Alan Gandy

Author Archive

I asked Neil at Rose Road to give a little more information ‘from the horses mouth’, so to speak, about how the money raised through their fundraising are put to good use. I got this extremely nice message of support this morning… Thanks Neil – it’s an honour to be able to help you out in my own small way!

Hi everyone, I’m Neil Wilson the Fundraising Director at Rose Road and can I thank everyone who has supported Alan’s charity walk so far, it really does mean a lot to the children and families who we work with. We have been supporting children with the most complex disabilities for almost 60 years but 2011 is proving particularly difficult as it is for many people. The cuts to budgets are now being felt in the UK and we are doing all we can to protect frontline services even as our fundraising income comes under strain.

The money you donate will help fund respite and care in the community, services which are of vital importance if you have a son or daughter who may be blind and deaf, who may be autistic or epileptic, or have neurological problems linked to digestion and movement. Our children are very special and we aim to ensure they are able to fulfil their potential in life, and offer help for parents and families when challenges arise. Please support Alan’s walk and thank you once again for your generosity.

Neil Wilson

Thanks for the support Neil!

You can find out more about Rose Road and the fantastic work they do via their website at www.roseroad.org.uk. And, of course if you want to sponsor my walk on Friday – do click on the banner below!

In addition to being able to make a donation through JustGiving, you can now sponsor me for my north to south walk in the ‘traditional sense’ at the following places on the island… Read the rest of this entry »

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?” Read the rest of this entry »

The boys!

In training for my walk in February I’ve been paying regular visits to the Princess Yaiza gym, and doing a LOT more walking than I usually do.

The dogs are very happy about getting to spend more time outdoors!

I’ve just got back from the land of snow, darkness and airport chaos… And on the last day at my dad’s place a package arrived for me.

Inside were two t-shirts designed and mad up by the lovely Lou and Jo at Balan Sports. Seems Lou had taken it upon herself to provide me with them for when I do the walk on the 4th of February next year (which put that way sounds so much further away than it is!).

Here’s an unashamed plug for them! Balan Sports provide custom made branded and promotional leisure wear, work wear and sports clothing as well as trophies and all the other sporting paraphernalia you might expect. They supply throughout the UK and can ship internationally (subject to shipping charges of course).

Thank you girls!

If you are here you probably know already I am planning on walking the length of the island on the 4th February 2011, and hoping to raise a bit of money for charity in doing so.

I’m raising money for Niños Tercer del Mundo, and the Rose Road Centre in Southampton. Both of which I feel are extremely worthy causes.

If you wish to sponsor me or contribute to the charities concerned, here’s how you can do so; Read the rest of this entry »

Given the walk I’m planning I’ve wanted all along to tie it in with pulling my finger out and improving my general fitness.

Given that I haven’t been in a gym for about four and a half years, consumed far to much wine and have continued – the fool I am – to smoke, I actually quite surprised myself. Read the rest of this entry »

For a couple of year now I’ve had it in my head that I was going to walk the island from north to south.I measured it by road the other day, and it’s approximately 73km from the port at Orzola to the lighthouse in Playa Blanca.

You know how things are, we say these things and never get around to doing them. I’ve been procrastinating on this one for far too long. So, to stir myself into action, I have decided to use it to hopefully raise a little bit of money for charity. Committing to that forces me to plan for it and name a date.

As you’ve probably guessed by now – the date I’m working towards is the 4th February 2011, which gives me a little time to train for it, and to gain some exposure for my nominated charities;

Niños Tercer del Mundo based here on the island and raising money for children in the third world.

The Rose Road Centre in Southampton who provided a wide range of services to severely disabled children and their families. (A charity suggested by Geoff Holt who, if you remember last year set off from Playa Blanca to become the first quadriplegic to sail unassisted across the Atlantic. Geoff has since become a good friend of ours – I’m a massive fan and wanted to do something to support his work.) Read the rest of this entry »

I’m not the best fisherman by any stretch of the imagination. But I have to say I’m rather proud of this Sea Bass I caught yesterday.

I only go fishing occasionally – but if I can start bringing fish like this home each time I’d be going a lot more often! Read the rest of this entry »

There’s no doubt blogs have changed the lives of many bloggers and blog readers.

From the bloggers point of view it has opened up new ways to earn income – honestly and dishonestly, new ways to promote what they do, new ways to communicate their ideas. The blog platform has given a voice to everyone. It’s got people known, it’s created friendships, it’s made fortunes, and it given a voice to everyone with access to the Internet – good or bad.

From the readers perspective they have access to a wealth of information, ideas and opinions inaccessible previously. I guess somewhere along the way many lives have been affected by that. In addition blogging opened up a new way to find like minded individuals. From this point you can assume that there are many blogs providing support to their readers – were I ill for instance – I’d be more likely to research online support than through any local meetings or the like.

But do blogs really change lives? Read the rest of this entry »