A few months back, we received an email asking if any of us were interested in taking part in a charity cycle challenge - without hesitation I was interested and set about trying to convince some colleagues it was a good thing. There were three options: Bronze (39 miles), Silver (52 miles) and Gold (82 miles), to me it was obvious - it had to be the Gold challenge! Groomie & Jim Martin accepted the challenge, whilst Mr Adams had to sweat until his place was confirmed.

The Artemis Highland 100 is a stunning cycle route encompassing some of the most spectacular and historic areas of the Scottish Highlands. Most of the route is on minor roads but there are two challenging off-road sections of 12km and 21Km.

A brief background to the cyclists:

Martin Groom - last rode a bike whilst delivering papers around the Potters Bar area. Currently without a bike, but actively looking on ebay. (update 12/7 - now owns a bike and has ridden 16 miles!)
Paul Adams - has seen better days and can just about remember what a bike is but cannot understand why he can't use his Penny Farthing...keen to show the youngsters that there is still life after 40 !
Jim Martin - if you looked up the word "cyclist" in the dictionary, you would see a picture of Jim Martin. If you also looked up the word "deluded", again you would see a picture of Jim Martin.
Chris Jones - keen weekend cyclist who has "let himself go" over the past couple of years. Regularly takes in rides of between 20-25 miles and can walk ok afterwards.

Training Update:
15th May - Paul & Jim successfully completed a 20 mile cycle around Harwich
23rd May - Chris hauled his ass through 26 miles in some extreme hot weather training
5th June - Chris continued hot weather training with 23 miles around the beautiful coastal areas of the Thames Estuary
10th July  - Paul put in a 40+ mile ride around Cambridge
11th July - Chris increased his training and broke through the 45 mile barrier, whilst Martin put in 6.5 miles on his new bike
17th July - Chris, Jim & Paul rode 52 miles around the quiet lanes close to Colchester under 4 hours.

So here we are with just under two months to go, and it's time to start asking for your cash. The Artemis Charitable Foundation has nominated two charities to benefit from the event. Reflecting the company's Edinburgh connection, and clients in the UK and around the world, the company's staff have selected one local and one national charity partner for 2010:

Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading charity dedicated to cancer research. We carry out scientific research to help prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. We have discovered new ways of beating cancer that together have saved hundreds of thousands of lives across the world.

We provide life-changing information to patients, their families and friends, and run cancer awareness campaigns to help people reduce their risk of the disease. Our campaigning and lobbying helps keep cancer at the top of the political agenda.

One in three of us will get cancer at some point in our lives. Our groundbreaking work, funded almost entirely by the general public, will ensure that millions more people survive.

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org

CHAS
The Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) is a Scottish charity established to provide hospice services in Scotland for children with life-limiting conditions.

A children’s hospice offers professional care, practical help and emotional support to the whole family usually from the day they are referred until the death of their child and beyond.

Rachel House, Scotland’s first children’s hospice, opened in Kinross in July 1996. Robin House in Balloch opened in August 2005. Both hospices are purpose-built and each provides ongoing support for up to 200 families across Scotland each year. The CHAS at Home Team helps children and families in the Highlands by providing support to them in their own homes. The Team also provide homecare support to families across Scotland when they need it most.

http://www.chas.org.uk

 

Further information regarding the challenge can be found on the  following website - http://www.artemishighland100.com/