Our bold hero, Captain Australia, faces up to another sinister DAILY DONOR DARE OF DOOOOOM!!

(This time, the unkindly put “Run Fatty, Run !”)

I didn’t go out dressed as the boofhead superhero Captain Australia today. No donations or DAILY DONOR DARES OF DOOM, so I spent the day slaving over a hot computer instead. I’m not a graphic designer at all, but I think I did an .. okay .. job at these flyers and posters which I’ll use to promote the walk. What do you reckon ?

• 

• 

The transcendent Hoodoo Gurus gave permission to use their wonderful song 1000 miles away in connection with THE BIG WALK for THE KIDS’ CANCER PROJECT. So watch Captain Australia groove out while sharing the facts about paediatric cancer.
CHARITY PAGE: https://captain-australias-big-walk.raisely.com/
BLOG: http://atomic-temporary-196781785.wpcomstaging.com
FACEBOOK: @CapsBIGWALK
TWITTER: @reallifehero

My dilemma though, is whether it’s good that my kids are (big-hearted) incorrigible liars. (more like 68 year old looking!). I think I can live with it 😀

With the car suffering catastrophic engine failure, we find ourselves without wheels or much in the way of recklessly-toss-aroundable cash. But the kids have given me a lovely sweet fathers day morning, as they always do.

My wonderful wife has also been incredible, not just giving me a dad-patrol time off today, but she’s come to the rescue helping me with the Captain Australia uniform, as after a number of failures I was really struggling with the cowl/hood.

I still vividly remember when she helped sew up that first Captain Australia uniform (back in 2008), she was measuring and planning and turned to ask me “Will you have a cape ?”

“No, I don’t think so”, I reply.

(Her response still makes me smile, and puzzles me, because) She asked,’ Then how will you fly ?!?!”

I’m only capable of flight in very short bursts, and from high places. Most normal folks would call it ‘falling’.

Although, funnily, after losing 50kg of the radiation-thyroid weight, I have a lot of flappy skin, so if I ever did fall out of a plane or something, I probably could grab some flaps and swoop to safety like some kind of glider possum.

As I get out as Captain Australia, I’m a bit disappointed by my gut. 50kg is a lot to lose, but I was hoping to be lean & strong when getting out in public, but I got a bit malnourished in July, and when I stopped with the crazy over-exercise-under-eat stuff and took a recovery break, through August I put a little bit (about 6kg) of weight back on.

Fat ? Skinny ? Who cares !

Sure, but for me the weight is only fine if there’s no underlying problem behind it. It can be a symptom of sadness, of loneliness, of being broken.

Well, all the walking around with the military kit is sure going to help melt away that last 10-15kg anyways.

I suppose in a way having some spare calories stashed away is going to help when I do my BIG WALK.

But yeah, today is about chilling out at home, a take-it-easy-light-and-breezy day with the fam.

Almost done with the uniform – today we want to sort out the wings (yellow kangaroos) on my forehead and a few other fiddly little bits. My plan is tomorrow to introduce you to SOME FUN STUFF like Daily Donor Dares of DOOM! and how you can Superhero Up! For Science !

(More on that soon, my friends)

I reckon I would have covered about 20km all told, although somehow it feels like longer. 6 hours, but I did meet a few people and have some very nice chats. I don’t know if it’s carrying the pack and massive banner, or just the NEWNESS of all this, but I feel quite massively tired. Which is weird, because my stamina has come along quite well – since December I’ve fallen into the habit of walking daily, so most days it’s 20km, and often substantially more than that.

I compare that to the dark days following cancer, where the radiation-induced thyroid damage helped me put on so much weight. Coming in at 140kg in December .. walking 5km was a massive trial and victory. After I’d done as little as 3km, I was tired, sore, mentally searching for permission to stop. Thankfully I found that hope and strength inside me – not only did I not stop … I’d often get to the end, so grateful to be done, ready for a hot bath and a sleep and I’d reach down inside myself, and .. this finer part of me would rise up and assert. “No.” “More”.

Not “no more!” which is what I was feeling as I limped home .. but “No. We’re not stopping now. Do MORE”. I wanted myself to turn around and repeat the whole walk. (I know that probably sounds crazy .. but .. hmm…. ) Well anyway, in the first couple of days that difficult 5 turned into a consistent 10, and at the end of the first month I was able to push beyond that.

But today ? Tired …

As I plodded home, some rain hit, so I pulled down the massive banner, packed it away, and plodded along to a Chinese Restaurant at Indooroopilly. Bought Roast duck (family favourite), nice special fried rice and King Prawns (another family fave). The wife & kids were very happy 🙂

And if that’s not what it’s all about anyway, then I’m clueless.

By the way: This is NOT what a nervous breakdown looks like 🙂 The Kids’ Cancer Project is an urgently important cause. I’m 100% committed to helping them. Please do what you can as well ?

I’m grateful.

Oh, I met some lovely people today, but the stand-out for me was Trent. My friend I’d love to stay in touch with you, I can tell from the outset what a decent human being you are. If ever in life you need a friend, you can find one in me.

Today I went out into the steamy underbelly of Brisbane to fight crime. No, well, not exactly. I dressed up as the boofhead superhero Captain Australia in my (INCOMPLETE) costume, carrying a massive, magnificent banner, looking like some kind of deranged samurai.

Tomorrow is the soft launch of CAPTAIN AUSTRALIA’S BIG WALK, and I have a call with the wonderful folks at The Kids’ Cancer Project. I was hoping to show them how the new uniform will look.

It’s coming along OK – the uniform itself, the tactical gear – it’s excellent. I have first aid, water, all kinds of stuff within easy reach on my belt, and the boots are just marvelous.

The hood ? Not going so well. I may have to start with just a kinda head-wrap and, as I’ve been told in the past “GET PROFESSIONAL HELP”

But, coming along – and tomorrow I will suit up and get out in public either way.

If you’re following, please please show your support to this worthy charity. Any amount you can spare helps, it all goes directly into research hours to improve treatments and outcomes for kids going through these horrible paediatric cancers.

https://captain-australias-big-walk.raisely.com/