Friday, 25 June 2010

June 6th 2010

My partner Mike, my daughter Emily and I arrived in Manchester on a cool drizzly Sunday morning to help out at the 10km walk. By 10.00am, Spinningfields in Manchester was already awash with pink. Marquees were set up and a volunteer team in excess of 100 were busy making preparations. My daughter Emily had sprayed our hair pink and had painted a breast cancer ribbon on our cheeks. Some of the ladies loved the ribbon and asked if she would paint them one too. Lynda, the volunteer co ordinator, saw this as a great opportunity to raise some extra funds. She set Em up with a table near the merchandise stalls and Em became the official face painter for the day!
Over 500 people came and walked that day. Men, women and children wearing the bright pink tutus that Genesis have adopted as their trade mark. Many of them touched by the illness and equally, many of them just supporting a worthwhile cause. Not only did they come in their hundreds to walk, but they paid to do it! It really did restore my faith in human nature.
Many people had come along to see and support Sally Whittaker ( Sally Webster from Coronation Street), who, after researching for her character did find a lump in her breast. She discovered it was cancerous and underwent treatment straight away. Less than a year after her diagnosis, she was helping Genesis once again. Her hair has started to grow back and she was bubbly and full of life and enthusiasm.
After a long day, we headed home. We were all feeling good. It makes you feel that way. Doing something to help others. Not because there is something in it for you but just to help. Em had also gone off around Manchester with a collecting bucket and had raised lots of money. I was very proud of them both...and myself.

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