Raised: 145%
Target: £500.00
Raised so far: £725.00
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My story

 
UPDATE, 25 SEPTEMBER 2009: PHOTOSTREAM LINK IS NOW LIVE. CLICK HERE

1. What's all this then?

[to be read with your best movie trailer voice] In late September 2009, one man will don padded lycra shorts and ride over 350 miles in a charity event of truly EPIC proportions. From Lundy Island in darkest Devon he will journey the length of the south coast, arriving battered and bruised -- but mercifully free of saddle sore -- in London after just 5 days. This gruelling endeavour will see him ascend 6000 metres, higher than the UK's tallest mountain. Steve Rocliffe in a charity event about Lundy, London and...[that's quite enough movie voiceover guy now]...


2. That's crazy talk! Why would you want to do something like that?

The seas around our island nation could be some of the most productive and wildlife rich on earth. Beneath the waves are landscapes as awe-inspiring as those we see on land, with undersea cliffs, caves, chasms, mountains, dunes and plains.

Colourful reefs, meadows of seagrass and other extraordinary habitats are home to many thousands of plants and animals, from tiny corals to the massive basking shark, the world’s second largest fish.

Yet our seas are in trouble. For centuries we have taken their riches for granted. Fragile habitats have been destroyed, whether ripped up by fishing gear or contaminated by industry.  And less than a thousandth of 1% (0.001%) of the UK's sea area is fully protected from all damaging activities.

Numbers of basking sharks have dropped by more than 95%, while the common skate, once abundant throughout UK seas, is on the brink of extinction. Corals, seahorses, whales, dolphins and seals – all have been affected. Fish stocks have collapsed and marine resources are depleted. It's a great environmental tragedy, but one that has received little attention: out of sight, out of mind.


3. Okay, okay. I'm sold. Now how do I donate?

I'm raising money for both the Marine Conservation Society and Dorset Wildlife Trust's Living Seas Programme. So if the MCS gets your vote, click on the big blue Donate button below and follow the handy instructions. If DWT is more your thing, click here and you'll soon be parted with your hard-earned cash!

Whichever charity you choose, know that donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Plus your details are safe and they'll never spam you.

And because this ride is as much about raising awareness of the issues as raising money to help overcome them, I'll be photoblogging the entire journey right here.

So please donate whatever you can now. As our favourite supermarket is fond of saying, every little helps.

Better late than never. Go Steve! Donation by Rod Logan 28/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Power to your pedals Mr Padded Lyrca 2009 x Donation by sarah sherran 25/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

You are truly wonderful cycling all those hilly miles as a lobster for charity.Take care xx Donation by em rance 24/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Enjoy the ride, hope the padding does the trick! Donation by Hilarie Lewis 23/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Hey Steve, good luck mate. I look forward to seeing the photos. All the best. Bryan Donation by Bryan Whiting 22/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Better look nice when I get down there. Donation by Rob Bailey 22/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

If you are a lobster, do you have 10 legs???is that cheating??? Being a fish would have been more difficult....good luck Donation by Brummy 22/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

'Beware, Giant Lobster escapes from AXA IM' - now that's a headline. Hats off to you Steve, all the best. Donation by Sara Dennehy 22/09/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

If you are ever looking for a Marine Compliance Officer - just let me know. Good luck! Donation by Peter Hawkins 22/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Delighted that you are finally doing something useful! Respect to you sir. Watch out for my North Devon relatives..... Donation by JAMIE HOOPER 22/09/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Looking forward to the pix!!!! Donation by Christopher Marie 22/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Have fun on the journey Donation by anonymous 22/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

The world is in a dire state. It just doesn't look like it is on our plasma widescreens. Thank God for you Steve, leading the way. Donation by Joshua Antanaitis 12/09/09  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Sorry I missed your do. Good luck with the challenge! Donation by Anja Balfour 11/09/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Well played! Donation by Rupert Hunter 10/09/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

looking forward to seeing the photos - assuming you don't have a get out claws.... Donation by Jeremy Gleeson 10/09/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Good luck! Donation by Deane 10/09/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good Luck Steveo! I think you need to model the Lobster suit at work as proof. Your photoshopping skills mean that photos aren't enough! Donation by Maeve O'Sullivan 10/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Best of luck Steve Donation by Anonymous 10/09/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

I think you should wear the lobster costume on your last day in the office! Good luck! Donation by Tracy Watt 08/09/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

I'll double this if you wear the lobster costume to your leaving drink on Thursday :) Donation by Amber 08/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

what's the equivalent of jogger's nipple? Donation by caroline dawson 03/09/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Watch out for those fishing nets!! x Donation by Esyllt 02/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

We are not worthy...we are not worthy.... Donation by James H 02/09/09  

£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid

Go Stevie - I expect you to make it in 2 hours and don't forget to take inner tubes with you. Good luck! x Donation by Charlotte Green 02/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Donation by Matthew Chaldecott 02/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck and take care... I will see you at the end! Donation by Rachel Bannister 01/09/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Bob the bear, Nessie and wabbit too.! thank you for what you are going to do !!! Donation by The cuddlies of Dulverton 28/08/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Chafage - eeuw Donation by anonymous 27/08/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Couldn't decide, so I went for both! Donation by Dan 26/08/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid
Donate now
 
* Total raised online: £725.00
  Offline donations: £0.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £204.49

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