2014 Challenge

Good morning everyone!

Another week gone on our journey to being free from gambling in 2014! It’s been a bit of a strange week, but ultimately there is an army heading towards amazing individual victories and new lives. It’s not easy, we all know that……….and a lesson for this week when reading through the posts is that no matter where we are on the journey, day 1 or day 101……….and I’d imagine day 1001, there are always times when we will reflect, regret, beat ourselves up about the things we’ve done and find ourselves in dark places………………however, the money we’ve lost, the lies we’ve possibly told, the hurt we’ve maybe caused and the damage to relationships that could have been done…………is in the past and no matter how brilliant any of us are, we can’t influence it. What we can do is learn from it, influence what happens today through our behaviours , love the people we love, invest our time and energy in the things that are important to us and look forward to a very different future knowing that the part that gambling has played in our pasts will not impact us again……..even though we may not know what that future holds for us. Every day we do not gamble we repair ourselves and we create a new chapter in our future.

We are blessed to be on the road to recovery. We are blessed to have people who care about us (and no matter what you may think, if your name is on this update then there are another 33 names of people who care about you……..that makes us really blessed!).

There’s one more week that I’m going to keep the “Gathering” window open for people to express their interest in attending. All I need is an email to say hi (email address is under my sign off on the very front page of the thread), that you want to attend, where you live and what restrictions there would be in you attending. There’s a couple of you who have emailed me during the week that I’ve not got around to responding to - I will do in the next couple of days - thanks for the note!

Here’s the headlines for this week………

33 of the 40 soldiers who were marching together have made it to the next milestone on the road which gives us a retention rate of 83%. We’ve picked up another soldier on the way which means we have 34 comrades marching into the new week. Despite the drop off in numbers this week, we are still showing growth in our collective days free from gambling, which equates to over 6.5 years and is 2.5% more than last week. We’ve hit a bit of a milestone in terms of the average days each one of has now……..exactly 70 days is the average we have now - an awesome number and a big increase on the week before. Nearly a third of the group have more than 100 days free from gambling and the vast majority have come through the first fortnight……………..we probably have the most stable group we’ve ever had……….I think this is the group that can take us through the 7 year mark and past the quarter of a million £ saved this week……………that’s our collective challenge and responsibility to one another as the new week begins.

We have one new soldier join the group this week, with two more sadly not reposting to confirm their commitment. Welcome to Gladsdad - looking forward to watching your journey unfold Gladsdad and all the best for this!

Awards for the Week………

I can’t really think of any one thing that stands out this week for the group or individuals, but I do think that there’s a place to call some things out that, while I may be generalising will strike a chord with most of you. We all have challenges on this journey………relationships, work, financial, loss (a number of meanings to that), emotional, physical, mental and spiritual……….plus countless more. There are people in this team that have been particularly heavily impacted by some of these but have not capitulated and returned to gambling. I truly believe that we are at our most vulnerable when we have to face the greater challenges of live………..and that’s when we are most at risk to return to one thing that we try to justify to ourselves will bring us happiness or a thrill or that could “solve” our problems………when deep down we know the reality to be very different.

We could all think of team members that we know are struggling…………..but each one of them will put their best foot forward today and continue marching with us.

To every single one of you………….I have so much admiration for you……………I respect you……………I am proud to be walking this journey with you………………and I am so blessed that our paths have cross. You are my heroes.

Milestones Celebrated Last Week………..

Hitthefan - broke through the 70 day barrier and into double digits of weeks clean from gambling! Superb going HTF!!

Luckygirl and ToBeOrNot - both hit the half century and past 50 days of being clean - such a significant number folks……….doesn’t seem like yesterday that you both joined us, and it won’t be long before you’re both joining the century club………I have every confidence you’re going to make it!

Milestones That Will Be Celebrated in the Coming Week

Monday 14th - newhorizon71 will celebrate 50 days of freedom!!

Thursday 17th - mjpsmummy will join newhorizon on the 50 day mark and be half way to the century club!

Saturday 19th - the daddy of the group Delboy79 will reach the incredible 250 day mark - we will always be looking up to you Del!

The Roll of Honour………………..

Here’s the 34 strong team marching into this coming week………..

Name Clean Days

The_Rock 133

lec101 125

Hardtimes 124

babybluesky 124

bornagain 117

Happy Days 122

2012theyear 141

lostafortune 37

No Maybe 172

Mr Brightside 126

rst18 78

Delboy79 244

Hitthefan 71

mjpsmummy 46

luckygirl 54

newhorizon71 49

Baggins 42

Kickitnow 39

ToBeOrNot 51

NoCrisis 30

triangle 31

Scambling 127

ringerbell 31

delboygolf 24

AdamPrice 81

RobbyBox 15

Spaingone 27

davey 10

FlyingFox1 37

Shorty8 22

Chirst21 17

Drew2002 14

King1984 14

Gladsdad 8

The seven missing soldiers who have not checked in this week are…..

Batman

Strange

CasinoLoser

Bex123

NotHappy

Disco

HarrisonJ17

Some of them are still posting on diaries so if you are responding to them, give them a nudge if you want and ask then to get the finger out and get checked in this week - we’ve made a commitment to one another by joining this challenge!

So, drum roll………total days free of gambling is……….

2383 Days = £238,300 in our pockets………………..£0 in the bookies!!!

That’s the update for this week then team! Check in is open for the coming week! Please check in early guys, my nerves can’t take another week like last week!

Have a good week folks,

Mr Brightside

Checking in on day 31

amazingly well done to all on the journey

lets hope we all keep walking together

march 2,3,4...

triangle

Hey everyone,

I am really sorry I missed check in last week mr B still part of the team and still going strong on the journey to a gamble free life ! I am currently sitting on 59 days and have worked out when I'll be hitting the big milestones even marked then on my Calender, hope everyone had a good week and stayed strong through the grand national ! Keep it up guys 😉

Check in on 59 days

The caped crusader 🙂

Checking in on day 7

Thank you Mr B for another brilliant update - checking in on Day 42.

Congratulations to all - Onward Check-in Soldiers.....

Joanna

Hi Day 37 check in for me - sorry for late Mr B - although cheers I can see I am included on the list - good call:)

Checking in on day 31

Great post as always mr Brightside. Everyone is doing so well let's keep it up and together can beat this. I don't post as often as others on here but visit everyday and reading posts by others helps me along my own road 🙂

Have realised that if I keep myself busy I don't have as many urges to have a bet. The golf is on this weekend and it was another favourite of mine when it came to betting but have found this weekend I have enjoyed watching it more than previous years as their is no pressure on me to cover bets etc. horses were my main problem and I didn't even know the Scottish national was yesterday until after the race. My charity event is keeping my mind focused as well and got great news on it yesterday which has me buzzing for the week ahead

Hey folks!!

I've updated the front page with the latest check in details - welcome again Pinky - you'll be formally added to the team next Sunday!! Congrats on your first full week free of gambling.

Great post as well ringerbell - just wondering if you have any more information about the event and if there's anything that anyone could be doing by way of support? Sounds amazing what you are doing!

Great to see you back Batman - would like to say I was going to kick your a55, but don't fancy my chances against a super hero!!

Very early start for me - off to bed for another week of fun ahead!! Have a good one team!!

Mr Brightside

Just seen your comment mr brightside

The charity event originally started out as just organising a small raffle to help raise funds for the clodagh daly trust. It's a charity here in Ireland to help raise money for clodagh daly to help in her battle against neuroblastoma cancer. She got diagnosed at age of 5 weeks with this in October 2012 and battling it since. There is a 70% chance of relapse with her form of it and the treatment isn't available here to treat her if that was to happen. So the charity is raising funds to take her over to America for a new treatment that helps prevent a relapse before it happens

I'm a massive football fan and follow the rep of Ireland all over Europe so had few contacts with players etc so thought be great to use these to my benefit to help this lil girl. Contacted fai and numerous clubs in England and other irish sports stars and thankfully the response been great. Have received signed items from numerous irish boxing stars,football players, rugby sides etc and fai gave us signed Ireland shirt and 2 VIP tickets to 1st home qualifier. Also managed to get a special item from our old enemy England from that game at wembley last year. A signed limited edition jersey from Shane long who scored that night. The k club golf resort have given us a 4 ball for their state of the art Ryder cup course

Now as yous will know from my posts I been working hard on this the past few weeks and got word on Friday that my bigger plans are starting to take shape. Have begun to organise a function night for the charity with music, food, past irish players etc. the big news I got on Friday was a hotel in Dublin have gratefully offered us their function room free of charge so we can run this event. 1st thing tomorrow morning I will be back sending out emails to musicians and past footballers etc to try tie these down for the date we plan to run the night on.

As I said in a previous post everyone thinks its great that I'm putting time and effort in to helping this little girl out and it's true I am doing that but it's not hard to do as without even knowing it she is helping me on my battle as well. Everyday I get up I put my efforts into phoning and emailing people to help with this, which is a better way to spend my day than sitting in a bookies blowing my money and wasting my life away. Everyday I think no matter how bad I think my life is there is someone who is worse off and if I can do my bit to help them I will do

Once I have all info finalised will be setting up a page online for people to buy tickets for the raffle. Don't know if I will put it on here for obvious reasons but can give details to anyone who wants them and they can either support via the raffle or by a direct donation

Brilliant post Ringerbell!!

Sounds like a heck of a lot of work that will bring even greater rewards in a number of areas! I think your approach and energy behind this is really inspiring - keep up the good work! Your idea behind the raffles etc. is wise and would urge you to keep that element off here but certainly offer the option to make donations.

I may be able to offer some help to you - nothing definite but I have a couple of business contacts in Dublin who may be able to lend a hand in some way, shape or form - maybe donations for the event etc.

Please email me your contact details and I'll drop a couple of notes and hopefully put you on to a name or two.

Really well done ringer - your energy is infectious and what an amazing cause.

Mr Brightside

Morning all

new member here. Day 1 for me....heres counting

Morning all, checking in on day 128

Mr B - Once again great update, not just because of all the wonderful statistics, but also for your inspirational words. The time you put into your posts and this thread is truly magnificent. I havn't responded to you email yet, however I will do shortly. I also would like to ask how your feeling towards gambling now and how you felt at the beginning of this challenge.

Ringerbell - What your doing is fantastic, especially because you started this at the early stages of your recovery. Heres something to remember if you get an urge... 'If I gamble today, I am throwing money away that could be used for Miss Daly's charity' Well done though, very inspiring.

Batman - Glad to see our superhero posting, I remember your early days and now your at 60 days free! However your still in recovery, so dont get complacent. Remember to come here and drop us a regular post of how things are. We get worried when our regulars dont check in...

Joanna/Linda - Hope your both doing ok, I have seen you posting around the forum, which is good to see 🙂

CasinoLoser - We're missing you bud! If you see this, then giveus an update of whats happening. Hope all is well, but remember we will all support you regardless if you have slipped up.

And finally, welcome to all new members and I hope you will get something out of this challenge, just as I have.

P.S - Hello to all those I didnt mention above and lets get these check-ins in down early, so we can hit our milestone of saving a quater of a million £ collectively as a group!

Scambling 🙂

Just sent you an email to the address on the 1st page Mr Brightside

Thanks for all the great comments everyone but I'm only 1 of a few who are working on this just hoping we can make it a success

Hey gang,

Just checking in today. Things are going pretty well, not been thinking about gambling much at all recently. I don't miss any of the anticipation of a win or the desperation of a loss. Things are defo looking much brighter. Just got to stay determined, focused and positive. Thanks to all for pushing on, it makes the battle a little easier knowing there is a unit of us. I'm not only doing this for me, my family and friends and my future but for everyone involved in this challenge.

Well done everyone and keep fighting the urges and demons.

Drew

I'm in. I have gambled my way into debt and my partner is now in a lot of debt through my lies. I have come clean today and I seek all the help and support you all can give. Need to be there for each other because I'm sick of people who have never had this problem, telling me to get a grip (although in a nutshell they are right)