Raised: 113%
Target: £2,000.00
Raised so far: £2,262.00
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My story

 

Thank you to each and every one of you for the generous support you offered to me and the Royal British Legion for my 'Pedal to Paris' last week.  I am delighted to report that, having set off from Greenwich Park at 8am on Thursday morning, I arrived safely at the Arc de Triomphe at 3pm on Sunday.  The trip was fantastic, and one that I would absolutely recommend to anyone who is giving it even half a thought.  Police outriders led us off from Greenwich and out of London, and then we had full French police escort all the way from Calais to Paris.  Arriving in Paris with 10 support vehicles, 18 motorcycle outriders and the whole city stopped on our account was truly exhilarating.  I wouldn't claim that the crowds were ten-deep at all times, but we had amazing support along the way and having sprinted up Grande Armee in sight of the Arc de Triomphe, we crested the top of the road to find hundreds of friends, families and tourists all there to cheer us in.  I don't mind saying that a few of us grown-men were blubbing by the end.


The event was also a very humbling one, as in every town in which we stopped for a break, the villagers and veterans came out for a wreath-laying ceremony, a minute's silence and singing of both countries' national anthems.  95 years after the beginning of the carnage of World War One in Northern France, and 70 years to the day after the start of World War Two, there was no better way to highlight the link between what we were trying to do and the effect that war has on families and communities.  In one village, Auchy La Montagne, the whole population came out for a street party in our honour.  We learned from the Mayor that the village had been under Nazi occupation in WWII and that all male villagers had been shot when the Germans withdrew in 1944.  The Allied soldiers who relieved the village showed great kindness, we were told, and since then the villagers have had a wonderful fondness for the British. All wonderful, and emotional, stuff.  It also helps that they love their cycling, and cyclists, over there.

Shortly after the race finished on Sunday afternoon, with the Champs Elysees and Place de L'Etoile once again shut, we had a final remembrance service under the Arc de Triomphe, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  We marched off with the band playing "It's a long way to Tipperaray" - our aching backsides and legs knew what they meant.

Thank you again for the support you gave me.  All in I have raised over £2,000, and the total event raised over£250,000 for the families of soldiers injured or killed in action.

The whole event was tremendous fun, and if any of you are interested in joining me in 2010, please let me know.

Thank you and best wishes.

Graham

Wow. Well done. Donation by Jock 01/10/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Well done, Graz. Not the first time we have seen you cry in central Paris Donation by Rod 10/09/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Donation by Gareth 06/09/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Nice one Grazza; you sure this isn't an early warm-up for next season's school cricket fixture? Your lot looked well lardy!! Donation by Lucy & Stan 03/09/09  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Donation by Penelope Hutton 02/09/09  

£40.00

Graham, see you back here on a daily basis after the cycle. Turn scooter engine off on Ch Elysees! Donation by David Lloyd Health & Fitness Club 02/09/09  

£7.00 + £1.97 Gift Aid

Graham, from all of us here at DL H&C great effort. Donation by (Edinburgh) David Lloyd Health & Fitness Club 02/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Best of luck with the ride - hope you've got a very padded seat...it's a long way. Donation by Peter Bell 02/09/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

The very best of luck Alison Donation by alison salvesen 31/08/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Presume that the wine stocks in London will start getting depleted once this is out of the way! Bonne chance Donation by Jan Davies 31/08/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Hope you don't get too saddle sore in such a good cause! Mum and Dad Donation by Derek Bucknall 30/08/09  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

hope your shorts aren't too tight. Donation by Ed Brooke 27/08/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Go for it Buckers - i shall expect you back opening the bowling again next year. Donation by Rozza 27/08/09  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

When you get to France don't forget to pedal on the other side of the road!! Lots of luck. James, Jane, Maddie and Sam x Donation by Jane 27/08/09  

£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid

Donation by brian miller 27/08/09  

£270.00 + £76.15 Gift Aid

Good Luck Graham. All this beach cricket must be keeping you fit. Donation by Bill Morris 27/08/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Bon chance and don't forget to admire the scenery and keep breathing ! Donation by The Young family 26/08/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck Breville Donation by Masey 26/08/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good luck Graham hope you are fast on your bike as Mark Cavendish when it comes to the closing straight down the Champs-Élysees! Donation by neil & lisa mcclure 25/08/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Best wishes Graham - a very worthy cause Donation by Geoff Walls 24/08/09  

£25.00

Good luck Graham - and remember - you are not allowed to catch the train! Donation by Scott Rasmusen 23/08/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Graham - Good luck! I don't think that I have ever paid someone to go to Paris before! Donation by David Livermore 19/08/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Graham Great cause - best of luck Bill & Joanne Donation by William Madden 18/08/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Not sure riding in the back of a rickshaw will qualify! Good luck. Donation by John Strachan, Maximillion 17/08/09  

£20.00

God Speed to you! Julian seems to know too much about lubricants and jelly, so he's probably right... Donation by Carlyle Associates 17/08/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Presumably you need quite a long snorkel for the bit in the middle? .... i also want a refund if you fail the random drugs test. Donation by Robin Robson 17/08/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck Graham! Donation by Emma Little 17/08/09  

£10.00

Good effort, well done Donation by Richard Bath 16/08/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck Graham - very impressed. Donation by Prem Mohan Raj 16/08/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Vaseline and a jelly saddle - need I say more?.... Donation by Julian Blake 15/08/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
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* Total raised online: £1,387.00
  Offline donations: £875.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £350.31

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