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.........and other interesting events too!

All in aid of Maggie's Highlands - The Cancer Caring Centre in Inverness.

Hello and thanks for clicking through to my Maggie's Page.

During 2009 and 2010 we and our guests did lots of wonderful things to raise funds for the Maggie's Cancer Care. It all started with my plans to do a Bungee Jump and the two years have finished up raising almost £6500.00 so far for this superb, worthy cause. I owe a big Thank You to everyone who contributed so much.

The fun continues in 2011 and 2012.......

A bit further down this page you can read about how this fundraising for Maggie's all started - why I did a Bungy Jump and why I chose Maggie's Cancer Care to raise funds for.

But here are a few words detailing how we're continuing our fundraising through 2011 and 2012!!

John's Skydive.

It all started with my 57th Birthday on 9th June for which Irene committed to buy me a Tandem Skydive!! This, like the Bungy Jump is an ambition of mine, as yet unfulfilled. (Some would say that she's simply trying to get rid of me!!)

I have not yet set a date nor a place for the jump - my biggest challenge, other than dealing with my vertigo, will be losing a bit more weight as I have to come in at no more than 14 stones, with the kit & the harness on. The diet is underway, half a stone to go.

Irene's Solo Routeburn in a Day.

But that's not all. During our New Zealand trip in 2010, we very much enjoyed the Routeburn Tramp, one of the great walks that you can do down there. This guided trip took 3 days. Irene reckons that she can walk it in one day, indeed, she's certain that she can. So, in November 2012, we're going back to New Zealand and she's going to do just that - for Maggie's!!

Other Events

We are also in the throes of planning another "Evening for Maggie's" at the wonderful Anderson's Restaurant in Boat of Garten - last year's event raised some £1500 in an evening!

In between times, we also have the End of Term Party on 28th & 29th October, for which we have just one room left and we're still collecting donations in our box at reception for Irene's recipes and for laundry services, which we provide. (We've just emptied our 3rd box, which had £178.37 secreted in it!!)

If you'd like to make a donation, please visit my Justgiving page. All support will be gratefully received by ourselves and by Maggie's.

So, why did I do a Bungee Jump?

I know that jumping into space with just a bit of elastic tied round your ankles isn't everybody's idea of a good time.

However, for me it was, quite simply, something that I "always" wanted to do, though it had to be in Queenstown, New Zealand, where A.J. Hackett invented the modern day version of the sport. Only the best would do!!

Well, as of 24th November 2010, Mission Accomplished!! Job Done!!

It was a super, sunny day and the scenery was spectacular, though I have to say that I didn't take much notice of either as I plummeted headlong for 134 metres - a drop that lasted 8.5 awe-inspiring seconds.

What did I do Bungee Jump For?

The idea of doing my Jump for charity, rather than just for me, came about when chatting to some regular guests who, whilst thinking I was "crazy", said that they'd very much like to see the "Movie" and would be willing to pay for the privilege by sponsoring me. As a survivor of Cancer myself, it was easy for me to choose a Charity to jump for - Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres - an organisation founded right here in Scotland and with their Highlands centre at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness too!

Well, dear Friends, Sponsors and Supporters, your wish is, as ever, my command.

The link to the video is at the bottom of the page and there are some photos in the Gallery too. See the terror for yourself!!!

Was it worth it? Yes. Without a doubt!!

With the unstinting support of friends and guests alike we've raised over £6500.00 over the last couple of years.

There were numerous, generous donations on my JustGiving page and also by cheque and in cash. Guests generously donated superb paintings and photographs that were framed - very kindly, for free - by another guest and these were successfully auctioned on 28th March 2010 at a superb event at Anderson's Restaurant in Boat of Garten (Thanks, Steve & Claire, for your generosity.)

Our two End of Term Parties at Crubenbeg were great fun and raised goodly sums for Maggie's, with the wines & beers kindly donated by our suppliers.

Our cash tin on reception bulged  - Irene shared recipes for her superb dishes and we did guest's laundry - both in return for a donation, of course!

So far, so good, but so what? (As my old boss used to say).

Maggie's Cancer Caring Centre in Inverness, can always use more funds, so we've decided to continue our fundraising efforts, for Maggie's for 2011 and 2012 culminating in our two solo efforts in New Zealand, dateline November 2012. If we are having fun, and helping someone else along the way, that's no bad thing in our book and, frankly, we can't think of a more worthy cause.  If you'd like to help, we'd be delighted and Irene & I offer our thanks to you too. You can make your donation here.

Thank You

My sincere personal thanks to everyone who has kindly & generously helped so far in this endeavour - I, and Maggie's, really do appreciate your generosity.

The aim of "Maggie's" is to keep people who have Cancer as healthy in mind and body as possible, by enabling them to participate actively in the treatment of their disease. They also provide guidance for family & friends, enabling them to cope more ably and to offer better support to the person with Cancer.

View pictures from the jump in the gallery. To watch the video, right-click in the window below and click on play/pause. It may take a minute or two to load, depending on our broadband speed. Be patient. It is worth it!!