Raised: 130%
Target: £500.00
Raised so far: £649.00
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My story

 
UPDATE: 25 SEPTEMBER 09. 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 DWT gets your vote, click on the big blue Donate button below and follow the handy instructions. If MCS 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.

Go for it Lobster Boy, best of luck! Donation by Craig Beach 28/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Hey mate, Hope all is going well so far... and that Lobster costume isn't too heavy! Donation by James Holder 28/09/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Good on you Steve. Be careful in that lobster suit, I heard Emma's put itching powder in it. Donation by Trevor Struck 24/09/09  

Beware of the giant spotted ray seen cycling around the Kimmeridge area. He's gonna getchu!! Donation by Julie Hatcher 22/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck Steve! Donation by Nikki Stuart 22/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Plus Bed and Breakfast!!! Donation by Caroline Bannister 22/09/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Go Stevie go go go! Donation by Zoe Levey 22/09/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Yay! Go Steve! Still missing Kimmeridge and all you crazy dudes. Looking forward to seeing the lobster suit in action! Donation by Jo Ferris 22/09/09  

£5.00

Best of luck- make sure you don't catch your tentacles in your spokes... Donation by James Norden 22/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

A lobster! Just typical of your sane insanity. May you always be this "random" - good luck + best wishes. Donation by Shopper 22/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Giant Lobster on the London leg? Donation by M Lovatt 22/09/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Lobsters on south beach...? Donation by Paul Middleton 22/09/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Good luck Steve. I like to think my bike pass helped in some small way! :) Donation by Matt Higgs 22/09/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Good luck, we know you can do it. Donation by Angela & Bill Bannister 20/09/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

boil in the bag? Donation by Steve Kelly 18/09/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Go Estifff!! Cycle like the wind... and you better be sending us those lobster pics ;-) Donation by Amparo & Steph 18/09/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good luck Steve, hope the weather is what you want it to be... Donation by Jane 16/09/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Dude, concentrate on the road and you'll stop feeling so damn old! Donation by Chris Pateman 13/09/09  

Good luck! Donation by Nicola Egan 10/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

have fun Donation by Will 10/09/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Donation by Maeve O'Sullivan 10/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck Steve! Donation by Lara Hitchcock 09/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck Steve! Glad I won't be around to see you in your lycra! Would love to see the giant lobster though! Donation by Lucie D 09/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Hope you don't get too saddle sore! Lk fwd to the lobster shots. Donation by Daniel Giddings 07/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Hope it goes well and the sun shines on you! Donation by Helen Earwicker 05/09/09  

Donation by Matthew Chaldecott 02/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Remember your reflective clothing please! Donation by Rachel Bannister 01/09/09  

£20.00

as you are 30 - have split it 50/50 ! Safe journey. Mind the Devon potholes ! Donation by me and the doc ! 28/08/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

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

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid
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* Total raised online: £639.00
  Offline donations: £10.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £173.18

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