Raised: 123%
Target: £2,500.00
Raised so far: £3,063.95
Donate now

My story

 

Thanks for visiting my fundraising page.

Well we made it! After four days cycling, my daughter, Kerry and myself, arrived in Paris after completing the London to Paris cycle ride on 1st to 5th July 2009 for Ataxia UK. So a big thank you to all those who kindly sponsored us. Without your support we would not have been able to do this event and raise money for the charity. There is still opportunity for anyone to donate.

My son James is affected by Friedreich's Ataxia. Friedreich's Ataxia is a neurodegenerative condition which affects balance, coordination and speech. Currently there is no cure.

James is 27. He is a graduate in Software Engineering and has just finished contracting at Greenwich University on a research project involving autonomic, self-configuring software systems for vehicles. He is now concentrating full-time on doing a PhD at Greenwich on the same subject of autonomics.

We hope that by raising further funds a cure will eventually be found. Great strides have been made in recent years in identifying the affected gene and your donation will help Ataxia UK in lots of ways, in support and developing treatment to halt and even reverse the effects of the disability.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Ataxia UK gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

So please sponsor me now!

Updates to  training below:

---------------------------------------------------------------------

June:

Jun 13: I have now done 1,000 miles since 22 March. Kerry completed a 3 hour plus ride and we managed 13.47 mph, which should see us reach the boat at Dover on time the first day!

May: Continued the training and have done a 50 mile and 61 mile ride and felt reasonable. Kerry has started her training and is also due to do the London to Brighton ride in June. She has a mountain bike, but we have replaced the chunky tyres with slicks and also upgraded the pedals to SPDs.

April: Thanks to all your help we have broke the £2500 barrier. I have stepped up the training a bit in April and can do a three hours quite comfortably. Kerry did the London Marathon in 4 hrs, 36 mins, 14secs. Very proud of her! Now she can join me on the bike rides.

March: Managed about 5 hours the first weekend - getting used to new bike. Kerry came for her first ride, but she needs to concentrate on London Marathon first! Thanks to all your generosity we have managed to break the £1,000 barrier.

Mar 28/29: Did a long session on Sunday, 3hrs 20 mins and managed 45 miles. Its the hills that are the killer - I thought I might have to use my mobile phone to get the wife to come and fetch me. More equipment bought, some new sunglasses with interchangeable coloured lenses, with different colours to match my moods, but more importantly, a cycle helmet.

Mar 14/15: Bought some bib tights - very fetching! Had a good outing on Saturday, but managed to put my back out. After some hesitation, I went out on Sunday and did my longest run yet - about 3 hours. I am going to suffer on Monday.

February: Did an hour's stint the following day just as it started to snow and sleet heavily in a cold wind. Brrgh! But felt surprisingly invigorated after a hot shower.    Feb 22: Did nearly too hours, hills are getting easier I think, or else I've just adjusted the distance from the saddle to the ground correctly which make things easier! Saw a few cyclists out and about - wonder if they belong to cycling clubs and wonder what they make of this lone rider.

January:  Had some real encouragement from first donation and felt impelled to get the old bike out for about 3/4 hour - very cold.

Fantastic achievement - well done. Donation by Christine Bryant 26/07/09  

£10.00

Well done - I bet that you never thought that Kerry's mountain bike would get to Paris before you ;-) Donation by Kevin McCarthy 07/07/09  

£20.00

Any excuse to wear Lycra! Good luck mate Donation by Neil Towne 01/07/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

All the best, will your knees hold out? Donation by Ian Parsons 30/06/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Don't forget to come back! Donation by Kevin McCarthy 05/06/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good Luck, both! Donation by Patricia Keenan 22/04/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

I hope you're better at cycling than football!!! Donation by jason loom 01/04/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

No stopping in the vineyards or you'll have to keep your stabilizers on!!! Good luck! Donation by Martin Hopwwod 30/03/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck Donation by Bob West 26/03/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good Luck Donation by Christina Melagrana 25/03/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good Luck to you Donation by Greg Lyons 24/03/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good Luck. Are you going to swim back? Donation by Adrian Handley 24/03/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

All the best fella. Donation by Dave Manczak 19/03/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck mate, I'm sure with your Coventry 'never say die' spirit this will be a piece of cake. Have a Stella on me when you finish!! Donation by Bob Short 19/03/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Maybe we could do a few rounds of boxing once you have finished your London to Paris warm up ! Good cause. Wish you all the best. Donation by Manos De Piedra 19/03/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

l'important c'est de participer Donation by Chris Harnetty 19/03/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

good luck Donation by sligo kevin 18/03/09  

£10.00

Safe trip and all best Donation by Anita Grant 18/03/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Enjoy a fantastic ride! Donation by Maria-Jesus Rojo 18/03/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good Luck Donation by Steve McIntyre 16/03/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Blessings for a safe trip! Donation by Kimberly Chaves 11/03/09  

£20.00

Best of British to you both Donation by Linda Giddings 11/03/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck both Donation by Terry Green 22/02/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Here's hoping for zero punctures!! Good luck, try to enjoy yourselves! Keep up the training. Lots of love xx Donation by The Linnells (La Famille) 21/02/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good Luck. Hope you're better at cycling than you were at football Donation by Mike Lancaster 18/02/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Isnt that the time the Tour de France is in Paris! Donation by Rob Gibson 11/02/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good Luck to both of you....do your best; Chris Coleman is having a scout to watch you! Donation by George Georgiou 11/02/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

all the best to you both Donation by steve london 11/02/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Donation by Barry 10/02/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck to you both. Donation by Paul Perkins 09/02/09  

£20.00
Donate now
 
* Total raised online: £1,175.00
  Offline donations: £1,888.95
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £308.85

* Charities pay a small fee for our service.
Find out how much it is and what we do for it.