Thursday 26 November 2009

We give thanks!

First and foremost we’d like to thank all those who have made donations via our blog to help those living with MS, and big special thanks to our family who are great and Joseph who is so special.

There are hundreds of thousands of people in the US who have found it hard to celebrate Thanksgiving today due to the pain and suffering caused by MS; just like Amy of New Hampshire a Mom of three who battles through life everyday to make her children’s life as beautiful as she can. Unlike Amy, joy is brought to our lives knowing that you; our dearest friends follow us on the blog and care for our well-being. Unfortunately your care for our well-being does not help Amy and millions of others like her. What they need from you is your money. If love, care and best intentions could buy drugs and supply healthcare, Barack Obama would be having a much easier time reforming the US healthcare system right now. So guys start making donations and give thanks! And before you start formulating more reasons to procrastinate further, let us quash a few pitiful excuses for you:

  • We have completed 1,239.17 miles in 24 days, approximately 10% of the total distance, carrying all of our gear for the year, and at times in driving rain and wind. It has been quite tough, just in case you thought the last month has been a walk in the park and we hadn’t demonstrated enough commitment.
  • Both the US Multiple Sclerosis site and the UK Just Giving site are secure and will not steal your identity.
  • None of your money goes to us. Nada. We are funding this trip ourselves.
  • Healthcare professionals generally do not wait to administer life changing drugs until the patient has proved they have suffered at least 50% of the total amount of expected suffering…so please stop convincing yourselves we have to complete at least half (or more) of the journey before you donate.
  • Over 400,000 people in the US (2.5 million worldwide) suffer from MS with a new person every hour being diagnosed.

Come on guys, give thanks, donate cash and remember…

"Be glad that you are free

Free to change your mind

Free to go most anywhere, anytime

Be glad that you are free

There's many a man who's not

Be glad for what you had and what you've got"


… And now for something a little more light-hearted!

Unusually for us on a rest day, it was 9am when we rolled out of bed, drew back the curtains and were greeted by a beautifully clear, sunny day. As we looked out of our window and saw hundreds of Charlestonians doing the Turkey Run, we were keen to get out and join the street parties. The Turkey Run is a tradition in Charleston where people of the city get together to run down King Street and around the choice parts of downtown Charleston, giving thanks and making room for the 10lbs of deep fried turkey they’re about to consume. The atmosphere on the streets was pumping. Live bands and entertainment packed out Marion Square near the hotel. We had a great walk around the French Quarter, dreaming of owning one of the stunning houses dotted all the way along the waterfront. The views were astonishing, and to cap it all off, we saw a Dolphin effortlessly breaching 100 yards from the bayside… beautiful!

It was 2pm and we had walked about 3 miles; lunch was calling. Fortunately we stumbled across Magnolias, a Charleston institution for fantastic Southern cooking, serving the traditional gastronomic experience; turkey, stuffing, collard greens, cranberry sauce and mash potatoes… delicious! Of course we started with glasses of bubbly, progressed to some decent vino, then finished with a chocolate brownie.

Check out the pictures

Us x

1 comment:

  1. Well done - the quality of photography is certainly improving. And we all know that a picture paints a thousand words. However, it would be nice to have some photo evidence of the more fanciful things you tell us about. Such as the 'Dolphin'. I'd hate us all to miss out on a unicorn, should one 'effortlessly' jump out of the field on your next leg. However, I did like the wonderful studio shot of the dog. Who needs a $1,000 camera, an artist's eye for detail and the sheer talent of Rankin when you have Google images? Keep snapping. x

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