought it important to thank everyone for coming. I minced my words a little but quickly gripped myself and managed to give a fair stab at thanking Lorna and Mark and the team for the amazing idea of the tea, the delicious food that they served and the generosity that they have offered both in their hospitality and towards the challenge. A well earned round of applause was given to the team and at that point Lorna presented me with £515 cash as the table tickets sold and the generous donations made in lieu. I was a stounded and stumbled over my words further but managed to confirm that the amazing total of £660 raised today, coupled with the additional £120 one off cash donations making £780 has meant that I had now managed to raise in just 65 days of activity over £5,000. I was really happy but wanted to make one further point and that was of the wonderful encouragement that their support gives me as I enter the darker moments of the recovery from the treatment and any further symptoms of the disease itself and of the wonderful healing endorphins that all their love and warmth rewards me with. I fought to choke back the tears as I spoke but they were tears of thankfulness, not tears of sadness, and soon the tea was over and all were heading home. I again went round the room to thank all for coming and continued to gorge like a leech on the positive energy and spirit of support and encouragement as I received hug after hug after hug from those that came. I was glowing with endorphins as I helped to clear up and once it became apparent that there was little else I could usefully do I boxed up a couple of wee cakes left over as a treat for Heather and James and prepared to return home. More hugs, this time for the team, as I bade my farewells and thanked them all so very much for being so brilliant. Then gorged full on positive energy I waddled home, bloated, clutching the children’s cakes and a money box full of money, with the most enormous smile on my face asking myself a very simple question – ‘What was it I was being shown today?’ That was for me very clear and easy to answer so I shall believe in the Lord to renew my strength; I shall mount up with wings as Eagles; I shall run like a deer and not be weary; I shall walk the long path and not faint.

The challenge continues.

Thank you to Lorna and all of her amazing team in the Buttercup Café for the most wonderful afternoon that has given me not only the means to help improve the lives and life chances of so many more people, but also the encouragement I so dearly needed to keep going.

So…..

The challenge in numbers total since the start:
Days completed: 65
Total Miles Cycled: 394
Total Miles Walked: 267
Total Miles Run: 14.4
Total Distance Swum: 150 metres
Total Miles covered under own steam.675.4
Total Height Gained under own steam: 24,006 feet
Mountains Climbed: 5
Hills Climbed: 9
Days of Voluntary Activity: 5.5
Organ tunes learnt and performed: 5
Salmon Caught: 0!
Curling Matches played in: 3
Curling stones placed on the button (the centre of the target): 1
Weight Training Sessions: 5
Aerobic Circuit Sessions: 2
Press Ups: 55
Pull Ups: 15
Sit Ups: 55
People Met and Hands Shaken: 259
Pots of tea shared: 16
Prayers joined on the top of a hill: 2
Prayers joined in the street!: 1
Pills popped: 274
And most important of all – Money Raised as at Day 65 – £5,029.

Considering I started this challenge 9 weeks ago very quietly with no target beyond a fiver, thanks to the brilliant advice from a friend of mine, I am absolutely thrilled and again thank you all. So far that is £77.36 for each and every day that I have managed to find the will and energy to do something worthwhile and my goodness it has been worth it for my peace of mind, for my healing and for the five wonderful charities you are supporting through your generosity. Long may it continue.

Thank you all for your incredible comments and support. Please continue to spread the word.

If you see me around do please give a cheery hello and shake my hand or toot your horn and give a cheery wave to show your support and encourage me on.

Thank you

Yours aye

Archie