A quick look back makes us appreciate the challenge Brendan has overcome and how strong he has been through out the last year. He has once again crossed the finish line!
Check out this link…
Yesterday Brendan had his last dose of chemo, and in his usual form it didn’t go without a hitch when he accidentally parked in a permit zone at the hospital and earned him self a parking fine. So it will be a few weeks until Brendan feels like celebrating the occasion, but once hes feeling better and the port has been taken out nothing will stop him from pursuing his dreams!
So its only days away till the final injections of chemo!!!! WOW. Its been 42 weeks, but who’s counting!!
So while that’s great news, it will be a good few weeks until Brendan is feeling ok, and then it will be another surgery to have the portacath removed from his chest. After that it will be a matter of time to see how much long term damage may have been done. He has lots planned for his post-chemo life and has set himself some challenging goals. He has a new appreciation for life and great motivation, something he hopes to share with those around him, and trust me, you have to have a really good excuse not to go jump on your bike when he’s around! One of his goals is to compete in the National Champs in Adelaide in February 2011, and although quite an ambitious goal his determination and motivation will no doubt get him across the finish line.
Yesterday Brendan had his second last dose of Chemotherapy! Meaning obviously that he has only ONE more treatment left! And then one last op to remove the port that the chemo is administered through, this is still quite a hefty procedure as it is connected to a main artery in his chest.
It wont be long till we’re seeing this again…….
So it’s been a while since I have had the chance to update the blog so my apologies. I hope that you’re all working on the premise that no news is good news!
So in the past month Brendan has entered the final protocol of his treatment plan! While the doses leave him in a physically sickening and drained condition, knowing that there are only a few more treatments and around 2 months left helps to boost the moral.
So what’s Brendan been up to? Well, after the awesome weekend of the 3 hour Challenge at Maulbrooks Road, he was inspired to hit the single track! While it was only one time and he ended up stuck in a tree it was still unreal to see Brendan riding technical parts of the track for the first time and doing it with ease apart from the tree incident. For those of you who competed in the ride you will all know that nice but nasty piece of track that has been newly named ‘Wiggy’s’ (named by Brent Millar who completed the most laps in the 3 hrs to win the honour of naming this piece of track), Brendan road this perfectly the first time he did it, and then spent 5 mins teaching Steve how to get up it as well.
Brendan also spent a weekend fishing with some good friends and had an awesome time. Though their efforts at trying to actually catch a fish were unique, they were surprisingly unsuccessful.
Brendan also attended the Capital Region Cancer Foundation Ball at the Hyatt Hotel in Canberra where he stayed overnight, thanks to his nurse organising a cheap room rate. Brendan attended the ball with the nurses of his ward from the Canberra hospital and had a great time.
So while it looks like Brendan has been having a great time, these are small moments of happiness in comparison to what the year for Brendan could have been. It’s hard to imagine what it would be like for an 18 year old who should be having the best year of his life to be so restricted by something that was in no way self inflicted or deserved. It only took one look at Brendan the other week a day after he had chemo for the reality to sink in once again, it’s hard to describe what he looked like, but it’s just wrong, no one should have to feel how he looked.
So as we move on to the last couple of months its worth mentioning that Brendan has been unbelievably strong in handling his treatment so far and we are all very proud of him, doctors and nurses are utterly amazed that he can still ride as much as he does, even though it’s a minimal amount in his reality.
To all the cyclists reading this I guess my point is: imagine what its like when you can’t ride cause you have a cold or you’ve recently crashed or got a broken bone; imagine racing at a national level and then not being able to get on a bike and ride for almost a year; you’re not just missing out on one training ride cause your nose is running you’re missing out on your life’s ambition.
Ill try to keep the updates coming a little more often!
Till then LiveStrongER
Results have been updated as of 2:10pm. 23/5/10
If you have any queries please contact me at jackhenderson(at)grapevine.com.au
3 Hour Challenge – Maulbrooks Road, Mogo – Saturday 22 May 2010
Follow this map for directions to the track – Maulbrooks Road @ Mogo
There are two race entry vouchers for the Capital Punishment MTB Enduro available to the highest bidder. Each race entry is valued at $130. The Capital Punishment to be held on 29 May 2010 is SOLD OUT so the only way you will be able to ride it is to put in a bid at info@keepingtrekkyontrack.com before COB Wednesday 26 May 2010. Many thanks to Tom & Alina at AROC Sport.
The Capital Punishment course will take in the best of the Canberra single tracks including Sparrow Hill, Kowen Forest, Majura Pines, Black Mountain and Mt Stromlo. These famous single tracks will be linked via fire trails with only the minimum necessary bitumen.
Support Brendan ‘Trekky’ Johnston by participating in the 3 Hour Challenge & BBQ. All proceeds raised will go directly to Brendan to assist in his on-going expenses for treatment and recovery. Please send this FLYER to all your fellow MTB friends who might be interested in riding
This enduro event is being held on the popular MAULBROOKS ROAD tracks which have been hand crafted by local riders to be some of the best tracks going. The course will include the famous Snake Track which is also used in the very popular Angry Doctor race.
Categories :
SOLO male;
SOLO male 40+ (age on race date);
SOLO female;
SOLO female 40+ (age on race date);
SOLO singlespeed either sex
Team of 2 male;
Team of 2 female;
Team of 2 mixed male/female;
JUNIORS : all riders 15 & under on race day must enter in a team of 2 – mixed or same sex; Junior teams must consist 2 junior riders, however a junior rider may team up with an older rider to compete as a team but that will not qualify as a Junior Team.
IMPORTANT : – Please remember : only one member of a team on the course at a time. There will be an “ on-bike mass start “ with all Solo riders & one member of each team on the start grid. Riders will be asked to “ self-assess” as to where they line up on the start area – “hot dogs” towards the front & newer riders towards the rear.
The winner in each category will be the rider or team who starts their last lap within the 3 hours & completes the highest number of laps in the shortest time. All riders or teams who complete 1 lap will qualify as a finisher.
COSTS : $20 race entry for all current MTBA card holders; Non members can purchase a Day Licence for $15 , plus the standard entry fee of $20 – total cost of $35. Junior riders entry fee is $10 plus $15 Day Licence if required.
Further info: contact Darryl Smith on 0400 312 549 or smithree@westnet.com.au
Congratulations to everyone who won a prize in the raffle. We will be contacting each winner by phone or email to confirm their details.
To date we have raised over $10,000 for Brendan. Many thanks, once again, for the continued support from the mountain bike and local community and for the generous donations from Brendan’s many friends and acquaintances.
Ticket Sellers Prize (most ticket books sold) – Karen Foat
Paddy Pallin Adventure Race Team Entry to the value of $300
1st Prize – Emily Reed
OnyaBike Belconnen & Civic – Your choice of either Giant Alias or Giant Filter 1 plus Frameskin bike protection
2nd Prize – Melinda Asbury
TLC Cycles – Your choice of either Felt Q620 – Mountain Bike, Felt F95 – Road Bike or Felt Money Shot – Dirt/Street Bike
3rd Prize – M Henderson
Mal Adjusted – Kona 88 Single Speed Cruiser with leather Brooks saddle
4th Prize – Lisa Trevillian
Team entry (4 or 6 riders, whatever the winner chooses) into the Mont 24 Hour Race 2011
5th Prize – Paul Aubrey
A days shooting with Damian Breach and all the photos a mountain biker could ever want
6th Prize – Elaine Bissaker
Jetblack Rocket XC Wheels – Red
7th Prize – Julie Arnold
Bike Culture – Exposure Race Lighting System
8th Prize – Gemma Arnold
CORC – $500 cash prize
9th Prize – Keith Jones
$300 of product from The Bike Shed plus Seafood buffet for two including a bottle of wine at the Crowne Plaza, Canberra
10th Prize – Pat Barter
One nights accommodation for two inc breakfast in a Superior Room at the Crowne Plaza, Canberra
11th Prize – Kathy Knight
Certificate for one Gutter-Vac Domestic Roof Gutter Clean
12th Prize – Jo Parkinson
2 hour instruction session & ride for you and a friend with Dylan Cooper, Australian representative at the 2009 MTB World Champs
13th Prize – Jim Galindo
2 hour instruction session & ride for you and a friend with Dan McConnell the 2008 Beijing Olympian
14th Prize – Keith Jones
2 hour instruction session & ride for you and a friend with Ben Henderson, Australian representative at the 2009 MTB World Champs
15th Prize – Zoe King
Certificate for 1 entry to Capital Punishment MTB Event plus free bike service at Onya Bike Tuggeranong/Phillip
16th Prize – Amy Noble
Certificate for 1 entry to Capital Punishment MTB Event plus free bike service at Onya Bike Tuggeranong/Phillip
17th Prize – Amy Noble
Certificate for 1 entry to Capital Punishment MTB Event plus free bike service at Onya Bike Tuggeranong/Phillip
18th Prize – Gabrielle Penning
One Raiders Prize Pack – 2 grandstand game tickets, umbrella, cap, socks
19th Prize – Bec Thorpe
One Raiders Prize Pack – 2 grandstand game tickets, umbrella, cap, socks
20th Prize – C Teather
One Brumbies Prize Pack – 2 grandstand game tickets, umbrella, cap, socks
21st Prize – Tom Walter
Deluxe Subscription to Enduro Magazine – 4 issue subscription to Enduro magazine, MTB DVD, Enduro/Freewheel T-Shirt and Sigma cycle computer
22nd Prize – Neale Guthrie
Deluxe Subscription to Enduro Magazine – 4 issue subscription to Enduro magazine, MTB DVD, Enduro/Freewheel T-Shirt and Sigma cycle computer
23rd Prize – Phill Banks
Deluxe Subscription to Enduro Magazine – 4 issue subscription to Enduro magazine, MTB DVD, Enduro/Freewheel T-Shirt and Sigma cycle computer
24th Prize – Justin Simpson
Deluxe Subscription to Enduro Magazine – 4 issue subscription to Enduro magazine, MTB DVD, Enduro/Freewheel T-Shirt and Sigma cycle computer
25th Prize – P Jalowenko
Deluxe Subscription to Enduro Magazine – 4 issue subscription to Enduro magazine, MTB DVD, Enduro/Freewheel T-Shirt and Sigma cycle computer
We have currently sold 1600 raffle tickets for the Brendan ‘Trekky’ Johnston Raffle and would love to reach our target of 2000 before the raffle is drawn at the Mont next weekend. With the generous donations from Brendans many supporters and the sale of raffle tickets we have currently raised more than $7000 towards our goal of $10,000. This money goes directly to Brendan to assist in expenses for his treatment and to re-build his life and mountain bike career.
If you wish to purchase a ticket – $5 each or 3 for $10 – or make a donation please email info@keepingtrekkyontrack.com and help us to achieve our target. Brendan and his family would like to thank everyone for the kindness and support shown to them throughout this turbulent time.
So if you have read the Canberra Times this morning you will now know that Brendans car was found down in Tuggeranong near the Southern Cross Club. It appears to be in much better condition than we thought it would have been but will still need repair work as we believe it was pretty thrashed! After an interview with ABC radio we received a call from an Auto Electrician who has offered to fix the damage for Brendan, this is great! We would also like to thank everyone who kept an eye out in effort to spot it and the member of the public that called to report that they had seen the car leading the police to find it.
All we know is that the people that stole it had Mcdonalds at Erindale at 10:45am on Monday and a few bottles of Coke from Coles in Curtin at 2:00 in the afternoon! They left the receipts in the car along with a disgusting smell but they did remove their rubbish!
Below are the links to the media coverage that help us in finding the SUBY!
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/car-theft-comes-on-top-of-cancer-fight/1772042.aspx
http://blogs.abc.net.au/canberra/2010/03/low-act-in-canberra-hospital-carpark.html?site=canberra&program=canberra_drive
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/cancer-patient-back-on-the-road/1773328.aspx