Story
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Hi, </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I understand if it is purely curiosity that brought you here – you probably know that I am no cyclist, and until a few weeks ago I didn’t own a bike! I am however doing the beast that is <strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lands End to John O’Groats </strong>in June. In December this sounded like a great idea – plenty of time to train and get mentally any physically ready for the challenge of my life… if only I had started then! Since my bike arriving I have however been dedicating myself to the saddle – I now have a rough idea of how intense this is going to be.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">1000 miles in 9 Days. We’re under no illusion that this is going to be comfortable, never mind easy, and I don’t suppose that any amount of training will get my body ready for the back to back sessions of 100 miles day after day. That said, we’re all motivated and stocked up on deep heat, energy supplements, repair supplements and udder cream…!!</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I’m doing this challenge with two great guys, one with experience and skill in this area, the other accompanying me in the complete novice category! We’re not doing this through an organised group, and are sorting all of the routes and support infrastructure ourselves (which is proving to be a mammoth task in itself!) </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It’s all going to be well worth it though – the ultimate motivation for us is raising loads of money for our three chosen charities. Although it’s still relatively early in the New Year, unfortunately the last few months have presented awful circumstances for three of my closest friends – each of their fathers being diagnosed with the toughest of illnesses.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This has strengthened my inspiration press on and conquer End to End to help the charities that help families get through awful times. You may already be aware of the incredible work that Barnsley Hospice does and the services it provides to the local community. It had a huge impact on me, Jen and Jen's family when Carole was tackling her most courageous battle. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I can’t overemphasise how important places like the Hospice ar</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">e to 1000's of people every year, they are not funded by the government and many don’t know they even exist until they are needed. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Anything you can give would be massively appreciated! If nothing else, let’s have pennies for each sore, pulled muscle and blister that I’m inevitably going to get! </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Every penny counts!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Many thanks</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Allan</span></p>