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.
Raised:
145%
Raised so far: £725.00
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Better late than never. Go Steve! Donation by Rod Logan on 28/09/09 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
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Power to your pedals Mr Padded Lyrca 2009 x Donation by sarah sherran on 25/09/09 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
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You are truly wonderful cycling all those hilly miles as a lobster for charity.Take care xx Donation by em rance on 24/09/09 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
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Enjoy the ride, hope the padding does the trick! Donation by Hilarie Lewis on 23/09/09 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
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Hey Steve, good luck mate. I look forward to seeing the photos. All the best. Bryan Donation by Bryan Whiting on 22/09/09 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
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Better look nice when I get down there. Donation by Rob Bailey on 22/09/09 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
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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 on 22/09/09 |
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid |
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'Beware, Giant Lobster escapes from AXA IM' - now that's a headline. Hats off to you Steve, all the best. Donation by Sara Dennehy on 22/09/09 |
£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid |
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If you are ever looking for a Marine Compliance Officer - just let me know. Good luck! Donation by Peter Hawkins on 22/09/09 |
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid |
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Delighted that you are finally doing something useful! Respect to you sir. Watch out for my North Devon relatives..... Donation by JAMIE HOOPER on 22/09/09 |
£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid |
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Looking forward to the pix!!!! Donation by Christopher Marie on 22/09/09 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
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Have fun on the journey Donation by anonymous on 22/09/09 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
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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 on 12/09/09 |
£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid |
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Sorry I missed your do. Good luck with the challenge! Donation by Anja Balfour on 11/09/09 |
£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid |
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Well played! Donation by Rupert Hunter on 10/09/09 |
£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid |
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looking forward to seeing the photos - assuming you don't have a get out claws.... Donation by Jeremy Gleeson on 10/09/09 |
£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid |
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Good luck! Donation by Deane on 10/09/09 |
£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid |
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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 on 10/09/09 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
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Best of luck Steve Donation by Anonymous on 10/09/09 |
£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid |
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I think you should wear the lobster costume on your last day in the office! Good luck! Donation by Tracy Watt on 08/09/09 |
£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid |
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I'll double this if you wear the lobster costume to your leaving drink on Thursday :) Donation by Amber on 08/09/09 |
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid |
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what's the equivalent of jogger's nipple? Donation by caroline dawson on 03/09/09 |
£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid |
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Watch out for those fishing nets!! x Donation by Esyllt on 02/09/09 |
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid |
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We are not worthy...we are not worthy.... Donation by James H on 02/09/09 |
£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid |
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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 on 02/09/09 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
| * Total raised online: | £725.00 |
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| Offline donations: | £0.00 |
| Mobile donations: | £0.00 |
| Total Raised: | £725.00 |
| Gift Aid plus supplement: | £204.49 |
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Find out
how much it is and what we do for it.