Raised so far: £1,474.34
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Despite a hurricane, dodgy knees, 30% gradients, a suicidal badger and Scotland's wettest day in 60 years, we arrived in John O'Groats after 18 days and 1,061 miles of hills, moors, wealds, hills, lakes, lochs and hills.
 
We chose the quietest roads we could find. Some of them had one or two cars an hour - and that was rush hour. Every county was gloriously beautiful and we met generous people everywhere. In Scotland there were Severe Weather Warnings most days and it rained non-stop for 36 hours, but on the whole we were lucky with the weather. Now I'm back home and enjoying sitting on a seat wider than four inches.
 
For more of the story, you can click on the photos on the left of this page. For even more of the story and even more  photos, please see my Flickr page:
 
 
I want to thank everybody who has donated so generously to The Smile Train. And I want to thank my fellow travellers, Rob and Tim, for being good company throughout the length and breadth and height of the country. Rob raised money for Marie Curie Cancer Care. Tim raised money for Naomi House Children's Hospice.
 
Happy birthday, Rob. You were right. It was a good idea.
 
                                                                                                             
                                                                                                    *
 
 
I was born in a Liverpool hospital in the summer of 1965. After a short delay and a whispered conversation, the doctors handed me to my mother.
 
"Here's your baby," said the doctor.
 
"He's beautiful," she said.
 
"Have another look," said the doctor.
 
That's when my mum looked more closely and noticed a hole in my face where my upper lip should've been.
 
In the subsequent months and years, my opinion of doctors improved. They repaired my lip and, cleverly, using bone from one of my ribs, repaired the cleft in my palate, transforming my face into the vision of loveliness you know today. Lucky for me, I was born in a country with a national health service.
 
This summer I travelled from Land's End to John O'Groats with no mechanical aids apart from a bicycle and a corkscrew.
 
Along the way I raised money for The Smile Train, a charity that works in poorer countries where children born with clefts are often untreated and ostracised. By giving local doctors the necessary skills and resources, the Smile Train transforms the lives of thousands of children and adults every year.
 
If you can spare some money to help their work, you can donate on this page. If you're a UK taxpayer, please use Gift Aid to increase the value of your donation. And feel free to forward this email to anyone who might be interested. Thanks very much.
 
 
 
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Fancy a game of footy when you get back? Donation by Rajwadi's on 24/08/09

 
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
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Andy, You're a legend! I'll be thing of you all the way up there! John Mc Donation by John McDermott on 20/08/09

 
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
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Heroic stuff. Goodbye old friend... Donation by Martin Wood on 19/08/09

 
£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid
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we will all raise a glass to you in the 'Dog' on a weds or sunday night after football..dont go pulling a muscle now Donation by michael burles on 18/08/09

 
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
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Good luck. Hope it all goes well. Sounds fun! Donation by Steve Woodfield on 18/08/09

 
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
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Good luck! x Donation by Marianne Colbran on 18/08/09

 
£25.00
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Good luck - see you in September Donation by Catherine foxwell on 18/08/09

 
£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid
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Cor blimey, that's a long way!!!! Good Luck! xxx Donation by Karen Dix on 17/08/09

 
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
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long way on a bike - all the best Donation by Paul Cummins on 17/08/09

 
£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid
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good luck on your ride Donation by liz & john rickerty on 17/08/09

 
£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid
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Good luck with your epic journey. Errm, why did you wear a dress as an infant ? Donation by Tim, Helen and Josh on 17/08/09

 
£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid
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good luck andrew. long time no speak, lets keep in touch. paul Donation by paul cullen on 17/08/09

 
£20.00
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Donation by Chris Daintith on 17/08/09

 
£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid
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Good luck! Donation by Katie Haines on 17/08/09

 
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good luck andrew, love from pat , ron and family Donation by patricia daintith on 17/08/09

 
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
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GOOD LUCK! Donation by Simon Rickerty on 17/08/09

 
£12.34 + £3.48 Gift Aid
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All the best on your amazing journey and thank you for supporting the Smile Train charity. Take care. Corinne Donation by Corine Voilquin on 17/08/09

 
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
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Good luck! Donation by Dave Harper on 17/08/09

 
£32.00 + £9.03 Gift Aid
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Best of luck Andy - hoping you get to make interesting use of that corkscrew... Howard Donation by Howard Davis on 17/08/09

 
£10.00

Donation by Anonymous on 17/08/09

 
£10.00
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Donation by Andrew Cullen on 16/08/09

 
£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid
Donate now
 
* Total raised online: £1,474.34
  Offline donations: £0.00
  Mobile donations: £0.00
  Total Raised: £1,474.34
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £335.45

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Find out how much it is and what we do for it.