10th May 2010 - I have just arrived back from what has to be said to be the best thing I have ever done. All the miles of hills (up and down) have been well worth it.  On the last day I had my left knee decide to try and kill me (no idea what was wrong with it) - so a huge thank you to my step father-in-law who rode the three big hills (huge) with a hand on my back as I used just one leg to get up them.

I have added a picture of us under the Eiffle Tower. Please please please keep donating for my little boy Alexander, he is an inspiration to everyone and he doesn't even know it. There were many times on the trip that I just dug deep and thought of the many trips we had made to Great Ormond Street hospital , and all those children with internal and external birthmarks that are cared for by them. Without their help, and that of the BMSG we would not have been as stable and uunphased by Alexanders condition.

All of you that know Alexander know what a personable child he is and one that would help anybody. This is my way of helping other children, so that they too can grow up in the same way Alexander has. Thank you to all of you that have donated and may the donations continue to roll in. Please please come up and say hello to me if you see me at School or out and about, as I am unaware of half the people that have donated. you are all stars in your own right! - NOW go enjoy the Photo of me under the Eiffle Tower :-)

 

4th May 2010 - ThAnK YoU All for your donations, so many of you! I have tried to say thank you to you all in person, but I'm running out of time. It goes without saying that I appreciate ALL the donations from everyone, so will all the children in Great Ormond Street that suffer with birthmarks like my Alexander. 

4th May 2010 - OMG the day has arrived! I leave tonight for the big push tomorrow morning at 6am!!!!! At this point Mick has suggested we now buy a 10ltr Bike bag to put all the clothes we might need in it. I'm starting to wonder if I would be better off riding a bike with a basket :-).

18th April 2010 - Yet another Sportiv Completed - Blissford Hill nearly killed me (25%) but I managed to get up it in one go - more than can be said for the 50 around me who had to walk!                                        

Photo's at : http://www.philoconnor.com/sportive/index.htm click on New Forest Sportiv 18th April and search for 729 - please do not laugh, I look like a fish going up the hill - IT WAS STEEP! :-).

 **** Have added a picture of me on a recent Sportiv - just coming over ****

                                       **** the top of the biggest hill I have ever been up on a bike - and I smiled! ****

thank you to all those that have donated thus far. Please keep on donating, it is for a brilliant cause!

 **** PLEASE SEE THE VIDEO UPLOADED 1st Sept 2009 ****                                  

                    ****** London to Paris Bike Ride 5th to the 9th May 2010 - 500 KM (ouwch) ******

Update 12th November - Now cycling anything up to 50km per day - hard work but have now maxed out my electric bike. Have to keep this going through the winter and then hit the road hard come March. Fundraising is still going well. Plan to hit the amount by Christmas with luck.

I know I'm mad in doing this but it will serve two purposes, one I can lose weight faster than I am currently and two I wish to raise money for my son Alexander's charity the Birthmark Support Group. They can be found at http://www.birthmarksupportgroup.org.uk and was set up in December 1998 by parents of children with a birthmark at the suggestion of Drs Harper and Syed from Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. Its objective is to provide a UK based support group for anyone with a birthmark.

Please have a look through the photo's I have put on of Alexander to see how he has progressed under the care and guidance of the staff at Great Ormond Street Hospital. I'll also put up some video in due course.

I will also be blogging my journey as I prepare for this ride via facebook. I will place pictures of my adventure on facebook and if you wish to see them just add me in facebook, this will include buying the bike to riding the bike to falling off the bike I expect.

Below are the details The Birthmark Support Group charity and in particular some information about Alexander. Please please give anything you can, usually it is me donating to causes but this time I would really like to appeal to you all to give for my little lad (and my legs as I pedal 500km).

A massive thank you to all those that put their hands in their pockets thus far and please continue to pass this on.

Leslie

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Hi, thank you for visiting Alexanders fundraising page.

Alexander has had, since birth, two types of birthmarks, one internal (under his cheek) and the other external over the left side of his face.

Since the early days of spending weeks in Great Ormond Street hospital we have been supported by and also supported the Birthmark Support Group. This fantastic group of people offer support to families and children that is second to none.

In the last two years the BMSG has sought to produce a DVD which i have placed details about below. Sadly the group have exhausted all funds and are trying to raise a very small amount to enable them to distribute the DVD to Schools, Medical Profession and for parents (three films on one DVD).

Please take the time to read the below, dig deep and sponsor my son to assist the BMSG in geting this DVD to every school & hospital in the country.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Birthmark Support Group will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

So please sponsor me now!

Thank you for your invaluable support. Together we can make a real difference in raising the awareness of birthmarks throughout the UK. Please forward the link to this page on to as many people as you can.

Leslie Pendlebury-Bowe

- A DVD commissioned by the Birthmark Support Group

This major project by The Birthmark Support Group aims to raise the awareness of birthmarks amongst the public generally and the medical profession in particular.

It contains 3 professionally produced films, one aimed at the medical profession, one as a resource for secondary schools and one for general information, particularly for parents of new babies with birthmarks. The films are presented by broadcaster Paul Heiney and include contributions from our patron, Esther Rantzen. The DVD will be accompanied by an 8 page A5 brochure.

The cost of producing and distributing 40,000 DVDs is a major call on our limited funds and we ask that you help us by ‘buying’ DVDs, perhaps to give as gifts, particularly this Christmas. You won’t actually receive the DVDs but -

£3 will place one DVD in a doctor’s surgery or a school

£5 will place two DVDs or £10 will place 5!