I’ve been working on a charity initiative for the 2010 Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge. Once again we are trying to raise some money for the Pink Drive. If you would like to know more, visit the Pink Drive Cycle Challenge website.

Pink Drive Cycle Challenge Charity Initiative

It has been two and a bit weeks since Comrades 2010 and although my work schedule has been pretty crazy I’ve had some time to digest the events that unfolded on the road to Durban on 30 May 2010. You may or may not know what happened but in a nutshell I missed the cut off at 60km (29km to go) and was pulled off the road. No excuses, I just wasn’t good enough on the day but will be back in 2011 fitter, leaner and stronger to finish off what I started.

In the meantime though its time to set a few new goals for the rest of this year and the first bit of 2011. I have been saying in the build up to Comrades this year that once it was done I would be keen to give a triathlon a bash. I still feel that way but obviously the long term goal is Comrades 2011.

So here is what I’ve come up with as goals between now and 16 June 2011:

1. Complete a couple of the Energade triathlons which start in October.

2. Run the Soweto marathon in November.

3. Ride the 94.7 Cycle Challenge in November (and at the same time try and raise R1 000 000 for the PinkDrive)

4. Complete the half iron man in East London in January

5. Run the Johnson Crane Marathon.

6. Swim the Midmar Mile in February.

7. Run the Vaal Marathon in March

8. Run the Two Oceans and/or Loskop Ultra’s in April

9. Complete the Comrades Marathon in June 2011.

Some of this list may change between now and then but at least it’s out there. I’ve learnt that unless a goal is out there you’re never going to achieve it!

Please see the details below of my charity initiative for Comrades 2010.

2010 Comrades Marathon - The Ultimate Human Race

The 2010 Comrades Marathon is happening on Sun 30 May 2010. Just writing that makes me nervous. But the truth of it is that as a novice I don’t think you think you will ever be ready. You may or may not know the reasons why I am running this year’s race. My mom is losing the battle to breast cancer as I write this and I wanted to do something to make a difference to people fighting this horrible disease and also for the families of those who have lost a loved one to it. Breast cancer does not have to be terminal and if it is picked up early it is in most cases curable. I have decided to support the Pink Drive and to raise money for breast cancer awareness. I think they do a fabulous job. I’m not going to go into to much detail as to what they do but if you want to check them out go to http://www.pinkdrive.co.za

Running Comrades as part of the Comrades Marathon Associations celebrity challenge provides a great platform to raise money for the Pink Drive. We have set up an sms line that if you sms the word ‘run’ to 4 222 0 you will donate R30 to the Pink Drive. The other fundraising initiative we are running is the 89 Memories – One race initiative.  The Comrades Marathon is 89km and run between Pietermaritzburg and Durban and this year I will be running each kilometre for someone that is either fighting the battle against breast cancer or in memory of someone who has lost the battle to breast cancer.

That is where I need you come in. I need your help. I need 89 individuals, families or businesses to sponsor each one of those kilometres. Maybe a colleague is battling with breast cancer and you want to pass a hat around the office and sponsor a kilometre then I’ll run it for them. Maybe you’ve lost your wife, mother, daughter or niece to breast cancer; I would love to run a kilometre in their memory. I would obviously like to raise as much money as I can (I know I’m greedy but it is for a great cause) so I need to put a minimum amount on the sponsorship for a kilometre. I have decided to make it R100 but if you can afford to donate more it would be highly appreciated. Ideally I’d like to try and raise R89 000 – That is R1 000 per kilometre.  So if you can donate that please do and if you can do more we would obviously be massively grateful. I am running in Toyota’s colours this year and in return they have agreed to double whatever I raise. If you would like to sponsor a kilometre please send an email to 89memories@bradbrown.co.za I will also include your loved ones story and memory on my blog and a picture of them too. If you would like to sponsor a kilometre or just to make a donation to our 89 Memories initiative the Pink Drive Bank details are as follows:

Bank: Nedbank

Account Name: PinkDrive (Comrades)

Account Number: 1825 011 109

Branch Code: 182505

Branch Name: Clearwater Mall

Reference to use: 89 Memories & Your Name

If you are not in South Africa and would like to donate the Swift Code you would require is NEDSZAJJ

What I am also challenging you to do is make a list of 89 memories of the person you know. Whether they are fighting the disease and are going to beat it, if they, Iike my mom, are terminally ill or if they have lost the battle and passed away. It’s really tough to do. I know this because I’m putting together this list together for my mom.  It’s a very emotional process and in the build up to comrades keep checking back here or subscribe to my rss feed to see the memories I will always treasure of my mom. Even though she is still with us, I want her to know what I will always remember about her. Also if you would like to is send those 89 memories to me, I would love to post them on www.bradbrown.co.za

It is going to be a very emotional day and I want you to be a part of it. I will be tweeting my progress as well as updating my Facebook profile from the road. You can follow me on Twitter or on Facebook.