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.
