BIG GIFT FROM A SOFA

We sold a sofa recently. I know, I know - we haven't been here five minutes but we just couldn't get on with it. A lovely couple came across from Yorkshire to collect it. We had a chat about this and that, how we spend our time in retirement, et cetera. And of course, I didn't miss a chance to talk about my fundraising activities.

Before they left, Don said he would like a copy of my book "Vic's Big Walk". I signed it and handed it over. "How much?" he said. "A minimum of £15 for a signed copy," says I, "It is a donation to Pancreatic Cancer UK, every penny goes to them".

He started to get out his wallet, which was surprisingly not empty, as they had already paid for the sofa. I told him I would prefer it if he paid it online, at

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Vic-Heaney2

because then we would get Gift Aid as well.

Two days later, nothing! I wondered if he had forgotten to make the donation. Then I got the email notifying me that Don and Lesly had made a donation of £100, plus £25 Gift Aid!

How about that? You don't have to pay that much, and if you insist on having the e-version, you can get that at Amazon Kindle, iBookstore, Kobo, et cetera, for less than you would pay for a visit to Starbucks.

WANT TO HELP?

I have 20 illustrated talks booked, to raise funds and awareness for Pancreatic Cancer UK . These bookings stretch well into 2017. How do I get them?

The talks are to Probus clubs, Gentlemen's clubs, Walking clubs, Libraries, Rotaries, Ladies' Church groups, WIs, Mens' Church groups, Mothers' Unions, U3As, Retired Union members, and more. If you belong to any such group, or any group which has regular speakers, you can help me in my work and be entertained at the same time.

Today I went into Blackpool on an errand. I popped into a Methodist Church which also has a cafe. I spoke to some of the staff and they said there is a regular Tuesday evening group which requires speakers and how soon could I do it? I left them with one of the cards you see here. They will contact me when they have sorted themselves out. I popped cards into the letterboxes of a couple more churches, I popped into Blackpool Central Library (for the first time in 60 years) and they showed some interest.

 Oh! And I also heard a lady talking on the bus about being the speaker secretary for an organisation, so I bearded her. She was keen and I would be very surprised not to hear from her.

I spread myself about like this and every now and again I receive a phone call or two, asking me to speak.

My current talk (there are lots of talks I could, and will, put together) is not a talk about cancer. It is about a marathon feat I undertook in aid of pancreatic cancer sufferers, current and future.

The rear of my card reads:

At the age of 70 Vic walked from the French Pyrenees to Blackpool."

He then wrote a book about the walk.

He wrote another book, about the time he and his wife Gay lived in Cyprus.

He gives talks about the walk project.

All this to raise funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

Contact Vic for a signed book, or to arrange a talk for your club or any other gathering, or to make a donation".

Want to help?

THE ANSWER IS YES, TO BOTH QUESTIONS

I have been asked both questions several times recently so listen carefully, I will say this only once.

Q1. Are your books also available for download?

A. Yes, on Amazon Kindle and all the other main suspects, such as iBook Store, Nook, Kobo, et cetera

Q2. Do all the proceeds still go to Pancreatic Cancer UK?

A. Yes, the price of the e-book version is much less than that of the hard copy, so the profit element is not high but every penny profit goes to Pancreatic Cancer UK. Roughly, £1 per download goes to the cause. Every penny counts.

Just search for the titles on Amazon or the other websites. I give the link HERE for "Vic's Big Walk" at Amazon UK.

THE ANSWER IS YES, TO BOTH QUESTIONS

I have been asked both questions several times recently so listen carefully, I will say this only once.

Q1. Are your books also available for download?

A. Yes, on Amazon Kindle and all the other main suspects, such as iBook Store, Nook, Kobo, et cetera

Q2. Do all the proceeds still go to Pancreatic Cancer UK?

A. Yes, the price of the e-book version is much less than that of the hard copy, so the profit element is not high but every penny profit goes to Pancreatic Cancer UK. Roughly, £1 per download goes to the cause. Every penny counts.

Just search for the titles on Amazon or the other websites. I give the link HERE for "Vic's Big Walk" at Amazon UK.

THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THE SHOWERS AT THE YMCA

I thought that headline would grab your attention. But it's true, unexpected things can happen in the oddest places.

A few weeks ago, I had just completed a spinning session or some such at the local YMCA and had gone to take a shower on the premises. There was another chap in there, of about my age. We got to talking about exercise and of course I didn't fail to mention that I had done a 9,000 mile walking project and that I had written a book about this and that I frequently gave illustrated talks about it, all to raise funds and awareness for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

He said, "Do you have a card? My wife's group are always looking for speakers and this sounds right up their street!" Of course, although I try to always carry my "Vic Talks The Walk" cards, ready for opportunities like this, I had to restrain my eagerness until I was dried off and back to my clothes. Things moved quite rapidly, within a day or two it was all arranged, and last Tuesday evening I gave the talk to the ladies and raised a bit more money for the cause.

Most of my talks are to closed groups like this, but don't forget there is a public "Vic Talks The Walk" at St Anne's Library, on the Fylde Coast, at 7 pm on Friday 29th July.

WHY DID I WALK SEVENTEEN AND A HALF MILLION STEPS IN ONE CHALLENGE?

Gay and I with part of the display at St Anne's Library

One way to find out the answer is to come along to St Anne's Library at 7 pm on 29th July.

Although this is a talk about me undertaking a massive project to raise funds and awareness for Pancreatic Cancer UK, it is not a talk about cancer. I will tell you why, to celebrate my 70th birthday, I trained for two years, then walked, mainly alone, for 70 days from the Pyrenees to the Pennines. And things seen, people met, and non too deep thoughts along the way.

I have, of course, delivered this illustrated talk to many organisations and clubs now, along with one or two libraries. It has been well received. This is a rare chance to see an event open to the public, and I would like to see you there.

BACK TO WORK

Enough of this pussyfooting around, doing the Lancashire Coastal Walk and Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk!

Back to spreading the word and earning some cash for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

Because of the above, there has been a bit of a lull in Vic Talking The Walk lately. Now I have several talks lined up and lots more at the "let's agree a date" stage.

Most of these talks are to clubs and societies, for their own members. But on 29th July there is just the talk you are waiting for - open to all - at St Annes Library.

If you want to know why somebody should walk 9,000 miles at the age of 70 - get your name down now!