I have changed the charity donation page please make any donations at http://www.bmycharity.com/briantinnion this is owned and run by Help for Heroes who do not charge any fees.Thank you Brian

Well its all over!

 I started way back in February 2010  with the intention of raising £5545 enduring a little for those that endure a lot on our behalf.

 4 events later and having returned safely back from that big hill in Nepal I am absolutely humbled with the total funds you guys have donated.Thank you all for your support
 

Hi I am Brian I have been a Firefighter with Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service for the past 25 years.

After watching many sad moments of dead and injured service personnel returning from conflicts abroad I decided to  "just do something" to try and help. So what started out as a proposed sponsored cycle or walk has developed into a four part challenge

I'm raising money for Help for Heroes  that provides practical direct support to those servicemen and women wounded in the line of duty in the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and I urge people to support them by sponsoring me.

Sponsor me online and tick gift aid your money goes direct to the charity.

My aim is to complete the following challenges between June 2010 and December 2010: keep up to date with my blog

1.Cycle from Land's End to John OGroat's (LEJOG) the length of mainland Britain between two extremities.Completed 22nd-30th May 2010. 934 miles in 9 days total ride time 68 hrs 49 minutes 57 secs averaging 103.78 miles per day.

2.The Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge Climb and walk a 25 mile route takeing in the three highest peaks in Yorkshire.Completed on 10th July 2010

3.The National UK Three Peaks Challenge in 24 hours climb and travel between the three highest peaks in England (Scarfell Pike 978m) Scotland (Ben Nevis 1344m) and Wales (Snowdon 1085m)  23rd-24th July 2010

4. Everest base Camp 19 days trekking through the Everest foothills following the Khumbu Glacier to Everest base Camp at 5545m (18,192 feet for you old folk) this is also my fund raising target.13th Nov-1stDec.Reached Base Camp on the 24th Nov 2010 at 13.15pm local (7.30am UK)

So that completes my Challenges for 2010.

It has been a fantastic journey and I have met many many genorous people who have helped along the way be it family,friends,or complete strangers and to hundreds who have donated over £26 Thousand pounds to HELP for HEROES every pound donated will make a difference to our wounded Troops.Thank you all Brian

The first of my challenges will be:

Cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats, the furthest possible distance in the British Isles, is a classic challenge that many dream of. Starting at Land's End on the southwesterly tip of England, I will pedal my way through Cornwall, over Dartmoor and north along the Welsh border, skirting the Lake District into Scotland, via lochs and mountains to the North coast and John O'Groats. In all I will cover almost 1000 miles in 10 days, passing through some of the most stunning and remote countryside in the British Isles.

 I have set a ambitious target of 10 days, which means I need to average 100 miles per day this wiill be an enormous personal challenge for me,but I am prepared to do this to show my support.Which raised the issue,am I fit enough? it's not a race, but there are a few  days in which the climbing is particularly arduous so Iv been told!!,notably Cornwall Somerset Lake district and Scotland!!!! 4 out of 10 cant be bad. I've been cycling about 30 miles a day to work but will need to take some scenic routes to increase my distances.

My main worry is the pain but after watching War Torn Warriors which focused on 3 injured Royal Marine Commandos returning from Afghanistan with terrible injuries any pain I suffer will be worth every penny I can raise to help our injured troops.

Remember the motto "NO PAIN NO GAIN" as an ex Royal Marine I still remember the sign in the lane at the end of our endurance runs "Only 500m to go" 

Their stories also provide insight into the often overlooked issue of what happens when military men, who have experienced indescribable horrors in Afghanistan and Iraq, return to civilian life. War Torn focuses on how these individuals recover from their wounds, be there appalling physical injuries or emotional scars.

The British Government do not publicise (for security reasons) the number of injured service personnel but it is estimated that for every 1 fatality there are another 10 very seriously injured with life changing injuries. 

My bike is a Trek road bike bought from www.kbcycles.com at the old Fire Station Newburn through the bike to work scheme a great way to keep fit and save money by reclaiming VAT and Tax.

A big thank you to Keith and the guys at kbcycles who have donated parts and time to rebuild my bike for the ride changing just about everything apart from the frame, replacing wheels cranks gears chain and cables and Adam who carried out a Trek bike fit session.

 I am encouraged by the fact that someone did it on a penny farthing in the 1870s,and hundreds of people do it every year but often takeing a leisurely 2/3 weeks to complete it.

I will be travelling light and unsupported.On the same principle as if you take a big suitcase on holiday you'll fill it up and won't be able to carry it.I will be taking only two panniers and a bar bag. That means two sets of cycling gear, and a change, plus waterproofs bivvy bag sleeping bag and essentials.(no bottles of Bud) on this trip.
I have managed to arrange most nights stopping in Fire Stations along the route but I'm not high maintenace and will use any facilities available.

Any donations are truly appreciated and will be my driving force behind my challenges.

So please dig deep and donate now.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page http://www.justgiving.com/BrianTinnionHelpforHeros and keep upto date with my blog

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

UPDATES

Ponteland middle school have invited Help for Heroes into school to talk about the charity and the challenges we all face and to have a FUN non uniform day dressed as your own HERO!!!!

A FANTASTIC day at Ponteland County Middle School raised £1300.22 Thank you to headteacher Mrs Caroline Pryer all the staff and all the children who dontated time and money to Help for Heroes.