Day of the Moonlight Walk

The moonlight walk turned out to be a sunlight walk. The walk was a very pleasant stroll in the late evening sunlight, taking us two hours. We walked the well marshalled route accompanied by bird song.

No other wildlife was to be seen, but then again would you make an appearance if a hundred people were trampling through you habitat.

On our return we were greeted with a lovely hot drink and a goody bag, we even got free t-shirts from previous events.

Thank you for your sponsorship. I raised £177.50.

Walk For Skin Registration Pack

On Thursday my registration pack arrived for Walk for Skin with a lovely blue t-shirt.

Hubby and I will be walking 5 miles, not much of a challenge for us, but then this walk is only about raising awareness for the two skin conditions I have, Alopecia and Lichen Sclerosus and their support groups Alopecia UK and National Lichen Sclerosus Support Group.

I have had alopecia since the age of 4 and last year lost almost all of my hair on the right side of my head, with further bald patches over the remainder and the loss of an eyebrow and most of my eyelashes.

I started Contact Sensitisation Treatment in January 2010. This involves initially applying a strong sensitizer (usually a chemical called diphencyprone) to the skin of a person with alopecia areata to make them allergic to it. Then weaker strengths of the sensitizer are applied to the bald areas every week to produce a mild allergic dermatitis. A worthwhile regrowth will occur in up to 50% of sufferers in about 6 months. The treatment however may produce some severe local reactions. Loss of skin colour (depigmentation) may develop, so it is used with caution on those with dark skin. After several weeks of treatment I am pleased to say that I am beginning to get some re-growth.

My treatment does make my head red and scaly, which becomes itchy, some days all I do is scratch my head

Due to the almost complete hair loss on one side of my head, I decided to shave my hair off entirely. It would have been weird if I had left it as when it began to grow back I would have one long side and one short and ended up looking like the lead singer of Human League in the eighties.

Due to my being on reception all day at work I did not think a bald head gave a good impression so I have bought a wig. It was great looking at different wig styles with my colleagues.

On returning to work on the Monday after I got my wig my colleagues declared that they loved it, they can't believe how great it looks and that it takes no styling.

I was diagnosed with Lichen sclerosus about ten years ago and have regular flare ups and am currently being seen by two different hospital departments, gynaecology and dermatology. As with alopecia there is unfortunately no cure and it is treated with a steroid cream. Symptoms are different for each person, but the itching can drive you insane.

http://www.britishskinfoundation.org.uk/standard.aspx?id=2673
http://www.alopeciaonline.org.uk/index2.asp
http://www.lichensclerosus.org/

Stereophonics

So the 10k Mothers Day Moonlight Walk is only 5 days away and no training whatsoever has taken place, unless you count dancing at a Stereophonics concert.

The Stereophonic were amazing and also had a great stage show. Well worth going to see.

A very interesting and slightly fun video was shown of Kevin Jones, brother of Kelly Jones, in his preparation for his charity event.

http://www.justgiving.com/MrKevinTaffJones

If any of the Stereophonics get to see this I have supported Kevin so check this blog for my charity events and support me please.

Thank you HeyWayne

Hi

This blog has been made possible thanks to HeyWayne, as without his help I would not have got started.

10k Mothers Day Walk in aid of Marie Curie

I saw a leaflet for this walk whilst I was in a sandwich shop last Saturday on the way to donate blood.

Having read the title of the walk, Moonlight Walk, I thought how cool to do a walk at night. I have always been unusual in that I like to be out when others are inside and as a bonus I will also be raising money for charity.

So Hubby and I are signed up and raring to go on our 10K Moonlight Walk.

In memory of:
Doris Earley, my Grandma
Mary Jones, my Nan
Sheila Metcalf, my Auntie
Barry Morgan, an old work colleague who recently past away
Ann MacMillian, a lady to whom I chatted at the allotment.

In celebration of :
Lance Armstrong 7 time winner of the Tour de France and the inspiration for me to get on my bike and when it is either too cold or wet to be out, you will often find me at home watching his dvd "legend of the tour".

Ben Parkhouse keep fighting.

So please dig deep and donate now.

http://www.justgiving.com/Emma-Harris73