Posts Tagged ‘bookblog’

Camino 4 Cancer - Take the Challenge

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

It seems like a lifetime since my last blog where I talked about my ambition to complete the Camino 4 Cancer to raise funds for Cancer Research – so many things have happened.

Website

Thanks to the kind donation of time and resource from Dan at That Computer Guy – Dan has volunteered to prepare a specific site for Camino 4 Cancer along with the donation of hosting the site over next few months, thanks Dan for being part of the team, check him out at  http://thatcomputerguy.net.au/ 

The website itself is starting to come along and we hope to have it up and running in the next 3 weeks so that the online donations can start rolling in.

Cancer Council Endorsement

The cancer council responded within a matter of days in relation to our endeavour to complete the gruelling 1,247 kilometres trek across Spain and on to Portugal, we have submitted a formal proposal and await a further speedy response, thanks Melissa for your help – appreciate you keeping the red tape to minimal levels.

Celebrities

We have invited Christina Applegate, Olivia Newton John and Ronan Keating to becoming involved with the promotion of our event, you may be aware that these celebrities have had their own personal challenges in respect of this disease and have worked wonders in setting up foundations and research facilities to continue the fight – great effort guys don’t hold back. If anyone has any contact with any other profile people that would like to be involved in supporting the venture please put them in touch with me contact@bookblog.com.au 

Personal Stories/Guest Blogging

As a guest blogging initiative we would like as many people as possible to contribute their own personal battle victory or encounter with this disease. Your story may be of comfort to others or help challenge the community to make donations – you can remain anonymous or had a personal reference. Alternatively if you wish to submit an article in respect of cancer which you would like to share with the world please do not hesitate to do so and we will post it on the site to reach as many people as possible.

Training

Well……..Easter is always full of yummy chocolates and warm toasted, mouth watering, waist bulging hot cross buns. What can I say, I enjoyed it all! Now the toll has to be paid. I have started my new eating regime – I considered that if I was going to be raising funds for cancer it would be a good idea to alter my eating patterns and become more healthy in my outlook to food (red wine I so miss you already – I know I can still have a couple …but in moderation). I am now working out 3 times a week on the weights in the gym and 3 times a week pounding the pavement in my runners, phew reminds me I’m a little tired today.  Anyway starting statistics ….. mmm feel a little self conscious but anyway opening weight is 78 kilograms of good solid me…target 6 kilograms less than what I am – unless of course the muscle is heaver lol.

Planning

Started my first book in relation to the Camino – not much to say yet – but seems like a long way to go and man those blisters are scary.

Volunteers

Anybody who has time to be a volunteer to help with the venture, you are welcome. If you are a business I will endeavour to plug your business as much as possible.

There are many things to do – some can be as little as 5 minutes a day to promote our event – all shapes sizes and desires.

Thanks so far to the following people:

Dan – That Computer Guy

Therese

Selina

Pauline

I need somebody to design me a funky T Shirt for the Camino 4 Cancer which I can merchandise and also give more identity to where we are going – please contact me via contact@bookblog.com.au

That’s all for now – Good Times – Dave Hibbins – book blog – book reviews and fund raiser

Camino for Cancer - Walk across Spain on to Portugal

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

Today I start on one of my most ambitious projects to date. I am going to walk from St Jean Pier De Pont in France to Santiago De Compostella in Spain and then via Finisterre to Portugal.

Why? Aside from my commitments with the day job (have to pay the bills), my writing work, the degree I’m studying part time at university, charity work for murder victims, blogging, family commitments, holding up my side of the bookshop, Spanish classes and author events I just don’t have enough to do?!. The why is more than that, I am using this spiritual passage of growth to raise minimum of $ 100,000 for the Australian Cancer Society. Too many families, too many children, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters suffer from the effects of cancer. I want to help and this is the way that I have chosen.

When? I have booked my tickets and will arrive in France on 15th March next year and have reserved a little over 3 months to complete the journey.

I will be paying for all of my own out of pocket expenses so every dollar that I raise goes directly to Cancer research and does not become lost on the way. Working on an official endorsement etc by the Cancer Council to ensure that everyone has the assurance to donate etc

I will be blogging about my training, planning and fund raising over the next 350 days hoping to share the journey and the milestones.

If anybody has any experiences they want to share about fundraising, general lunacy or walking the Camino please comment here or seek me out on twitter @bookblog1.

You want to come and help - feel free to do so - happy to have thousands of walking companions. Otherwise please circulate the event to as many people as you possibly can so that we can start getting  those donations rolling in.

If this does not help, think about the following, and I mean really think about it. Yesterday I was listening to the radio on the way to the day job - a local station on the Gold Coast Sea Fm. They broadcast the plight of a family here on the Gold Coast - the father has a rare form of cancer which he started suffering from - I think about 8 years ago. Recently his son has also started suffering from the same disease. Incredibly sad and also it is seriously not right. Listening to the bravery of Dad on the radio talking as a matter of fact about his experiences to date and then imagining how I would feel to see my son about to suffer from same insidious affliction. It would tear me apart. These stories are repeated from town to town, city to city, state to state and from country to country. As a human race we have had combat with many types of nasties, some we have been successful at researching and defeating others we are still trying to find the right strategy. One thing is certain by pulling together we can defeat diseases; look at the successes we have already had in the past. It is possible.  Victory will take money and resources though. So help me, and by doing that, help us all fight the good fight. 

Good Times

David Hibbins bookblog - book review extraordinaire

Reunions - Love & Laughter - Bookblog

Monday, March 29th, 2010

On Sunday at 9:30am our French exchange student, Aude, arrived. Wondrously I made it out of bed to pick her up from the school after enjoying a combined 40th and 30th birthday party on Saturday night. Hidden behind dark sunglasses and copious amounts of breath freshener my daughter and I arrived at the school with a few minutes to spare (phew). I am not sure whether it was the litres of vodka, lime and soda that I somehow managed to pour into my body or something else, but seeing the kids meet with their counterparts from France brought a tear to my eye and emotions to my sleeve. Standing in the warm sunlight I started to yearn for those years where the simple things in life hold wonder, if only I could have the same knowledge and retain that wonder of the world. Watching the children started me thinking about some of the movies and books that I have read about reunions, the conclusion that I came up with, for my favourite Reunion story is funnily enough Reunion by Andrea Goldsmith.

This novel (Reunion) is set in Melbourne, Australia and is about the journey of four friends whose friendship has withstood the trials of life after university. Four friends are brought back together via a new foundation created by one of the friend’s husbands. Emotionally charged and packed full of elaborate plot, and more twists and turns than fighter pilot has in a dog fight. Essentially though, it is a story of relationships and the frailty of us humans that go to make up those connections. 

Parties: I’m not sure how everyone else feels but I have this problem of age, it seems each time I celebrate a birthday I am also reminded that this passing of time does not allow me to celebrate all night like a teenager, well at least when I try it takes me a day and a half to recover. Famous words - “I’m never going to do that again” seem to be popping out of my mouth all to regularly lately. Anyway Happy Birthday again to James and Katherine you are both wonderful people and hope that you  enjoy many more fantastic  times - just not at the Grand Hotel at 2:30 am in the morning (with me anyway).

I finished a couple more book reviews on the weekend - most importantly the review for Mr Rosenblum’s List. I read this book a couple of weeks ago while on holiday and it added that special ingredient to my time away that will be treasured. Natasha Solomon again I say - Great Work! Give me more.

Okay, thanks again for taking time to send me emails and comments about the blogging experience - I do have quite a few reviews to post from our contributors and will work this content management site out this week so that I can do same.

Good Times.

David Hibbins - bookblog - appreciating the written word

Book Review Competition

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

Make sure you submit your monthly book reviews to have a chnace in the cash prizes