Lisa Langford

Events: Remembering Lisa Langford

sian Blog, Events

The Inspirational Lisa Langford: Sugar Free February & Steps4Lisa March

The beautiful smiling lady in this photo was Lisa Langford, the wife of my schoolfriend Adam, mother to two young boys, member of Dunstable Road Runners, baker of delicious Carrot Cake, organiser, volunteer & helper at all manner of village, school & social events – as well as fundraiser for charities & a friend to many. She was loved by an awful lot of people & was a great source of inspiration for all who knew her.

 Lisa Langford

The lovely Lisa Langford 🙂

 Lisa Langford

Lisa with her two boys

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a shock for her friends & family when Lisa was diagnosed with cancer in 2015, & although she appeared to be in remission, it returned just before Christmas in 2016. She sadly died from cancer last month at 37, leaving two young boys & many family & friends to miss her presence.

 Lisa Langford

Going Sugar Free for February!

Sugar Free February – Cancer Research UK

 Lisa Langford

The Sugar Free February campaign raised over £200 for Cancer Research UK

In February I undertook the Sugar Free February challenge for Cancer Research UK, dedicating it to Lisa & later to her memory. The challenge was to stop eating processed sugar – no more cakes, cookies, biscuits, sweets or chocolate! However, as I already greatly limit my sugar I was much stricter, cutting out all natural sugars, dried fruit etc & keeping to lower sugar fruit, Coconut milk yoghurt & peanut butter with apple. Although I admit that I couldn’t manage without it – so chose Montezuma Absolute Black 100% chocolate with 0.5g sugar per 100g!

Not much of a challenge then? Not at all! Although I have adopted a lifestyle less sweeter, the one time I do tend to indulge my sweet tooth is at events & parties where a slicette of Strudel or a morsel of Madeira allows me to give in to temptation. Life is, after all, to be enjoyed, as Lisa herself often recognised. It couldn’t have been better timed. February saw my birthday (including the annual Birthday Bun tradition for any who know me), 2 wakes, 2 parties & Pancake Day, not to mention my aunt’s 70th where more than one person suggested birthday cake. I must admit I was grateful for St. David’s Day & a belated Shrove Tuesday celebration with Lemon – & Sugar pancakes! Altogether I raised over £200 for Cancer Research UK so it was more than worth the effort. I thought I might have a rest….

 Lisa Langford

Now I will be taking 10,000 steps every day in March

Steps4Lisa – 10,000 steps/day March

Lisa was not the kind of person to rest though, particularly where fund-raising was involved. She has encouraged many people by her actions & attitudes. Just see her blog & the page set up & inspired by her – Day For Lisa. I had started by taking the Sugar Free February challenge, but wanted to do something more personally for Lisa. I wanted to choose a cause that was particularly close to her heart. A charity that helped her & her family so much. Lisa loved to run. She excelled at it. I do not (think flomp). I am, however, good at walking! So, I am now taking at least 10,000 steps every day in March to raise money for the Willow Foundation.

 Lisa Langford

I hope to raise funds for the Willow Foundation, Lisa’s chosen charity

The Willow Foundation is a charity founded in 1999 by former Arsenal goalkeeper and TV presenter, Bob Wilson and his wife, Megs, as a lasting memorial to their daughter, Anna, who died of cancer aged 31. It is the only national charity working with seriously ill young adults aged 16 to 40 to fulfil uplifting & unforgettable Special Days. Since then it has fulfilled more than 13,500 Special Days for young adults living with life-threatening conditions such as cancer, motor neurone disease, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy & Huntington’s disease.

Anna’s love of life and the enriching experiences of her own Special Days were the charity’s inspiration, & Lisa Langford is mine 🙂
 Lisa Langford

I love Lisa’s smile 🙂

I would be so incredibly grateful if you could support me in this fundraiser. By doing so you are supporting charities like Cancer Research UK & the Willow Foundation. Through them we can try to help more people like Lisa, those affected by cancer & other serious illnesses. Where they cannot help by curing, they can help with Special Days, care & support.

My fund-raising page is below – I give my profound gratitude for any donation large & small, as everything can help
Steps4Lisa – Willow Foundation