Back in November 2007 I was asked to write an article for my work’s Staff Bulletin about a man who had made a serious commitment. I was asked to “talk to this bloke about his charity thing. You know, that bear in reception”. So I agreed – it was a slow news week. Then I met Steve, he was an incredibly enthusiastic man and literally bounded up to his desk on the floor above (while I followed in my usual relaxed fashion). He then showed me what he was doing. He wasn’t just asking staff to guess the birthday of a stuffed bear. This was only a small part of it. He was attempting, with about 50 others, to cycle 600km from Bangkok, through Thailand to Northern Cambodia. It looked amazing.
“I saw this advert in the paper and it made me think: I don’t do enough for charity and then I saw what it was and looked at my gut. I’m going to do this!” he told me. He was a few months away from this challenge and was clearly counting down the days. I left Steve thinking quality bloke, I’m gonna make this a quality article. So I sacked off work for the day and started writing and researching. I went through the exact same process when I found out what MacMillan do.
Recently I have witnessed friends and family go through hell. They or someone close to them have suffered from cancer. I have always been able to lend a sympathetic ear and say “I’m sorry” at what seemed to be an appropriate moment, but never have I really made a difference. Then I saw it: The Great Wall Challenge and thought back to what Steve had said that very same day. And he was right. Maybe everyone should do something like this. I’d been looking for some sort of soul-searching mission and this could be it and it would raise thousands of pounds for charity.
“Yeah, I’m gonna f***in do that” I thought and downloaded the application form immediately, sorted out my references and booked my bike in for a service.
That night I was asked a difficult question: Are you doing this for the right reasons?
Hmm am I? Is this just a way to impress people, an easy way to get fit, a purely self-indulgent escapade? No! I want, not only to raise the £3,500 just to go on the trip, but double it so more money can go to this great charity. This can be done. To look at me know, you wouldn’t believe I could cycle to the shops, let alone cycle 700km up hill and down dale reaching altitudes of 1400m through remote parts of Northern China. This is a mission of self-discovery with the added bonus of helping others in dire need of support.

So, please spare a few quid, as much as you can and help me raise - for the first part – the £3,500 to take on this challenge. Once we’ve reached that, let’s go for £4,500, then £5,500 and so on. 

Please give generously and thank you for reading this.

Andy

For more info on the challenge and what MacMillan are about, please visit www.macmillan.org.uk

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Macmillan Cancer Support will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

So please sponsor me now!

Many thanks for your support.