Part Un: In the beginning....
This is a story of a drunken challenge that went stupidly badly wrong. The story starts with two men (Will and John) drunkenly challenging each other to cycle to Paris. Will then asked me if I'd like to join him in cycling to Paris (note that I was at work at the time and sober), and I stupidly said yes. Hence, a stupid drunken challenge.
Somehow Jez also got asked if he wanted to come too. Jez is an Aussie, and has therefore never knowingly said "No" to anything that was either: a) stupid, or b) a challenge. So he said yes too. Then he asked his mate Dane if he wanted to come too, because if there's one thing an Aussie likes more than doing something stupidly challenging, its inviting a Kiwi to take part too, and then trying to beat them at it. Dane, being a Kiwi and therefore genetically unable to back down from a challenge with an Aussie, said yes.
And so it happened, which is where the badly wrong bit comes in. Badly wrong because in this case, unlike most stupid drunken challenges, we're actually going to do it. We're heading out on the 28th of May, and returning on Monday the 31st of May.
Part Deux: What's the plan?
As you may, or may not know, there are plenty of organised bike rides from London to Paris. If you raise a certain amount of money, you get to go, and you are guided on a organised route that avoids the biggest hills, a car follows with your bags, and you take a few days to get there at a leisurely pace. The sensible choice is to join one of these rides.
As you've probably guessed by now, we haven't taken the sensible choice. Instead, we're going it alone, armed only with a credit card, the stuff we can carry on our bikes, on a route devised solely with the help of the rough guide to France and Google maps. Our itinerary is as follows:
Day Un: Depart London Marble Arch, arrive L'Escalles via Folkestone, Calais and the Channel Tunnel (approx 90 miles)
Day Deux: Depart L'Escalles, arrive Amiens (approx 95 miles)
Day Trois: Depart Amiens, arrive Paris (approx 88 miles)
Total journey: approx 275 miles, estimated average speed 10 mph, total time in the saddle 1,640 mins.
Part Trois: Why?
Well, one thing is clear, this is not going to be a walk in the park (or a promenade au parc, as our gallic neighbours don't say). And that's part of the reason for doing it, we all need a challenge sometimes, stupid or not. However, it would be nice if our stupidity had some kind of positive impact somewhere. Which is where you come in; it would be rather splendid if we raised some cash for something useful somewhere.
In my case, I'd like that something useful to be the Hornsey YMCA, situated around the corner from where I live in Haringey, North London. Some of you might chuckle at that, but we need to do this, otherwise how are the local children going to grow up to be Firemen, Policemen, bikers, native Americans or construction workers?
More seriously, I'd like to raise money for something local to where I live, and for something where a small amount of money might make a difference. Hornsey YMCA provides affordable housing, sporting, recreational and childcare services for the local community, and this year is raising money for the following charities:
* YMCA charities (including the Hornsey YMCA Bursary Fund)
• * National Autistic Society (NAS), Barnet Branch – www.barnetnas.org.uk
• * Open Door (Young People’s Consultation Service based in Crouch End) – www.opendooronline.org
• * The FoodCycle Project (combines young volunteers, surplus food and free kitchen space to create nutritious meals for people affected by food poverty) www.foodworksuk.org
Part Quatre: What next?
If you can spare a few quid, or if you feel guilty because I've given money to your charity run in the past, please add a donation. Think of it as your good deed for the day, and dig deep.....! We'll be variously tweeting (apparently that's an internet thing) along the way, and I'll share details of how you can get up-to-the-minute bulletins on how badly it's all going closer to the date.
Please note, we are paying all of our expenses out of our pockets. Everything raised will go directly to the charity.
Part Cinq, the small print.
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’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’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
So please dig deep and donate now.
Raised:
396%
Raised so far: £990.00
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Donation by Aman Krishna on 11/06/10 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
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Well done mate. Been away so couldn't get to it earlier. Let's hook up soon mate, Siri Donation by Siri Narasimham on 07/06/10 |
£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid |
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Hope it went well Chris. Look forward to hear all about it. Sally xx Donation by Sally Anscomb on 02/06/10 |
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid |
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The chippy wishes u a short ride. What a chain of events, bet you won't peddle that line again. Donation by Barry Hensall on 29/05/10 |
£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid |
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Take some Assos chamois creme next time ... Donation by Simon Graham on 29/05/10 |
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid |
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Look forward to hearing all about it when you get back! Al the best!! Donation by Adrian Potter on 29/05/10 |
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Goodluck, wish I was doing it Donation by Launa Staunton on 28/05/10 |
£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid |
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Best of luck! Donation by jim bedford-roberts on 27/05/10 |
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid |
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Donation by Nicholas Hartley on 27/05/10 |
£50.00 |
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Best of luck Chris! Donation by Barry Cronin on 26/05/10 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
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Good luck: mind the potholes, don't forget the grease! Donation by Paul Batterham on 26/05/10 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
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hope the sun shines. want to do a French coast to coast in 2011? Donation by Adam Coffman on 25/05/10 |
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid |
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Well done you nutter Donation by Spoons on 25/05/10 |
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Good luck! Donation by Jamie Bryan on 25/05/10 |
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid |
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Blackpool did it....so can you!! Good luck.... Donation by chris potter on 25/05/10 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
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I fully support your initiative to nurture more Native Americans on English soil - I'm sure it will liven things up a bit. Donation by Steven Serra on 25/05/10 |
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Chris, Jez and WIll- have fun and I hope you have those shorts with the little bum pads. xoxo Donation by Ann Neilsen on 24/05/10 |
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Bonne chance mon ami. Vive Le Gunners! Donation by Josh Low on 24/05/10 |
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid |
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Good luck Donation by Chris Harper on 24/05/10 |
£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid |
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you stupid fool Love Lizzie, Hams and Bee Donation by Elizabeth Hartley on 24/05/10 |
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid |
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Good Luck Chris Donation by Claire Le Neveu on 24/05/10 |
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid |
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Donation by Roy Hartley on 22/05/10 |
£260.00 + £73.33 Gift Aid |
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Best of luck... Some people will do any thing for a good hot chocolate and croissant. xxxx Donation by Francesca Olmi on 21/05/10 |
£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid |
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Good luck and enjoy! Donation by Nik Mann on 21/05/10 |
£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid |
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Good luck! :) Donation by Jacqui Pennington on 21/05/10 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
| * Total raised online: | £990.00 |
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| Offline donations: | £0.00 |
| Mobile donations: | £0.00 |
| Total Raised: | £990.00 |
| Gift Aid plus supplement: | £253.85 |
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Find out
how much it is and what we do for it.