Jul 26, 2018 at 07:54 pm

FInal Stretch

Update posted by Fiona Brindley

Hello Everybody! Or those who still happen to be following my ramblings and updates! I haven't written a blog post for a while but mainly because I had an exam to get through for my open uni course and now I have my results and know I passed! Such a relief to know that I won't have to resit the exam in September! A weight off my mind!

Also I had the matter of our little holiday while Jon raced his Ironman in June. It felt strange to be doing less and sometimes I was full of guilt that I should be doing more but sometimes it's just how things work out. I know even during that busy period I was still working full time, studying, running enough to keep the legs working and doing my work for my beloved TA cats on the social media side. I enjoy being busy anyway and hate to sit and waste time. So the more I have to do the better for me!

Now I'm free I really need have stepped up on my running to make sure I've done enough by the time I reach the start line. The weather has not been kind to me with such warm and humid days. Making it bearable now on the shorter runs but when I know I have a long session it does weigh on my mind. I'm not complaining I'm just telling how it is. These things are part of the journey to where I need to get to in order to complete this mammoth task ahead but I know any difficult days mean the race is more manageable as I can remember how I felt and those moments will become my strength. To know I can and will finish this with a smile on my face.

I am just looking forward now to race day and getting the job done!!! The training as I said is the hardest part! It will be 9 whole months by the time I reach that start line. Amazing journey and honestly I could not have gotten this far without the support and kindness of my amazing friends and the donations which keep coming and making me so humbled and more determined to continue!

My husband has also been amazing for me! He himself will be running the 50 Mile race on the exact same day. He has completed it before but he wants to beat his time. I am in awe of him!!!! He is my strength and this year we have faced some really difficult times together and it has not been an easy year but then what year is? I always say together we are stronger and he is not just my husband. He is my best friend and my soulmate. I love him so much and every day he inspires me to be my very best! Always a better version of myself.

I haven't written about my sweet Lumachina during this blog and I really should. I guess I still was in denial for a long time that she was really gone. That I never would have the chance to meet her. I still remember the day I received the message that she was gone. Maybe I expected it but I was always hopeful and I always believed she was a fighter.

Life can be so cruel and that is what hurts the most. To know everything she had gone through to finally be in the best place she could ever have been and yet it was for such a small period of time. It hurts my heart. I wish things could be so different. She overcame so much in such a short time. To be so scared from everyone to not allow anyone to touch her to become so strong that she found her own way to live. In her triangle area of cat litter, beds and food to overcome so much. To become social and mix with the other cats and finally to accept the love she so truly deserved.

She was a little hero and she touched my heart so much. A beautiful soul and I thank Mari-Ann for capturing so many beautiful photos of her which I'm so lucky to have been sent and even one is on my desk at work so I can see her everyday. Next to my Delacroix and my Gianburrasca mousemat and my Posiedone screensaver. My little family. Lumachina really deserved more and life was cruel to keep that from her like so many others too but she passed knowing love and kindness, she had a name and she was not alone. I know a piece of her will remain with me always. Thank you my little snail for gracing my life and enriching it.

I always believe if we can learn something from all of these cats then their life had purpose and meaning. They live on in us for sure!

Anyway my goal now is to reach the £2000 mark and today I have hit £1950 and every single penny goes to the Torre Argentina to save more lives and enrich the ones who are there and who have not yet arrived! Summer is a difficult period for the TA because so many people go on holidays and leave their animals behind... soon an influx of cats abandoned and injured by cars when left to roam the streets fending for themselves. So awful and quite unbelievable to imagine that in this day in age this behaviour goes on.

So we do what we can and we continue! I will do my best to fly the TA flag and raise awareness when I can. I will carry on running too and I can't wait to run through the finish line on my final journey! All in the memory of my Gianburrasca, Posiedone and my Lumachina.

Thanks for your never ending support! Kindness and love! You are all amazing and I am so lucky indeed!!! Xxxxx

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