Running for Dave

There was a time when I would joke that following Slough Town Football Club was bad for your health. Regrettably events of the past few years means that those words have become scarily accurate. Today for the third time in a short period, The Rebels have had to lay to rest one of their loyal supporters, gone long before they should have done. David Pearcy, affectionately known throughout our community as Dave Programmes (owing to his matchday duties that he carried out in his own unique way) recently lost his battle with cancer at the age of 42. His passing made front page news in the local rags and there have been touching memories of him filling up social media timelines under the hashtag #DaveProgrammes He will be greatly missed by all of us who were fortunate to know him.

I couldn't make it to the funeral today. My youngest had an Ortho appointment at our local hospital during which he received a new pair of supportive boots and had his legs and feet cast to mould made to measure splints to help him as he learns to stand. Little man was dressed in his Slough Town colours this afternoon to show we were thinking of him. While I would have liked to have paid my respects to David in person, life has to go on.

This tweet from @brightonrebel rather sums up how I've felt about things today

Funerals are a kick up the arse. Love your family more, enjoy your friends, stop worrying about things that dont matter & make a difference
— Warren Carter (@brightonrebel) September 18, 2014

These are words that ring true. Earlier in the year I had a minor health scare, discovering a troubling amount of blood in my stool. One nervous weekend later when my mind was racing with thoughts ranging from death in service pension provision to my boys growing up without their dad, I went to see my GP to get checked out. We blokes aren't always the best at responding to health concerns, but I've had people close to me who have caught cancer early by getting themselves to a doctor. One uncomfortable examination later and I was reasonably assured that all was okay, though I've been keeping a close eye when I go to the loo just in case. Better to be safe than sorry, and I'd advise all gents to do the same, no matter how awkward they may feel.

Before taking the little man to hospital, I had a rare couple of hours to myself and used them to fit in a long run. I'm participating in the Royal Park Half Marathon on 12 October, and I laboured through 12km this morning. It is clear that I'm not in as good shape as I was back in March but I'm looking forward to the challenge, and as Warren succinctly wrote above, I'm not going to worry about the time as in the grand scheme of things it really doesn't matter.

Where my run can make a difference though is through supporting David's family in their fundraising efforts for The Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK. I hadn't planned for my run to be part of any charitable efforts but as a number of people have recently asked me if I was running for a cause, I will be encouraging them to donate to the Just Giving page sent up by the Pearcy family. They have already collected well over £2000, a measure of just how much Dave was loved by those who knew him.

Love your family more. Enjoy your friends. Be thankful for the Dave Pearcy's of this world who make it a much better place.