We made it! 300 miles, not a little perspiration and quite a few bananas and alpen bars.
107 riders raised over £140,000 for their charities so far which is really outstanding. Thanks ever so much for the support and sponsorship you gave us - the emails, the donations, the texts at all hours and the hugs when we got back!
It was an exhilerating and fun experience (apart from day one which was arduous!) and we would wholly recommend it to anyone looking to get themselves out of their comfort zone.
Next challenge - cycling Vietnam, dog sledding, London-Copenhagen....? - we are looking for new team members!
HUGE THANKS FOR YOU SUPPORT
Why Crossroads?
Everyday 5,500 people take on a caring responsibility and each year 2 million people become an unpaid carer. There are currently 6 million carers in the UK, 1.2 million of whom are caring for over fifty hours a week and it is estimated that they save the government £87 billion each year by providing the support they do. We know from carers that caring can create a vicious circle of problems which all impact on each other - being demoted, losing a job or having to reduce working hours can lead to financial difficulties. These may be further pressurised by the loss of income from the person they care for, who may have previously been in paid employment. All of this can, in the worst case scenario, lead to losing a home. This in turn can cause high levels of stress, depression and feelings of despair for the carer and person they care for. Crossroads provides help on a number of levels for people who are caring for a loved one - they can offer financial support, they also provide respite care so that the carer can take a well earned break, they can provide advice on what services are available to them, they can bring carers together and they can help younger carers to finish their education and get involved in activities.
