<div> <div><span style="color: #0000ff;">Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.</span></div> <div><span style="color: #0000ff;">This is all about remembering a good friend, and paying tribute to some really gutsy young people.</span></div> <div><span style="color: #0000ff;">My niece, Natalie, was diagnosed with leukemia in May 2010. She was only 13 at the time. She has endured some very difficult and traumatic treatments over a very long time but has now been given an "all clear", subject to regular check ups, and some ongoing treatments and meds.</span></div> <div><span style="color: #0000ff;">Joe, the son of good friends, was only 16 when he was diagnosed with a "rare" bone cancer in June 2010. Joe has also endured some difficult, painful and traumatic treatments but he too has now been given an "all clear", as above, subject to some ongoing meds and treatment.</span></div> <div><span style="color: #0000ff;">These are two stories with a happy ending.</span></div> <div><span style="color: #0000ff;">Both of these young people were taken care of by staff at the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford, in the Kamran Ward. My thanks go toeveryone there for their support, care and understanding.</span></div> <div><span style="color: #0000ff;">However, many of you will also know that the outcome of cancer is not always so good. My good friend and cycling "partner" Simon Pool, died from Cancer in August 2010 at a very young 47.</span></div> <div><span style="color: #0000ff;">During his battle against cancer, the last few weeks of his life were spent at the Florence Nightingale Hospice in Aylesbury who made his time there as comfortable as it could be during that terrible time for him.</span></div> <div><span style="color: #0000ff;">Although the hospice is NHS, it relies greatly on charitable donations to make this more than a hospital, therefore I would like to focus the donations from this endeavour to this hospice.</span></div> <div><span style="color: #0000ff;">For my part, for each of the above, I will attempt a cycling challenge, so three big rides over three months.This all kicks off as follows:-</span></div> <div><span style="color: #0000ff;">1. 8th May with the Fred Whitton challenge - The Saddleback Fred Whitton Challenge is a gruelling 112 mile sportive ride around the English Lake District, taking in six of the major passes en route.The route starts &amp; finishes at Coniston, and includes the climbs of Kirkstone Pass, Honister Pass, Newlands Pass, Whinlatter Pass, Cold Fell, Irton Pike, and finishes with the brutal Hardknott &amp; Wrynose Passes.Total vertical climbing is around 3800m.</span></div> <div><span style="color: #0000ff;">2. 5th June - The Dragon ride - The 2011 Verenti Dragon Ride Wales is hailed as "The UKs Premier Cyclosportive".The ride covers 200km over the challenging climbs of the South Wales Valleys including the classic Category 1 climbs of the Bwlch and Rhigos. Total vertical climbing is 3000m and the ride skirts the bleak but beautiful Brecon Beacons.</span></div> <div><span style="color: #0000ff;">3. 3rd July - La Marmotte - The doyenne of French cyclosportives. This 174km route culminates in the legendary climb to Alpe d'Huez.</span></div> <div><span style="color: #0000ff;">With 5000m of vertical climbing over a distance of 174 km (110 miles) the course starts at Bourg d&rsquo;Oisans, climbs the Col de Glandon, descends into the Maurienne Valley, climbs the Col de la Telegraph, then the Col de Galibier, drops down to the Col de Lauteret, then back down to Bourg d&rsquo;Oisans and, for the grand finale, climbs up to Alpe d&rsquo;Huez.It is still regarded as the toughest sportive of them all!</span></div> <div><span style="color: #0000ff;">For two of these events, 2 and 3 above, I will ride with Robbo. This is one of those Pixar "Shrek and Donkey" moments but I'm unsure who is who! - as a relative newcomer to such distances and terrain, these two events will prove even more daunting an experience for him. In his words,........</span></div> <div><span style="color: #0000ff;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #000080;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The experiences of our friends have inspired me to train as hard as I can not to let these worthy causes down. </span></span></span> </span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0000ff;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">The memory of Simon completing a similar Alpine event with Jeff in 2009 is also a massive motivator. Sadly a lifetime of doughnuts and lager has not been the sort of carb loading required for these challenges and I suspect I&rsquo;ll be enjoying the down bits more than the up bits (21 hair pin bends at the finish in Alpe D&rsquo;huez could be quite tough!). Thanks for your support of these incredible charities.&rdquo;</span></span></span></p> <div><span style="color: #0000ff;">553 km on the road and over 11,800 vertical meters climbed - hours of training (mostly alone), and a very tolerant wife (and that's before I spend time on the bike!) - that must be worth a small donation for a great cause, in memory of a great bloke, and in recognition of two brave youngsters and their success stories.</span></div> <div><span style="color: #0000ff;">Thank you.</span></div> </div>