The 200 km Christmas Yeti Hike for Rob & Caleb

I have organised this Christmas challenge and GFM on behalf of my good friend Rob Zed Metcalfe. I first became aware of Rob in January 2019, when a mutual friend of ours connected us due to our love of the outdoors and all things mountains. In the time since then, I have met up with Rob as often as our schedule will allow and always tried to do my little bit to help. 

I am not going to sugar-coat this. Rob has terminal cancer and has had all the treatment under the sun to try and beat his Synovial Sarcoma diagnosis. After two surgeries and repeat rounds of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, Rob received the devastating news that his cancer was terminal and that nothing more could be done. It was just a matter of time. In December 2020 Rob's cancer started to progress. In February 2021 Rob made the heart-breaking decision to no longer have any more treatment. Rob has spent his entire days since living with this as he puts it 'shit storm'. He is spending his remaining time making as many memories as he can with his 4-year-old son Caleb.

 

I am not going to lie. If you donate, your money will go directly to Rob, this is not for further treatment to prolong his life. That time has sadly come and gone. This money will go towards helping Rob create the memories he seeks with Caleb and to help cement his legacy for his son. Rob is on borrowed time. He needs all the funds he can get RIGHT NOW to accelerate some of the trips and memories he has planned for him and Caleb. I hope you can contribute and give Rob and Caleb the most magical Christmas time ever and beyond into 2022.

 

The 200km Yeti Christmas Hike

 

The challenge I am undertaking is to walk 10km a day on my treadmill for 20 days on an incline of 10 with 10 kilograms of weight in a backpack that I will carry. At the end of the 20 days, I am hoping to have walked the full 200 kilometres whilst dressed as a Himalayan snowman, more commonly referred to as the Yeti or Abominable snowman. This will add to the challenge by making it incredibly uncomfortable and hot and sweaty. I will be live streaming on Facebook as much of the challenge as I can so you can see that I am indeed walking 10 km on my treadmill dressed as the Yeti.

 

My target is to raise £2000 during the first 20 days of December from the 1st through to the 20th. If I manage to hit the target before the 20th, I will then transfer locations and do the remainder of the 10k hikes outside in the full glare of the public. So if you wish to see the Yeti hiking outside this December then help me to reach the target for Rob and Caleb before the 20th. The earlier I hit the target the more outdoor (more visible) hiking days I will do. The aim is 10 kilometres each day which will be tracked by the treadmill and outside if the need arises by Strava. On the last day 21st December I am walking the final 17 km along my local coastline. 

Check out the 200 km schedule and distance achieved so far below. (This is is updated after each Yeti hike) The target is 200 km.

Thursday 2nd December - 10 km  - Done 
Friday 3rd December - 20 km  - Done 
Saturday 4th December - 30 km  - Done 
Sunday 5th December - 40 km  - Done 
Monday 6th December - 50 km  - Done 
Tuesday 7th December -60 km  - Done 
Wednesday 8th December - 70 km  - Done 
Thursday 9th December - 80 km - Done 
Friday 10th December (outside) - 93 km - Done 
Saturday 11th December - 103 km - Done 
Sunday 12th December - 113 km - Done 
Monday 13th December - 123 km - Done 
Wednesday 15th December - 133 km - Done 
Thursday 16th December - 143 km - Done 
Friday 17th December - 153 km - Done 
Saturday 18th December - 163 km Done 
Sunday 19th December - 173 km Done 
Monday 20th December - 183 km Done 

Tuesday 21st December (outside) - 200 km Done 

See Robs Facebook blog page here...

 

Zeds Blog - Walking with Sarcoma


The Heart Star by Anthony Frobisher

The fields were gilded
Under a vermeil moon
And the stars hung
In quiet night time reverie

The road was a black line
With sparkling frost
And cold penetrated,
Quickening heartbeats.

A man and a young child craned
Their necks angled towards
The infinite blackness, eyes illuminated
By the gentling moon.
Which star will you become?
Asked the child, staring
Transfixed up into myriad pinpricks
Of light dotting the welkin

A star that is ever present,
Came the reply.
Even on the
Nights hidden behind the saddest clouds
My star will still shine brightly for you.
But how will I find it? the child asked,
Joining stars with their finger, in a
Celestial dot to dot. How will
I find your star when you're gone?
The man smiled and reached up,
Plucking a star. Here, open your hands.
Now hold them over your heart.
Let the light in and know it is me in you.

The child held their hands over their heart
As the man held the child in a warming embrace.
Dad, the child said, you'll always be my star.
And you'll always be mine, he replied.

Whenever you try to find my star,
Look to the heavens and know every
Star is a memory of us, and know
You still carry that one special star

In your heart.