2k busted, can I get to £2.5k

How goes it? Here we go with a bit of an insight into what I have planned for 2014 and it would be great if my family and friends could help in any way.

As you know, back at the start of 2013 I had a pretty bad MTB accident at Afan Argoed in the Neath Valley.  This accident resulted in me suffering a broken neck, dislocated neck, dislocated shoulder, collarbone, a few broken ribs and some superficial cuts and bruises for good measure.  The Wales Air Ambulance attended the scene and I had to be airlifted to the University of Wales Hospital Cardiff where I underwent several procedures and operations to bring me back to (hopefully) full health.

I have learnt since my accident that the Wales Air Ambulance (WAA) is actually a charity, that receives no government grants or lottery funding (actually no funding at all), which is pretty amazing and shocking at the same time as they provide such an invaluable service. The WAA needs to raise at least 6 million pounds a year to operate their 3 helicopters, which can be dispatched anywhere in Wales within 20 minutes. The average price of each callout is around £1000.

So as they saved my life and got me to hospital in that Golden Hour I have a plan to raise some cash for their charity as a way of a thank you. 

In a fitting manor the event I have planned is a 500km cycle ride from North to South Wales via all of the WAA bases, which will take place between May 6th and May 9th 2014.  Realistically due to the terrain I think 125km per day will be achievable and we will complete the ride in 4 days, if training goes well we may look to cover this in 3 days though.  We will start at the WAA base in Caernarfon, heading down to Porthmadog, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Bala  taking in the Snowdonia national park en route before heading into the 2nd WAA base in Welshpool.  From Welshpool we will then head towards Newtown and Llanideos and then on to Lampeter before following the road down to the Mumbles and the 3rd and Final WAA base.  From here we then head back across to Newport at a steady pace finally arriving back in Newport to complete the ride at the final Newport Gwent Dragons home game of 2014 at Rodney Parade.

Gwent Dragons have already agreed to support us on the night, which will really lift our spirits at the end of a hard week and hopefully see a Dragons win.

DHL Supply Chain have agreed to become the principle kit sponsor and will ensure we are all looking smart at the start and end of this epic challenge and I also have a support van and driver confirmed from Cardiff Volkswagen to carry all of our kit and spares, so things are looking really positive.

Obviously from reading the previous paragraphs this charity is something close to my heart and the ride I have planned is quite a challenge.  I already have 15 people confirmed for this ride, so things are really looking good and we will hopefully raise some serious cash for the Wales Air Ambulance.

This is the first event of this type I have planned, so any advice is also welcome. I am sure I have missed some important detail, so if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.  We will also require accomodation en route as well as a wealth of supplies, so if any person knows of anyone who may help us with any of this, please let me or one of the other team members know.

“If all else fails, try Wales”

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8 weeks until the off folks, show your support and help us raise our target

C'mon folks, we are all training hard and the ride is only 8 weeks away now.