<p><span style="color: #993366;"><em>Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.</em></span></p> <p><span style="color: #993366;"><em>Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving &ndash; they&rsquo;ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they&rsquo;ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it&rsquo;s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.</em></span></p> <p><span style="color: #993366;"><em>So please dig deep and donate now.</em></span></p> <p><span style="color: #ffcc00;">Liz and I, and friends from The Edwardian Rugby Club, where I played over 600 games, are cycling from Lands End to John o' Groats from the 9th to the 15th July 2011. We will be cycling between 118 and 132 miles per day and staying overnight at travel lodges. There are 18 riders and a great back up team of people. We have all paid for our expenses, and our support vehicles have been sponsored separately by the Rugby Clubs' main sponsor, Paul Virgo. All sponsored money donated will therefore go directly to the (RNLI) Padstow Lifeboat Station.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #ffcc00;">We have already completed several training rides together, mainly through the Cotswolds and I sadly, I have to confess that I am bringing up the rear consistently.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000080;">We all have separate charities, and I have chosen Padstow Life Boat as mine, mainly because it was the charity of my great friend John Gray, who circumnavigated the World on the Clipper 07 08 race. His memorial bench is located at the cliff edge, overlooking the Lifeboat Station. Additionally, I have to say, that I am also frightened by the power and vastness of the sea.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000080;">I am looking forward to the challenge, and recognise that I can't just turn up and perform. The individual and group training rides are good to focus the mind as well as helping the old body cope with the rigours of day after day cycling. &nbsp; I'm also really looking forward to the sights and sounds in the countryside, "up north" of course, &nbsp;and the incessant banter from the rest of the group that still brings back fond memories of the Eds dressing room on match days!!</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000080;">Wish us all luck- it is a team event, and we all want everybody to finish, and in good health and spirits, and &nbsp;hopefully on the same day!&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000080;">Cheers</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000080;">Rick</span></p>