Question??? What makes an overweight, knackered, arthritic, boozy, 60 year old fart decide to row 26 miles over land?

Answer £1,200,000 

Who needs it??? Arthur Rank Hospice

 When??? Every single year 

How would we cope without Arthur Rank Hospice???

Five years ago my Mother, Vera Fagg died at Arthur Rank Hospice. Although this lovely lady was much loved and cared for by her family it became impossible for us to give her the care and attention that she needed at the end of her life.

Her G.P. recommended that she stayed at Arthur Rank and she was resident there for her last few months. The nursing staff and management somehow managed to care for her to an extraordinary degree and also made the most traumatic period of the family’s lives much more bearable. The compassion and understanding shown is something never to be forgotten. Of course these people do this every day, but it was blatantly obvious that all of the staff get totally involved with all of the residents to the degree that they grieve and suffer with the relatives. No cool, cold-hearted bedside manner here.

‘Tales of one particular nurse entertaining the residents with a middle of the night  exotic dance apparently involving a bed-pan as head wear’. The volunteers turn up day after day, some to talk others to care. ‘Would you care for a cup of tea?’

‘Would you like your feet massaging this evening?’ etc. etc. etc. 

So having met this different species of caring people that I had no idea existed, and realised I don’t have what it takes to join them, I thought my way of helping should be to raise as much money as possible towards the running costs for the hospice. £1,200,000 per annum. On the day of this years London Marathon, Sunday April 26th I am asking for sponsorship when I attempt to row the distance of the race, 26 miles, on a rowing machine in the patio area here at the Backstreet Bistro.

Please do what you can, it really is worth it.

Sincerely yours

Peter Fagg

Proprietor

Training Schedule

The training has now moved up a gear, I row 10,000 metres per day then 28,000 metres last Tuesday (2 thirds the marathon distance). I was utterly and completely drained afterwards, I need to be fitter.

Hoping to get to 35,000 metres in Tuesday this week, not looking forward to it, but it has to be done. We'll see!

Would you believe it, managed the 35,000 no trouble at all. For the first time I am starting to believe I really can do this.

Did 20,000 metres in good time on Saturday on the hardest tension (10). Very sore on Sunday / Monday.

Tuesday - Had a really hard workout at Core this morning. Trainer Matt seemed to enjoy it slightly too much.

It's done 26 MILES 395 yards in 3 hours 32 minutes

FANTASTIC £2260.00 raised for Arthur Rank