Grant Harding

The reward for reaching my initial fundraising goal arrived today. Blue September socks. 5x20 press ups knocked out again today. 

On Friday I surpassed my Blue September fundraising goal of $300 and became a Blue Hero, thanks to my eight sponsors to date. It would be nice to reach Blue Champion status, or even Blue Legend. A pair of blue socks is apparently in the mail. Then today, I surpassed the suggested goal for Blue September push up participants with my first set of 20 at the gym just after 6am. It is a poignant target - 739 being the number of NZ men who, on average, die each year from prostate cancer. I had no idea that prostate cancer was the second biggest killer of men among cancers, and that 1 in 8 of us will be affected at some stage. 5x20 press ups already completed today. Tally stands at 825. Onwards.

Heard today that Bjorn Borg, my first tennis hero, and NZ country singer Brendan Dugan both have or have had prostate cancer. Good of them to share their journey. After yesterday's rest day, a very average as many as possible set today. Been away for the weekend and not at my best when I get home - stomach muscles still aching. Another 25 towards the total. No worries! But 15 down on where I want to be. Back into the 5x20 regime Monday to Friday tomorrow.

5x20 press ups today = 500 for the first five days; rest day tomorrow, then one set of 'as many as possible' on Sunday; then repeat each week. Have to say that today my body adjusted to the load. Happy about that! Great news: Have reached my initial goal of $300 fundraised thanks to my latest sponsors Gaylene and Steve Rodgers and an anonymous donor. Rapt!

I have known many people who have had and do have cancer - prostate, bowel, breast, blood, skin cancer come to mind. Somehow though, it is my first real experience of cancer that has always stuck with me. I was 18 and had just finished Hastings Boys' High School, and was heading to a bach in Taupo with a few friends. I had to collect the key in Hastings from the owners of the bach before leaving. As I headed out the door that Friday night my mother said be sure to look in on Mrs H. I knew she had cancer but I had no idea what cancer was. When I got there I said to her husband, Doug, what I was there for and he gave me the key without saying a word and waved me through to the next room. I entered into the darkened space to be greeted by the sounds of a woman moaning in terrible pain, her two daughters frantically wiping her down with flannels. I could barely make out Mrs H. I don't know what I said, but above the awful din one of the woman heard me, invited me closer and said to her mother, "Mum it's Grant Harding, he wants to say thank you for letting him use the bach" or words to that affect. This lovely woman made an effort to speak, I think she even tried to catch a glimpse of me, and I caught her voice for the last time. A kind voice I had known well throughout my boyhood. I left the room, walked through the kitchen where her husband was slumped at the table in utter dejection, and headed off home. I have never really understood why my mother put me through that. I even asked her once and the response didn't seem right. But that experience has stayed with me all my life, and I have reflected on it many times. It was terrible. Cancer is terrible. I got through my 5x20 press ups today. 

It's 5.30pm and 5x20 press ups done (first set at just after 6am). Spin class this morning and dogs walked 3.9km before work at 8.30am. Not to mention a range of chores during the day - including mowing the back lawn at lunchtime. Still bloody sore. Strategy is to battle through next two days by hook or by crook and head into rest day on Saturday.

Earlier this year I started on a streak to do 5x20 press ups Monday to Friday, and one set of as many as possible on Sunday, with a rest day Saturday. I got to 19 weeks but knee issues began to make it difficult and then one busy Friday at work I ended the day still needing to do five sets. I couldn't make myself do it. So that ended the streak. Returning to press ups a few months later has been a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. I have tender stomach muscles and the upper body strength is being tested. The good news is that the fourth and fifth sets today was when I felt the best. Onwards.

5x20 press ups completed today. Not that easy first-up. I read somewhere on social media that press ups had nothing to do with prostate cancer. Maybe not. Maybe they do. To do press ups you need to hold yourself up physically, but you also have to be prepared mentally to take the pain, if you are pushing beyond your boundaries. I don't know much about prostate cancer really, but I would imagine that it is a huge physical and mental challenge. So those of us doing press ups could be offering some form of solidarity. I happen to know a few people who are very ill this year. This helps me think of them and how lucky I currently am. I will also be undertaking my annual health check this month which will include a blood test to check prostate health. In years gone by I have had the internal examination as well, twice. I'm under way, and the dogs still got walked. 

Next Monday I will start the Blue September challenge in support of the Prostate Cancer Foundation NZ. Every day Monday to Friday I will do 5x20 press ups for a total of 500. Saturday will be a rest day and Sunday will be one set of as many as possible. I will post a video on Monday of a set, and then I will post my 'as many as possible sets' each Sunday. By Tuesday 9th I expect to have eclipsed the first target of 739 press ups: on average, 739 men lose their life to prostate cancer in NZ each year. And by September 29, I will be somewhere between 2200 and 2300. On the last day of the month I will do five x as many as possible sets and hope to achieve more than 2400 press ups for the month. On top of that I will continue my normal training activities. Thanks to Mac, Mike O', Kaye, Maggie and Zachary for your kind sponsorship. I am actually very close to reaching my $300 fundraising target before starting. Very cool. Remember health is wealth.