Mindfulness in Surrey

31/10/2024

Next Tuesday and Wednesday my friend and neighbour Kevin Webber is marking the amazing 10 year anniversary of his terminal prostate cancer diagnosis by running from his home to the Royal Marsden Hospital and back 10 times. I am glad and honoured to say that I shall be running alongside Kev for one of those laps.

Please take the time to read Kev's words below, but most importantly please show your support for Kev and his inspirational story by donating a tenner to Kev's Just Giving page (link below), in support of the incredible work of the Royal Marsden Hospital.

Steve x

From Kev:

"The 6th November this year will be my 10 year cancerversarie, 10 years to the day when I was told I may be dead in 2 years, hope for 3 or 4 if i am lucky. I think my unexpected longevity is something to celebrate and do something special for. A party? No. Holiday of a lifetime? No. Splash out on a luxury car? No.........Try to run further than I ever have in 24 hours? Absolutely.
I am planning to run from my house starting 5th November midday to my cancer hospital, the Royal Marsden in Sutton and back 10 times. Every lap for a year of my life, a different department of the hospital who have kept me alive and someone who has helped me along the way. I hope to finish by mid day 6th November and on this occasion as a one off I am raising funds for The Royal Marsden Charity general fund. I have chosen the general fund because I know so many others who have been treated there for many cancers, sadly some of those are not with us anymore and as such it gives an opportunity for people to do something to help all cancers on behalf of anyone special to them.
I am only seeking £10 from as many people as possible, that's just £1 for every year I have lived since my T4 incurable diagnosis (more is of course welcome!). These are my just launched sites if you can help me help the hospital that has kept me and so many others going" https://www.justgiving.com/page/kevin-webber-ten-years or https://www.sponsorme.co.uk/.../10-pounds-for-10-laps-in...

Help Kevin Webber raise money to support The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity

10/09/2024

At the heart of your heart make a circle.
Invite all the bits of yourself to come, sit by the fire.
This pressure in the chest,
That heat spreading through the cheeks,
This feeling of numbness, That feeling of rage,
The thought that says, "They're jerks," The thought that says, "I'm nobody,"
The need to be understood, That yearning to be loved,
And the orphans peering in, noses pressed against the cold window, And the shadows lumbering in the basement closet,
Invite them, too, for there is space for them and more: You are big.
You are more than the pounding in the temples-- It doesn't overwhelm you.
You are larger than the thought, "I'm worthless." It doesn't consume you.
And if it does? And if it does?
Invite Overwhelm into the circle, Make a place for Despair.
And notice how you know to hold Overwhelm in your arms, and Despair in steady embrace.
Cast no part of yourself away,
and being whole,
find all humanity joining you in the circle of your heart.

~Lucy Leu