Tne end in sight

On 1 October, two months after setting off for the rain soaked mountains of Iceland, three final donations brought my total up to the £3100 target I'd set out to reach a year ago.

Two big events, sponsorship from countless generous friends, relatives and colleagues, a beauty sale and a gruelling 100km slog through Iceland; it's been a brilliant experience, particularly reaching that final goal and realising just how well Macmillan would spend that money.

I can say no more than a huge, huge thank you to everyone who sponsored me, came to an event or bothered to read about my Icecapades.

A little help from the beautiful ones

With only £600 to the final total I was contemplating lots of ways to raise the remaining funds, a cake sale, rattling a tin on the street, selling a day's holiday at work. But combined with a ridiculous work schedule as we set about relaunching the Macmillan website, the goal to reach £3100 before the end of September seemed just out of reach.

Recalling the wise words of those fundraisers who've come before me, I figured a little networking and reliance on old colleagues and friends couldn't hurt, and I managed to convince my flatmate (and ex-colleague) to hold a beauty sale at her office in aid of Macmillan. Now the fact that I used to work at one of the most glamorous publishing houses in the country certainly paid off, as the lovely girls at Conde Nast managed to buy up £545 worth of beauty products, all in the name of charity, bringing me just £34 off my target!

The moral of the story: go through your contact book and ask everyone you know to help if they can, you'll be amazed at what you might find and just how amazingly fabulous old friends and colleagues can be- thanks girls!

Macmillan Music hits The Queen's Head

So I admit... I've been bad with writing the rest of my blog- after the excitement of Iceland and my final big event, I lost the momentum slightly. It's been a long stretch, but the sense of achievement is worth it in the end. One word of advice to anyone thinking of doing this sort of thing- it's easier to fundraise before you go away rather than afterwards.
But back to the gig that I held in August. With £1000 left to raise I was hoping this event would break the back of it all, and thanks to the help of lots of fabulous people it certainly helped, raising over £440.

Firstly huge thanks to:

Jack J, Ana, Sharon, Eva, Pete, Folu, the bands and DJs on the night- Andrew Balkwill, Super Tennis, Zoo for You and Phoebe and Anna-Marie, the guys at the venue and lastly all those fantastic people who came along on the night. The room was packed out and the petty cash box overflowing.

In the few moments before the gig began I don't think I've ever felt so nervous, which wasn't exactly alleviated by the fact that the event (and unphotogenic old me)were being filmed for Leapanywhere.com (if you fancy a giggle you can see my attempts at stardom here: http://www.leapanywhere.com/media/show/1333).

But soon enough the room filled up and Andrew and his band took to the stage, wooing the crowd with simple jazz melodies and catchy riffs. Next came crowd pleasers Zoo for You, an eight piece afro-funk band with punchy brass section and at least two encores. The final live act was indie three piece, Super Tennis, already tipped for the top by NME magazine. Finally Phoebe and Anna-Marie rounded the evening off on the decks, with crowd-pleasing retro tunes.

A massively fun, if daunting night, a little part of me was pretty proud of what we'd all accomplished - so a huge thank you to everyone that helped out before and during the event.

Macmillan Music Jam -25th August

So the date's set, all the bands are in and the poster's have been fabulously designed by one talented Ana Nicolau... now all that's left is for you lovely people to attend.

Details are:

With live performances from:

Super Tennis

Pamflet DJs

Zoo for You

Andrew Balkwill

Doors open:

7pm-midnight

Address:

The Old Queen's Head, 44, Essex Rd, N1 8LN Angel tube station

£5 Buy tickets in advance at www.justgiving.com/jenthorley

All proceeds to Macmillan Cancer Support

You can find out more and see the map to the venue here:

http://www.facebook.com/editpicture.php?success=1#/event.php?eid=132229782552

Back from the land of fire and ice

So it's been a week since my return from Iceland and I think I'm just about beginning to recover. Well I'm on the fourth load of washing, just about able to look in a mirror again and my walking boots are still hanging outside my bedroom window as the smell has not subsided, but all in all I feel like I'm back in the real world.

Iceland was like nothing else, the hardest but also most fulfilling and challenging thing I have ever done, and I could bore you for hours with a day by day account of what I did thought and ate (actually that wouldn't take long - we ate bread), but I reckon I'll keep it short(ish).

Day one:

Since I was going on my own, rocking up to the airport, rucksack on the back was a nerve wracking enough experience, but the sea of green Macmillan t-shirts and friendly faces put me at ease. As nervous introductions and those awkward, tentative jokes began we headed for the plane (stopping en route at Duty Free for a little tipple, to keep us warm at night of course).

My first impressions of Iceland were beautiful - an eery landscape, almost moonlike in quality, with white fishing huts dotted around the hills. Heading into Rekyjavik we did spot a few Taco Bells, Subways and of course Ikea, but the city still maintained a quaint, old fashioned air. After meeting our new room/tent mates for the week (hello Lizzie B!) and a briefing we headed off for our final sleep in a decent bed.

Day Two:

The first of many early starts to come and we headed off to the hills for our first walk up an active volcano, Hekla. In the first five minutes was a ridiculously steep vertical climb and I think everyone started to think, oh god, what have we done? but after a while, with the sun shining and a lot of chatter with everyone on route, it started to get rather pleasant- this was going to be easy! Ah false sense of security, within 5 minutes of reaching the campsite (and if you ever want to see disappointment in its purest form, watch the faces of Icelandic families seeking solitude in the wilderness when they see a team of 60 people with 30 tents turn up to ruin the peace at their campsite) the heavens opened... and didn't really close again for the next week.

Yes, as I'm sure you've all heard from me by now, the defining point of this trip was the weather... pelting rain, 45mph winds and a cold dampness that invaded every bone. The beautiful sun of the first few days was replaced by these delights until we were forced down from the mountain on the fourth day because of storms.

Day three-

After a first night in the tents (a stint

at Glastonbury this year did little to prepare me for the freezing cold night and a less than adequate sleeping bag... reminder to pay far more attention to the kit list in the future) we set off for a 7 hour trek through some beautiful mountains, past vast lakes and with the sun breaking through for much of the day. Although challenging, the hike was really fun, and everyone had the chance to chat and get to know each other along the way.

With aching feet we approached our second campsite, where, -in rain again- we pitched tents and soaked our sore muscles in the natural hot springs until the wee small hours.

Day four-

The longest day of the trek was also by far the hardest, with ten grueling hours of hiking/scrambling 1100 metres up on mountain ridges, complete with snow, sleet, 45mph winds and a severe lack of waterproofs (again, note to self, obey the kit list.)

Now perhaps the day is over I can look back on it more fondly, and I can say that it was the hardest day of my life physically with the cold, mud and wet, but the sense of getting through it, of helping others clamber up the rocks and of finally completing the day, actually made it worth it. After all, we weren't in Iceland for a holiday - it was meant to be a challenge. The team were incredible, running up and down the hills to help people get through and keeping everyone's spirits up. That night, camping on sodden mossy ground in wet tents and wet clothes, I think everyone felt that we were really earning that sponsorship money.

Day five and six-

As the rain and winds hadn't subsided and storm warnings were being sent out across the mountain range the decision was wisely made by the team to leave the area and find a safer place to trek. As luck would have it Tiny managed to find a ski hut in the Blue Mountains that had dorm rooms to stay out of the rain and dry our clothes for the first time in four days... still no shower but I can tell you that feeling warm and sleeping on a mattress (even with 30 snoring people around you) was utter bliss. Everyone was able to relax a little and enjoy a drink and dinner together.

Unfortunately the weather thwarted our attempts to trek the next day too... with thick fog making it impossible to see our hand in front of our faces (honestly the weather is normally beautiful in Iceland at this time, we were just unlucky!) so we visited the Blue Lagoon instead, and prepared ourselves for a final day of trekking the next day.

Day 7-

The final day of trekking saw us heading up a volcano in that ever present rain and wind again in what was perhaps the hardest climb of the trip. In my usual clumsy way I managed to fall at least five times and rip my new waterproof trousers (purchased a little too late for the earlier part of the trip) but it was great to finish on a hike and a high. With warm soup in our bellies and stinky trekking boots firmly encased in plastic sacks to be disposed of, we headed back to Reykjavik fora celebratory dinner (puffin and shark anyone?)

The meal itself was rather poignant actually, as we all realised that the trek was almost over and much of the talk focused on what we had been through and why we were taking part. When Tiny handed out T-shirts and we all clapped and cheered the amazing crew I'm not sure there was a dry eye in the house. After that it was on to celebrate even harder, hitting the incredible bars that Reykjavik has to offer until the sun came up.

Day 8-

Our final day in Reykjavik was spent snooping around the city (Gay Pride happened to be on, which made it all the more colourful and vibrant) and lots of souvenirs were bought before crawling out of bed at 4am the next morning for the flight home.

My trip to Iceland may have been one of the toughest challenges I've put myself through (anyone who's seen me glare at colleagues for daring to open the window on a cool day will know how cold I get from just the slightest breeze), so gale force winds and drenched clothes were never going to be easy. But I can honestly say it was also incredibly moving, uplifting and actually really, really fun! The people that I met out there pulled you through the bad days, the scenery and walking were breath-taking and the totals that were raised (currently £124,000 for Macmillan) have made it all totally worth it.

You can see lots more photos here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/iceland2009

Going giggin'

Went to visit the gig venue for the first time today. I'm hosting my night at The Old Queen's Head in Angel, a brilliant little pub stuffed full of squashy armchairs and decked out with faux antiques and a great sound system. Liam, the event organiser there, showed me the top floor, where my three bands and the DJs will take to the stage. It's a great venue and can hold 150 people, so hopefully we'll be able to fill the place for Macmillan on 25 August. Well be publicising it soon, so look out for the posters soon.

One last bit of news, the third band has been confirmed- Zoo for You http://www.myspace.com/zooforyou - some local lads from my hometown - cheers guys and a big thanks to Jack Joslin, their manager and all round fab guy who's been helping me out with all this gig stuff.

1 week to go

The passport has finally arrived, my ridiculously pricey travel insurance is booked and my lovely parents have sent the last of my trekking stuff from home so it looks as though I'm good to go a week tomorrow. There's the small matter of a huge lack of training, but I'm bound to get a few good walks in this weekend and the boots are as worn in as they will ever be. I have bought Superdrug out of blister plasters.  I'm starting to get very nervous; about the walking, lack of showers and most of all 6 nights in a tent with a stranger, but it's a excited nervous.

When it comes to fundraising, things are also moving along nicely. I took my friend Ana, a fabulous graphic designer, for coffee today to discuss the posters and leaflets that she has generously offered to make up for my music gig. The date is set - 25 August 2009 and I am just finalising the details with the venue before I head off to Iceland. I'll pop the poster on here as soon as it's done so you can take a look. Lots to do, lots to do. 

PS: Just a quick thank you to everyone that's helped me raise almost £2000 already... it's an amazing amount and amazingly generous of you all. I know I work at Macmillan so you might thing there's a tiny bit of bias, but working there really does give me an opportunity to see everything that they do and they really are a fantastic charity, that are doing amazing work to support the two million people living with cancer in the UK  and their families. So, if you've actually managed to keep reading this blog for this long and haven't died of boredom yet, and you're feeling like doing your annual charitable goodness, the sponsorship link is on the right!

Exhausted

I am suffering from a particularly strenuous weekend, in which I walked for miles, played tennis, ran, then walked the length of North London. This is about ten times the usual amount of exercise I do and resulted in severe dehydration and a sleepless night (the drama queen emerges!) The worrying thing is that this was only two days... and Iceland will be 6. Best get back on it then.

Beg, borrow or steal

Now some who know me well, would say I'm a pretty organised person, the type who likes to plan every detail of their holidays four months in advance or make sure they get friends to save the date for a party 4 weeks before it actually happens. Yes, it's more fun to live life on the edge, but I can't help it if I enjoy the anticipation of an event just as much as the event itself.

So when I realised the trek was just three weeks away and I hadn't even looked at the recommended packing list I had the mildest of panic attacks. I don't have ANYTHING I need.. not a thing. Well I have a sleeping bag, but the lining has been ripped to shreds, and a camping mat but it's hardly the Thermo-moulding one I was recommended (Lidl's own was such a bargain!)

And it's not just the gear I'm missing... I haven't done a shred of exercise since my 10k three weeks ago and have just found out that my annual travel insurance (smugly bought a week ago to supposedly save money) doesn't cover me for a week's intense trekking. What has happened to the girl my friends used to call Monica Gellar?!

I have no one to blame for this lack of preparation but myself, as I have been preoccupied by a trip to Glastonbury and my 26th birthday, (which stretched into a week long celebration as these things tend to do.) So now it's time to knuckle down and sort my life out... I'm off to Kathmandu - (the trekking shop not the place - that would just add to my travelling traumas) to purchase all the essentials and beg, borrow or steal the rest. As my friend Lorenzo told me today (as he fished for a mention on my blog!) I have to stop partying and start training, so it's a run home for me tonight and a night spent organising - (now where's that color-coded filing system?)

Keep on running

So yesterday was the day of the Macmillan 10K run, something I signed up for months ago and figured that I had plenty of time to reach the 6 miles needed to breeze over the finish line... it's amazing how those weeks flew by and all of a sudden I was faced with the prospect of doubling my personal best for distance and time, yikes.

Luckily for me the conditions were perfect, cloudy with a light breeze and the setting of Regent's Park just interesting enough to keep me going round the course the three times (looking out for animals in the monkey cages of London Zoo certainly made the final straight that little bit easier)

It was the first time Macmillan has held a 10k race of its own, so it was small, but perfectly formed. The support around the course was brilliant, if not a little embarrassing when people you've vaguely seen around the office start calling out your name as it's printed on the front of your shirt. Boyfriend, friend and even my bosses zoomed away at the beginning of the pack, but I kept my pace slow and steady, with only the Ipod to keep my concentration.

Amazingly, and I'm still not quite sure how this happened, I managed to run the whole way and made it across the line in 1 hour 4 minutes. In true Jen style I celebrated with a glass of wine at lunch, not realising the effects that would have on my already dehydrated body, but I reckon I deserved it.

As promised, sweaty photos to give those who sponsored me a laugh... anyone out there still feeling generous - http://www.justgiving.com/jenthorley

Bands galore!

Well, it's been about over a month since I had my first planning meeting with Jack to arrange my fundraising gig, and it's amazing how something that started off so slowly can come together so quickly (fingers crossed anyway!) I spent three weeks chasing bands and leads and pleading with everyone I knew to ask their friends, friends of friends and neighbour's ex girlfriend's brothers and so forth and got nowhere. A brief spark of 'oh my god, I am the female version of Simon Cowell' came when I thought I had bagged an act on the cusp of her fame, but alas, she just became that bit too famous for the likes of me! Although if I run into her after her set at Glastonbury I will be asking her again.

So after a lot of emails and a little bit of bribery on the part of my Big Sis, (thanks Kat!) who bartered a performance for a web address the artist was after, I pretty much got my line up together in a week. There's still one spot to fill but I can officially announce that the following will be playing at a venue (to be confirmed) for Macmillan:

Phoebe Frangoul... DJ and all round fabulous Pamflet crusader: http://www.myspace.com/pamflet

Andrew Balkwill and band... think Ben Folds 5, with floppier hair

http://www.myspace.com/andrewbalkwill

and the fabulous Super Tennis... a London indie trio already applauded by NME and Rocksound

http://www.myspace.com/supertennislovesyou

There may well be a late addition to the line up, but I'll keep you posted on that one.

So this weekend it's all about finding the venue, and I'll be using that as a great excuse for a pub crawl in Camden this weekend.

Training update: an impromptu 100m relay and long jump participation at the Macmillan sports day on Wednesday has shown just how many muscles I don't use on a regular basis and has put me out of action for the last couple of days. However, as the 10k is only two weeks away, I'll be forcing myself to complete a 4.5 mile run on Sunday, hangover or no hangover. Bring it on!

Ouch

Celebrated the beautiful weather by dragging myself out of bed at the crack of dawn on Saturday (well 8am... but that's super-early for most 25 year olds with nothing better to do on the weekend), and heading off for a run in my new local park. Yes, to add to my training, fundraising and gig organising I decided moving flats would also be a good way to use up a bit more of that spare time I have!

But it is lovely, a sunny beautiful place... unfortunately I also discovered it has a big fat hill. The first lap was fine, with a steady incline at the beginning to get the heart pumping and a nice gentle slope down to lull me into a false sense of security (and smugness)... but after the first lap of the park, I was back to the hill, and twenty minutes in with the sun beating down, I struggled up the second time, gasping for oxygen and water. I can only describe the pain in my hips that afternoon as worse than childbirth.

BUT.... I did make it around and managed my longest run to date- 39 minutes and 4 miles (well just under, but it sounds better). I'm still a little concerned that my 10k is only three weeks away and I've got to up my running time by at least half an hour but everyone keeps promising me that in race conditions it'll be easier... I'm just praying that Regent's Park is flatter than Brockwell and that it's raining.

A daunting prospect

With only three months to go until the trek, I need to get moving on my second fundraising event and am still really keen on organising a music gig in the summer. A Facebook appeal and some drunken conversations in pubs with more musically connected mates ensued, and a plan is slowly starting to emerge.

Jack, one of my friend's little brothers ( yes, I remember him in short shorts when we were all at school!), is a part time music promoter and DJ and has just generously given up an evening to give me a crash course in promoting an event, and all for the price of a beer. What a star. He's even offered to do some detective work in potential venues for me over the weekend.

So now it's a case of trying to organise acts, venues and dates, with about a two week window if I want a July event date. It's terrifying but exhilarating at the same time. If I can pull it off it could be so much fun, and be a fantastic fundraiser... on the other hand, there's still a very long way to go. So if anyone knows a good band, DJ or venue, let me know.

Training-wise, I did sign up for the Mac 10k, so I've got about 7 weeks to prepare for a really, really long run. And it started so well; two runs in the week, a three mile run at the weekend.. well that was last weekend. This weekend the planned four mile run was replaced by a leftover Easter Creme Egg and a lazy Bank Holiday lunch... oops. Must try harder.

Far too eager for my own good

So I'm a week into my training regime and I've already been for four 2 miles runs, and am feeling just that little bit smug actually. I feel I've earned it though - I've never run 8 miles in a week in my life! I've even discovered that if you don't actually tear off at a sprint and start at a snail's pace instead you don't collapse in a heap after three minutes... yes it did take me 25 years to make this simple discovery. Suddenly I'm feeling like the lithe, athletic sportswoman I always wanted to be at school, who was hiding inside the sweaty, out of breath girl (well a little anyway.)

So this Easter I balanced all the chocolate with some lovely beachside jogs and felt justified in my scoffing. Not only that, but I'm (95%) sure I'm going to sign up for the Macmillan 10k in June, roping in three or four friends to suffer alongside me. The furthest I have ever run is 5k so doubling that is enough of a scare to get me in peak condition for Iceland.

Heading off for another run now - wonder how long this burst of enthusiastic activity is set to last?

16 week countdown... training begins!

Having always been a stubborn girl - my mum could regale you with stories of how I refused to read until my first day at school because "that's what you do there" - I have not been swayed to start my training early by the multitudes of friends who have suggested a little preparation might be a good idea.

Instead I have stuck rigidly to my determined view that the training manual starts on 1st April, so that's when I will start training. And I'm pleased to report that I did start - on the dot, on Wednesday 1st April, adding a 2 mile run homeward to my daily standard of a 2 mile walk (read leisurely stroll usually chatting on the phone) in the morning.

I followed this up with a boxercise class the next day, and yes, whilst my determination to run home again tonight may have been brushed aside swiftly by the offer of some after work drinks with friends, I have promised myself that I'll make up for it this weekend, with another workout, a run and a good brisk walk through London's many sights.

16 weeks is not long a very long time and the fear of mountainous regions, and the fact that as one of the younger members of the team I really should be skipping over those fjords, terrifies the bejeesus out of me. It's time to get physical.

And remember you're still not too late to sponsor me in my quest. The idea of me sweating and puffing up those rolling hills should at least be worth something right? Go on... the buttons just over there on the right. A massive thank you to everyone that's been so generous already, I really do appreciate every pound.

The first milestone!

This afternoon, thanks to a donation from my lovely colleague Rich, I hit the £1200 target, which means that I reached the target that you have to raise before June, which means it's all official!
No turning back now, I'm off to Iceland to trek for Macmillan!

Plus my fabulous Canadian cousin pushed me well over that target two minutes later with a generous donation so thanks to both of you... guess the onus is back on me now... plans for the next event (bigger, better and louder this time round!) need to get under way immediately!... So anyone know any bands about to break into the big time... all suggestions/gig tickets/dodgy venue suggestion gratefully received.

Have a nice weekend everyone x

A very romantic occasion

Some great looking guys, an equal number of hot girls, free sangria and a novice host or two... yes it can only be a Valentine's Speed Dating event!

After a couple of weeks of stressing about numbers... would we have too many girls, or too many boys, did anyone actually see that speed dating could just be quite fun or had I made a horrible judgement call... my first charity event took place on Saturday, at The Windmill in Clapham. Roping in willing, and not so willing, single-but-fabulous friends and friends of friends we descended on a private room in the bar and soon enough the 4 minute conversations were flowing as quickly as the sangria. Yes there was a minor panic attack when I had a room full of eligible boys and no girls to be seen (fashionably late is every girl's prerogative), and there was a minor problem in the fact that with all the excitement I actually forgot to hand out name tags, but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and we managed to raise a good little amount for the Iceland trek to boot.

Big thank yous go to my fantastic friends (Olly, Sharon, Pete and George) who poked and prodded their mates into coming along, bestest housemate Tom who helped me host the event on the night and my sister for producing the gorgeous stationery for the evening.

For my first event it was actually really fun - I can see how people get hooked on all this fundraising malarkey, although I'll be taking a quick break to recover before I start planning the next one.

24 hours to go...

It's one day before my first event (the Valentine's speed dating event) and I must admit I'm cutting it close. The places are now filled (well one or two boys missing, but nothing a scout around the pub on the night shouldn't fix!)and my darling sister has brought up 350 cards and envelopes to give out to the participants which we'll be putting the finishing touches to tonight (surely the best way to spend a Friday night in London?!)

Anyway I'm sure I'll be filling you all in on Sunday... finger's crosses for at least one love-at-first-sight moment!

Time to get training

Or think about it anyway. Had a look at my training manual this morning and apparently by the summer I should be doing 8 hour walks every weekend in preparation... right, that'll be easy in London then. It's times like this I wish I lived in the Lake District. Looks like I'll be trekking around Richmond Park for the majority of the summer instead. Look out for me in my hiking boots!

6 months to go... and I've finally got an event!

So it's been a while since my last blog... but I guess I can use Christmas and a much needed holiday as an excuse for the lack of activity. Anyway it's a new year and the nagging feeling that I'm off in six months is looming ahead of me, so it's time for action!

I've been thinking about events and had a few ideas, and whilst some fall by the wayside when you start thinking about the practicalities of it (a film screening where tickets would have cost about 40 quid to break even, or a five-a-side tournament where renting the pitches would have cost double the money I could have raised) others are starting to form, finally.

So firstly I'm holding a Valentine's speed dating night in Clapham.. .yes it's cheesy, but secretly you know you'd love it , and i think it's going to be really fun. The lovely people at The Windmill, on Clapham Common have lent me their beautiful pub for free and I'll be playing host to 40 of the most eligible bachelors and bachelorettes come Valentine's Day. Have just sent the word out on Facebook so am nervously awaiting my first guests.

And apart from that, I guess I need to start training, ready for those 8 hour days of trekking. Admittedly I'm not the fittest and struggle to run (read jog.... very slowly) for about 20 minutes so it's time to start working on that. I did run home tonight (it's about two miles), but I definitely stopped at the traffic lights for much longer than necessary. Time to break out the training schedule.