Help Tommy Donbavand

In summary... a good pal of mine, Tommy Donbavand has stage 4 throat cancer. He's unable to work and as a children's author relies on his ability to churn out writings. I'm doing a 5K obstacle course to help him out, please pleas donate :)

The full story.... children's author (Scream Street, Dr  Who, Beano to name a few) and good friend of mine for over 20 years, Tommy Donbavand is poorly. Very poorly. Very poorly indeed. Stage 4 throat cancer to be precise.

Tommy was diagnosed back in March 2016 and since then has undergone six weeks intensive and invasive radiotherapy and chemotherapy, from which he is currently recovering. In fact, as I write he's actually in hospital where he's been for almost two weeks, recovering from double pneumonia, a knock on effect from the treatment. As if having cancer wasn't bad enough!

As an author, Tommy's income comes via his books sales but also through public appearances: school and library visits, workshops, literary festivals and so on. When Tommy attends these public appearances he needs quite a few things, such as energy (of which he has bags), his quick witted-ness (endless supply of!) and his voice, in order to talk (of which, when he gets going is very hard to stop him doing!).

However, when you have Stage 4 throat cancer you really don't have a voice, which in turn means  that Tommy can't attend any public appearances, no public appearances, no income and no income.......well, you can work that one out for yourself.

"But hold on a minute", you cry "he's still got his fingers in tact to carry on working and typing out incredibly funny and entertaining pieces of literature".

Alas, that's not the case. Tommy is so poorly he is unable to focus and write and those deadlines that are looming above his head, aren't met. And if he doesn't meet those deadlines, he doesn't get paid and if he doesn't get paid.....no prizes for what happens then!

So, this is where I come in.................

There are two things I don't like; getting wet and cold. I also don't like getting dirty. OK, so that's three things, maths was never my strong point. So, I don't like getting wet, cold and dirty ( I also don't like butter beans but that's another story!)

Therefore, I have decided to expose myself  to all of the above ( well, not the butter beans!) and take part in the Race for Life Pretty Muddy 5K obstacle course at Tatton Park on Saturday 25th June, in honour of me old mate Tommy Donbavand and to help him in his hour of need.

And this is where you come in.....................

Through my attempt to run/slog/stagger/walk/crawl and no doubt cry as I've got mud in my fingernails, I am hoping that you will be willing to donate some pennies as a form of 'sponsoring' me to complete the course,  in an attempt to raise some much needed funds for Tommy, his wife Kirsty and their two children.

As I said at the start, Tommy is currently in hospital. His wife Kirsty doesn't drive and so in order to visit him she has to get a taxi from their home to the hospital, a 36 mile round trip, costing her approx £25 each way. An expense and worry they really could do without.

Therefore,  can I ask you to donate. Please. Knowing that people out there are donating and are behind Tommy in this way will urge me to complete this course and to not worry about a broken nail, mud in my hair, freezing my baps off or sodden and squelchy socks, beacause at the end of the day, that's nothing, absolutely nothing compared to what Tommy is going through with his own personal obstacle course!.

Thankyou,

Alison.