It's a strange feeling as i sit and write this final message to you all. I find myself feeling like i am cutting a part out of my life that i did not want to end. I also feel very humbled as to the response i have received. Not just through the amazing donations that have already seen me past my target, but the emails and calls i received from so many people who were genuinely proud of the achievement. I can honestly say it took me a while for that to sink in as i always avoid any self congratulation and try to divert that to the cause i am committed to.
I firmly believe that for a lot of people who did not participate they felt they were there with us on this great journey as well as helping enormously to our cause, DebRA.
I have too many people to thank and i will get to all of you personally over the coming weeks. To those of you who i do not know who helped on raising funds a massive thank you. Rachel who was really an amazing motivational help and her fantastic clients and friends, Steve Babbage and everyone at Vodafone. To Dalila and Virgin Atlantic for getting me there and back (on a plane!!).
To Mariana and of course my daughter Lucie for giving me the encouragement to keep going.
To Louise Tait from DebRA for keeping me straight along with the rest of our team and creating the fantastic PR we received.
To Pat Turnbull and Graham Marsden from DebRA who do more for this cause, selflessly and without the credit they deserve.
Colin Brumpton, Charlie Schwartz and Mike Metcalfe who are always there every time of asking!
To all our riders who gave the time and most of all the effort to do this challenge. I know many of them literally did something they would never have believed possible and gave part of their life to help our kids at DebRA. My respect and friendship forever to you all.
Lawrence, what can i say, a big man in every meaning of the word, a true leader and a living breathing machine!
To Giant who provided the best bike in the world (PS, it is here when you want to collect it!).
And of course my mum for having me!
Most of all to our DebRA children, who gave not just our riders, but over 200 people who participated the spirit to achieve their goal. There were other charities, but without exception the biggest reaction came through people experiencing the effects of EB for the first time.
We achieved not only badly needed funding but a huge new network of people to help us going forward.
Please look at the photos i added from the cycle and please please look at the video again just to remind why we did this.
Our donations will cease on the 9th of April so if you can spare the last few pounds we would be enormously grateful.
Best wishes
Greg x
