Call Sign August 2004 - Page 33 - DIAL-A-CAB EN LA BELLE FRANCE

Ex-DaC driver Bob Woodford writes a regular column for Call Sign from his new home at Languedoc in France…
   Wimbledon Fortnight saw me working the rank at Southfields Station for the 17^th consecutive year. What a shock it was getting back to the intense heat back here after all that rain in London! Has it got any better…?
   Even more of a shock to me was the sudden realisation that I had better start my Marathon training in preparation for New York this coming November. Jeez! Running in all this heat! Would I rather swap it for a wet Wimbledon Common instead of these sun-baked vineyards?
   Nah! I always smile when I think of my experiences in the 129 degrees ‘Marathon Des Sables’ in 2000 running across the Sahara Desert in aid of Motor Neurone Disease.
   So, after a 4-year break from endurance events, I’m off to the ‘Big Apple’ after promising one of my sons that I would compete with him when he reaches 18, just as I did with his older brother in 1998.
   Anyway, I’ve always considered that if you are going to run / jog / walk / crawl 26 miles, spending over 5 hours on your feet, gaining blisters, suffering cramp, headache, backache, nausea and de-

DIAL-A-CAB EN LA BELLE FRANCE

May 2000 and Bob Woodford drags himself through the marathon des Sables, crossing the Sahara Desert in aid of MND. Now he is unning a marathon in aid of Testicular Cancer Research.

hydration and an unhealthy craving for Big Macs, then you might as well get ‘Sponsored’ for Charity.
   So, here’s the catch guys and girls. I’m looking for your support for Testicular Cancer - no pun intended! Inspired by Millwall centre forward Neil Harris’ near life and career threatening experiences a few years ago, I’ve decided to run for the ‘Everyman Appeal’.
   ‘Bomber’ Harris also has the nickname of ‘Golden Ball’ - that’s ‘ball’, not ‘balls’!
   Before you say, ‘that’s a load of balls’, well, actually it is. Testicular Cancer is the most common Cancer to affect men between 20 and 35 and the incidence of Testicular Cancer has almost doubled in the

past 20 years. The ‘Everyman Campaign’ urgently needs to find out what causes Testicular Cancer and why cases are increasing so dramatically. The Appeal needs to raise £2m each year to support pioneering research at the ‘Everyman Centre’.
   So, if you would like to make a donation, however small, please send your cheques to ‘Konzeptions Appeal Fund’, c/o 3 Bank House, Broadway, Sheerness, Kent. This account has been set up to hold donations to Robert Woodford’s ‘Neil Harris Everyman Appeal’ and, Adam Woodford ‘Breast Cancer Appeal’.
   In the meantime, if you are thinking about running the ‘London Marathon’ in 2005, then why not do some training down here? Forget about running all your programme in the cold English winter, or paying ‘silly money’ to go to ‘Club La Santa’ in Spain. ‘Housemartins-France’ offer Winter Training Breaks here on the Med, running on the beach, up the mountains, in clean fresh air...
   Bookings can be made by phoning Charles on 0033 467 36 3199, or emailing charles.trowers@tiscali.fr, or why not checkout our website at www.housemartins-herault.com.

Au revoir for now…
Bob Woodford (Ex-P49)

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