The Who The What The Why

As with many other blogs most of what I have written to date has been self-indulgent drivel primarily acting as an excessively detailed diary for my future enjoyment. There is, however, more to this blog than keeping me occupied through the cold dregs of winter. When Simeon asked me and Ed to run the London Marathon with him I had no knowledge of Ovarian Cancer, highlighting the importance of Target Ovarian’s work in educating people on the disease.

There are 6,800 new cases of Ovarian Cancer in the UK each year, affecting 1 in every 48 women. Catching it early can reduce fatality by up to 90%, this would equate to 6,120 lives saved each year if people where more educated in how to spot the symptoms and ensure that they act on their suspicions. In spite of this awareness of Ovarian Cancer and its indicators amongst those most likely to be affected is negligible and the UK has one of the worst survival rates in Europe. Only 4% of women in the UK understand the symptoms of ovarian cancer with half of all women confusing the disease with cervical cancer.

Ovarian Cancer is most commonly found in woman who have gone through the menopause, primarily affecting the over 50, but is also found in younger woman. Due to confusion of the disease people mistakenly believe a smear test will help detect ovarian cancer and the symptoms can often be confused with more common conditions, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and can therefore be missed by GPs.

Target Ovarian Cancer wants to help women across the UK learn about ovarian cancer and raise awareness of the symptoms¹:

• Feeling full or having difficulty eating on most days
• Persistent tummy pain
• Being bloated or having a swollen tummy on most days

These can all be key symptoms of ovarian cancer, when experienced on most days. If you have any of these symptoms on most days, although likely to be harmless, you should be checked out by a GP. In 1 out of 10 cases ovarian cancer is inherited, so if you only have one relative who has had ovarian cancer it is likely this was just a ‘one off’ case. If you have two or more relatives on the same side of your family you should let your doctor know, so they can decide if you are at increased risk of developing the disease. Why not take the test:

How Target Ovarian helps¹

• GPs: Target Ovarian Cancer (TOC) commissions BMJ Learning, a leading provider of educational resources for health professionals, to develop an online learning module that will radically alter GP’s understanding of ovarian cancer. The module is free for all GPs to access and has gained endorsement from the Royal College of GPs. Over 2000 GPs have already completed the module.
• Pharmacists and women: TOC has been working closely with pharmacy chains including Superdrug, Rowlands and Morrisons to raise awareness of symptoms among pharmacists and women in the general public. Over 100,000 symptoms leaflets have been circulated as part of this campaign.
• Occupational Health professionals: TOC has developed a programme of activity that occupational health professionals can access to update their knowledge and that of their colleagues on ovarian cancer.
• ‘Let’s Talk’ awareness programme: Is for individuals who want to use their experience of ovarian cancer to raise awareness of symptoms. 'Let’s Talk' includes a booklet packed with awareness raising tips and ideas and day courses at venues across the country.

In order for Target Ovarian Cancer to continue its lifesaving work educating people about the symptoms and helping those with Ovarian Cancer please sponsor us by following This Link

¹ Information taken from Target Ovarian Cancer website www.targetovarian.org.uk

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We Were Victorious!

Pheidippides was a man whose prowess and mythology lead to a sport which: to a few means lifelong dedication, to some means personal achievement but to most means cold afternoons dragging mud soaked plimsolls across the tarmacked fields of their schools local park. But what is the story behind the modern day Marathon introduced by Pierre de Coubertin, with the strong backing of Michel Breal, to the 1896 inaugural Olympic games. Having researched this (mainly Wikipedia I’ll admit as I’m not producing a thesis on the subject) I found a number of varying stories as to the true origin of Pheidippides’ myth but most agree on the following details:
 

King Darius I (aka Darius The Great) was ruler of Persia during the height of its power (550-486 BC) and arguably the Middle East’s most prolific war-monger. It is with little surprise then that in 490 BC after having been insulted with rebellion by his subjugates and their allies, he responded with vengeful fury on the Aegean states. A decade earlier Athens and their neighbours the Eretrians had sent aid to the Ionian Revolt hoping to end Archamenid rule in the region and further their own influence. Darius eventually put down this revolt and, after crushing all remaining odours of decent in Ionia, turned his attentions to the meddlesome guilty parties and on fulfilling his promise to Burn Their Cities to the Ground.

To ensure their rulers harsh justice was dispatched and there were no further thoughts of uprising in the area, Darius’ naval generals Datis and Artaphernes were sent with their armada to the Hellenistic states. After a number of early successes taking the Cyclades islands and Eretria, Athens was up next for assault and Marathon was to be the launching pad for their incursion. Waiting for them was the distinguished general Miltiades The Younger and 10,000 of Athens’ celebrated Hoplites (joined by a number of Plataeans).

Outnumbered two-to-one and hoping for the support of Sparta, Miltiades sent Pheidippides the staggering 140km with a message of desperation and expectation (an excursion that inspired the punishing Spartathlon). Unfortunately the 300 of Thermopylae had long since passed away and what was left of Sparta’s great warriors seemed reluctant to help (citing religious obligation as the reason for delay). The Athenian Generals held there position for five long days in the hope of reinforcement but none came. It was sheer luck and tactical genius that broke the deadlock when Persian cavalry movements inspired Miltiades to launch an offensive and drive the invading army back to the sea. 

It is at this point that we have historians such as Plutarch recounting Pheidippides’ race back to Athens to deliver the good news and upon arriving crying "Nenikēkamen!" (We were Victorious) then dying from exhaustion. 

Although a romantic story it is widely agreed that the following is closer to the truth: Having been defeated at Marathon Datis and Artaphernes’ only chance of saving face was to send their fleet to the undefended city of Athens and pray for an easy victory. Miltiades knew this and ran his army of battled-worn Hoplites the 42 km (26 miles) back to the capital to fend of this new wave of attack (inadvertently completing  the first ‘Marathon’). Eventually the Persians conceded defeat and so began the slow decline of the great Archamenid Empire, finally ending in 330 BC at the hands of another great Greek hero of antiquity, Alexander The Great.

 

So there you have it, despite being full of holes and probably massively inconsistent the story of Marathon and the great Athenian messenger Pheidippides is a fascinating yarn and a fable that inspired such titans of athletics as: Haile Gebreselassie, Paula Radcliffe, Mensen Ernst and Forest Gump.