The Cause
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. Once again, I am fundraising for 'The Not Forgotten' - http://www.nfassociation.org/
The Not Forgotten is a charity based in the UK that provides leisure resources to retired, disabled and injured members of the British Armed Forces and given the on-going commitments that the brave men and women of the British military face in their day to day lives, I believe it is a very worthwhile cause.
The Challenge
Having decided that running a half-marathon is not something I plan to do again, I have been convinced by a Bosnian colleague of mine, that I should join him on a 450km/3 day cycle marathon across Bosnia at the start of July. (route profiles in the links below)
Bihac - Jacje - http://www.bikemap.net/route/232849#lat=44.04417&lng=17.58636&zoom=9&type=2
Jacje - Sarajevo - http://www.bikemap.net/route/233641
Sarajevo - Srebrenica - http://www.bikemap.net/route/233654
For those who don't know much about Bosnia-Hercegovina, it is a very mountainous country and not one that immediately shouts to be the destination for a cycling trip during the height of the European summer - throw in the fact that there are 6 category A climbs to be covered and it will prove to be a challenge far beyond a half-marathon around a flat city like Budapest.
The event is a 'pilgrimage' by cycle enthusiasts from the different ethnic groups within Bosnia to remember those innocent victims of the civil war that raged in the country during the break up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s.
This conflict has a special resonance for me given that my father served with the UN and NATO in BiH, based in Sarajevo, as part of the International Peacekeeping operation before and after the Dayton agreement. I also wrote my dissertation on the breakup of Yugoslavia whilst in my final year at University and so being invited to join a group of people who have all been personally touched by what I studied as an academic exercise is a great honour and one for which I am very grateful to be given the chance to take up.
The Result
Aside from a sore backside, stiff legs, some photos of wonderful mountain scenary (during breaks for oxygen) and a desire to never see another bike in my life again, I am looking to raise a minimum of 1,000 pounds for the charity
The Plea
Please support me with whatever you can to spur me up the top of some of the climbs I will be faced with - knowing that my sweat and currently large, but soon to be sore, backside is helping to do something useful will be a real motivation in the mountains.
