Irena Veljanova

A few steps in Mt Annan Royal Botanic Gardens!

 Hello all,

It was another beautiful morning at Mt Annan, and I aimed to do my early morning walk today at the Mt Annan Royal Botanic Gardens. However, I realised that the official opening hours start at 8am, so instead of walking in the gardens, we walked a round route from home to the back entrance of the gardens. Great walk – but still a bit too cold for my liking!

This is my fifth official day on the campaign and your generosity doesn’t cease to amaze me: we managed to reach my goal of $1500 already! Given that there are quite a few days till the end of August, I will raise my goal once more and aim to secure $2000 for breast cancer research. Let’s raise the funds TOGETHER.

I’ll keep walking….

Best,

Irena 

Brighton Le Sands to Taren Point

Hello all,

Last week I received an invitation from Poppy, the Step Up fundraising campaign facilitator, to share my story about what inspired me to join the campaign. She said that the stories she hears are always so moving, so I spent some time reading the stories of some of the fellow campaigners… Stories of courage, perseverance, love, support, community, disruption and loss… to mention a few. I felt both humbled and overwhelmed by the strength inherent to the stories. So, today it is not going to be about my story, but a big shout out to all persons behind these stories.

Today was another one of my favourite routes, and those who know me well have probably done many a walks with me on the round route of Brighton Le Sands to Taren Point. This was my regular walking track when I used to live in Kogarah, St George LGA about 20 odd years ago. I am thinking that this has started a walk down memory lane, as fond memories rushed back as I did the walk. So, I might include a walk at the O’Neill’s Park, Yagoona where I did my walks for 11 years, WSU Milperra Campus where I did my work-days lunch time walks for quite a few years, and a few more significant walking tracks. I am looking forward to the revisit other fond memories as I do my walks…

So, logged in 7kms today – yay! Loved every step!

With compassion,

Irena

My first Strava day

Hi there,

My third day walking for the cause, and I did one of my favourite walking routes at Birriwa Reserve, Mt Annan. This is the route that I take most times when I do my regular morning walks, so it was great to chip off 5kms of the big number over coffee accompanied by hubby Sasko. It is a beautiful morning at Mt Annan today, and apart from my slight displeasure that the price for the small coffee at the local petrol station jumped from $1 to $2 in one go (!), it was a rather pleasant walk. Today, I have used Strava App for the first time, and I managed to link it to my fundraiser site, but (for the life of me!) could not work out how to log in a ‘walk’ activity, so I ended up with a ‘ride’ activity on my formal activity record. I can assure you, I did not get on my electric bike & took the easy way out ;-) . So, much more to learn about apps, effective presence on SM and where to buy cheap coffee in the Camden area…  I am kindly calling to all potential donators, please consider chipping in with a few dollars, if you feel so inclined. Or, if anyone is considering joining the campaign, please reach out, perhaps we can form a team.

For all families who have been through the challenge of previving, surviving, diagnostic anxieties, and loss associated to breast cancer, my thoughts and my love remains with you and for you!

With love,

Iki

My Ilinden walk!

Hello all,

Full on day today, but managed to put in 3.1kms towards my 114kms walk for the month of August 2024. There was intermittent rain in this part of Sydney, so I managed to do my short walk in the afternoon. Today, I was cheered by Sasko and Charlie (photo of us arriving home from the park, parking our little car in the driveway). I am hoping I’ll be able to chip off a solid chunk of the bigger number this weekend.  

For all families who have been through the challenge of previving, surviving, diagnostic anxieties, and loss associated to breast cancer, my thoughts and my love remains with you and for you!

With love,

Iki

First day of walking!

Hello my friends,

This cat lady has started her first day of walking for the step-up for breast cancer fundraiser campaign modestly with a 2km lunch-time walk. I am very happy to be able to squeeze in the short walk today, and to start chipping off the big number. As you know, I have raised my goal from $500 to $1000 leading up to the official start of the campaign, and WE already managed to raise the monies. I am blessed with so many supportive friends, family, colleagues and more, I cannot thank you enough. I will move the bar one more time, and I’ll aim for $1500 to be raised till end of August, so share my fundraiser widely, if you are so inclined. Today, I am starting with posting from my Health  Data App (as I am still working out Strava), and a photo of the feline welcoming party once back home… Please let me know if you want to see any particular progress photos/videos, I am happy to take on other parallel/related challenges that may make this experience valuable for all.

For all families who have been through the challenge of previving, surviving, diagnostic anxieties, and loss associate to breast cancer, my thoughts and my love remains with you and for you!

With love,

Irena 

One day to go before I start my walk!

Good morning!

It is Wednesday morning 31 July 2024, and I just got back from my short morning walk at the local park. There is a realisation that I am not the fittest person in the world :-), so, the walk will benefit me greatly, as well as the fundraising campaign. For all families who have been through the challenge of previving, surviving, diagnostic anxieties, and loss associated to breast cancer, this morning my thoughts and my love are with you and for you! Thank you all for supporting me xo

Hugs,

Irena