Get Ready To Run!

New blog alert!

2008-03-28T02:21:00.001-07:00

Yet another blog to clog up the net but I will try and make it informative. It will cover family life, music, Stoke City FC, politics…anything really that tickles my fancy! Also I will use it as another way to plug GRTR! and the fine bands/music out there :)
Please feel free to comment as otherwise it is like talking to yourself which is never a healthy thing…
Best wishes,
Jason

2007-07-09T02:40:00.000-07:00

Dear all,
The sun was shining as we set off on a 10K run of two laps around the wonderful Regent's Park, running past flower beds, Andrew Flintoff approved pedalos, kamikaze ducks and squirrels and boy was it hot out there! Mind you I highly recommend taking up running/jogging as I 've lost 6lbs in training and have definitely got the running craze back in my system.

The winner came in at just over 33 minutes (I reckon he cheated and took a short cut!) and I finished in 1hr 11mins 55 secs which I am very pleased with as this was my first race since 2002 and moving house last weekend was maybe not the best preparation :) I also beat four of the ten runners dressed as bananas out on the course.

832 1:11:55 RITCHIE, Jason Senior Men (less of the Senior if you don't mind!)

982 finishers (1,005 started) with the last time being one of the ten bananas on the course - these runners are all cancer survivors - in 1hr 41mins.

Race results

Fundraising - So far the total raised is £705 which has already beaten my target of £500. For those who have pledged on the sponsor forms I will be collecting your monies in the next month or you can send me cheques - please e-mail me if you wish to do the latter.

If you have not and still wish to sponsor me please do either here or via PayPal on papa_bear70@hotmail.com or by cash/cheque/Postal Order

Running blog

Thank you ALL for such wonderful support and donations. The money raised for the Parkinson's Disease Society will be split 50/50 - half to the local support groups based in Staines and Stoke-on-Trent and the other half towards funding the Parkinson's nurses nationwide.

Now what to run next? I am open to suggestions but please no marathons ;)

Best wishes ,
Jason Ritchie

About the charity I am raising funds for -

The Parkinson’s Disease Society (PDS) provide vital work in not only research into the disease but fund Parkinson’s Disease Nurse Specialists (there are currently 200 in the UK) and help run over 300 support groups and local branches throughout the UK. Many people know someone who has Parkinson’s and although there is no cure as yet with the help of medicine and local support groups the lifestyle of people with Parkinson’s has been greatly improved although more funds are still needed to keep up the results achieved so far.

2007-05-17T02:07:00.001-07:00

Fundraising forum open to all (also features bands who have helped raise money for charities)

Radio Wey interview

2007-05-08T02:01:00.000-07:00

On Monday 7th May myself and my daughter were interviewed about my fundraising and the race on local hospital radio station Radio Wey. We appeared on the Anything Goes with Clive Stevens and I have to say it was good fun, although nerve wracking!
My daughter enjoyed it as well being on the radio and the only slight disappointment for her was the size of the radio station, bless her she was exopecting something bigger. Hospital radio is entirely self funded and they provide a very good service so pop along to their website.

2007-05-04T14:58:00.000-07:00

As a thank you to everyone who sponsors me they will be entered into a draw and could win -

- £20 WHS gift card
- Outback Steakhouse meal vouchers
- Cineworld Cinema gift vouchers
- Signed mini-cricket bat by the 2006 squad of the Surrey County Cricket Club
- For the rock fans amongst you signed CD's/t-shirts from Glyder, American Dog & Credo

Thanks to Surrey County Cricket Club, Outback Steakhouse, Cineworld Cinemas for their prize donations.

BIG thanks to the following

2007-05-04T01:19:00.000-07:00

One of my readers from the Classic Rock Newswire group I run has kindly put aside one of the 'Dress down Fridays' they have at their workplace for the Parkinson's Disease Society. It is on Friday 13th July and they rasied £175 which HBOS matched so a whopping £350 for the PDS. BIG thanks then to Julie Bootland and her work colleagues at ComputerCall staff at HBOS Plc Pudsey. Link HBOS

EBay auctions

2007-04-27T04:35:00.000-07:00

I am also raising funds via EBay for the PDS (charity auctions are marked by a ribbon) and you can view the latest ones here -

Charity EBay auctions

Total raised is £139

Parkinson's Awareness week

2007-04-19T07:29:00.000-07:00

It is this week!
As well as a fundraising blog I thought I would post articles about Parkinson's and in particular ones with a positive outlook. Here is an interesting interview with a local group organizer.

Thanks to the following bands/artists/authors who have donated raffle items and/or plugged my fundraising...

2007-04-15T12:13:00.000-07:00

Glyder a superb Irish rock band following in the tradition of Thin Lizzy,
Michael Hannon & American Dog a band who rock like the legendary Motorhead,
Staffs based melodic rock band Tara's Secret,
Get Ready To Rock! the leading website for all things rock and metal,
please add this MySpace site,
Radio Wey a local hospial radio satation based at St Peter's hospital in Chertsey, Surrey,
singer/songwriter Chris Singleton who has written some pop rock gems on his debut album 'Twisted City',
former Ozzy Osbourne/Beggars and Thieves
Phil Soussan whose rather good solo album 'Vibrate' is out now
female acoustic/indie/folk band Waking the Witch
SIGN have very kindly donated some goodies, these include a signed t-shirt, signed CD and more! Sign have recently completed a UK tour with The Wildhearts
Nick Barrett & Pendragon who kindly donated two signed CD's and a t-shirt
Angel Air Records who re-issue and release for the first time many gems from bands such as Mott the Hoople, Gillan and their related offshoots

2007-04-15T02:32:00.000-07:00

From the PDS website

2007-04-14T14:29:00.000-07:00

Parkinson's is a progressive neurological condition affecting movements such as walking, talking, and writing. It is named after Dr. James Parkinson (1755-1824), the London doctor who first identified Parkinson's as a specific condition.

Parkinson's occurs as result of a loss of nerve cells in the part of the brain known as the substantia nigra. These cells are responsible for producing a chemical known as dopamine, which allows messages to be sent to the parts of the brain that co-ordinate movement. With the depletion of dopamine-producing cells, these parts of the brain are unable to function normally.

SIGNS AND SYMPTONS

The symptoms of Parkinson's can be classified as motor and non-motor. Motor symptoms define Parkinson's, with three primary features:

1. Tremor - which usually begins in one hand. This is the first symptom for 70% of people with Parkinson's.

2. Slowness of movement (bradykinesia) - people with Parkinson's may find that they have difficulty initiating movements or that performing movements takes longer.

3. Stiffness or rigidity of muscles - problems with activities such as standing up from a chair or rolling over in bed may be experienced.

Various non-motor symptoms may also be experienced, for example:
sleep disturbances
constipation
urinary urgency
depression
Parkinson's is a very individual condition, with each person experiencing different symptoms.

CAUSES

In Parkinson's there is a loss of nerve cells in the part of the brain known as the substantia nigra.

These cells are responsible for producing a chemical known as dopamine, which allows messages to be sent to the parts of the brain that co-ordinate movement.

With the depletion of dopamine-producing cells, these parts of the brain are unable to function normally.

When about 80%of the dopamine has been lost, the symptoms of Parkinson's appear and the level of dopamine will continue to fall slowly over many years.

The reason why the loss of dopamine occurs in the brains of people with Parkinson's is currently unknown. Most researchers believe it is likely that many factors play a role in causing Parkinson's. Areas of research into the cause include genetics and environmental factors.

Genetic research
Scientists have, to date, identified nine genes linked to Parkinson's, of which the parkin gene is most commonly associated with the familial form of Parkinson's. Abnormalities in this gene are particularly prevalent with young-onset Parkinson's disease.
Research will also help to understand which factors are involved in the formation, survival and death of dopamine-producing neurons.

Environment research
There is some evidence that environmental factors (toxins) may cause dopamine-producing neurons to die, leading to the development of Parkinson's. Several toxins have been shown to cause Parkinson's-like symptoms.

There may also be a link between use of herbicides and pesticides and the development of Parkinson's.

To find out more about current research and more please visit the Parkinson's Disease Society website.

Hello

2007-04-14T11:19:00.000-07:00

Welcome, thank you for coming onto this website. Please donate some money for Parkinson's Disease.
I am running the Bananaman Chase 10K on Sunday 8th July 2007 starting at Regent's Park.
Remember don't keep this blog to yourself spread the word!