London Bridges Walk.

It’s that time of year when people start taking to roads running, jogging or for most of us enjoy a really good walk.

We’re lucky here in SA4 to have great cycle and footpaths that can take you from the Bont past Grovesend and into Gorseinon.

From there the path continues to Gowerton through Kingsbridge and onto Gowerton where you pick the path to Dunvant and then walk, run or cycle down to Blackpill through the beauty of Clyne.

At Blackpill onto the seafront, Swansea to the left and Mumbles to the right!

Many that you see out and about are very serious about their roadrunning and are in training for the season of 10k’s, half marathons and even marathons.

Rosie and I are just out to enjoy a walk and last summer walking was certainly a start to a weight loss that now stands at 5 and a half stone!

I needed to reduce my weight for many reasons but with surgery planned I needed that weight loss.

In fact one of the first things my surgeon said to me when he came to the ward before the operation was, ‘I see that you’ve lost weight for me, thank you for that’.

I’ve not been to a gym, I just changed my lifestyle and started walking more!

However, I got to a point where I felt that I needed a bit of a challenge so I decided that later this year we will be taking part in the London Bridges Walk in July for Kidney Research UK.iu

In the UK there are approximately 3.25 million people living with chronic kidney disease stages 3-5 and a further 3.9 million people are estimated to have CKD stages 1-2, together that’s a total of 7.2 million people living with kidney disease in the UK, that’s more than 10% of the entire population, only research can change this.

Now whilst strictly speaking I never had kidney disease.

I had stage 4 cancer or to use the proper diagnosis Metastatic renal cell carcinoma but as well as charities that work with those who have cancer I can identify with those who have kidney related illnesses.

In fact I’ve very proud to be a patron of Popham Kidney support along with Lee Trundle and Mike Hedges MS

The charity organises a Walking for Health Group to help people affected by kidney disease to enjoy the benefits of walking. 

Their motto is Move a Little, Gain a Lot!

My Summer challenge is not quite the London Marathon but it takes me around some of my favourite parts of London.

Starting at the Embankment along the Hungerford Bridges, Westminster Bridge past the London Eye onto Waterloo, Blackfriars Bridges past St Pauls Cathedral then its the Millennium and Southwark Bridges.

The walk finishes by crossing London and Tower Bridge and is just seven miles in total, well short of the 26.2 miles of the London Marathon 

I’m told that to even tackle a short distance needs preparation and training.

So I’ve registered to take part in 5k Your Way!

5k Your Way, Move Against Cancer is a community-based initiative aiming to encourage those living with and beyond cancer, families, friends and those working in cancer services to walk, jog, run, cheer or volunteer at a local 5k Your Way parkrun event on the last Saturday of every month.

The charity is a supportive community that inspires and empowers people impacted by cancer to live an active & fulfilling lifestyle.

There’s a few options to choose from with 5k events at Llyn Llech Owain, Swansea Bay, Brynaman, Gnoll.

So for now it’s about fundraising! 

I understand that last year’s event raised a huge amount of essential funds for Kidney Research UK and as every bit helps let the challenge begin!

Kidney disease ends here!