Story
Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor me online.
It's a shame that this sort of charity has to exist but it does. Our service people do what is asked of them with little or no complaint, even when they come back so terribly injured. Therefore, at the very least, they deserve every assistance possible for their recovery and rehabilitation, which is what this charity is all about.
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Help for Heroes 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, every little helps, but big is better!!
Corporate sponsors are very welcome.
For more details on Help for Heroes and the BBBR please visit: www.helpforheroes.org.uk
Many thanks for your support.
Brendan.
5th June
I have successfully completed the ride!
At times it was challenging, due mainly to some poor weather and very large hills! However thanks to the training that I had put in, I did not find it too difficult.
It was fantastic to see Amanda, Holly, a very good friend, Erica, and my brother Ray with his family waiting for me at the finishing line in Whitehall Place.
Everyone that very kindly sponsored me has helped the Bike Ride raise a massive £1,500,000.00 for Help for Heroes, which is an outstanding achievement, so thank you all very much.
If you would like to see a detailed account of the ride, including pictures and video clips, please visit the Help for Heroes web site at, www.helpforheroes.org.uk
This page will stay active until July so further donations are very welcome.
26th May
Well here it is, the day that the Big Bike Ride starts. After five months of training and fund raising, I will soon be setting off to meet the other 299 riders at HMS Victory.
In the past five months, I have received sponsorship of over £3000 plus a guaranteed pledge of £500 on completion of the ride.
I have also clocked up 1200 miles on the roads of Surrey, Hampshire, Sussex and Thames Valley. I have lost weight and feel a lot fitter, but now it is down to the next six days, which I am very much looking forward to.
If the journey starts to become tough, all I will have to do is think of the fantastic support that I have received from everyone, especially from Amanda and Holly. This together with the thought of what this challenge is all about and how the money raised will help our wounded service men and women, I have no doubt that I will complete the challenge.
Yesterday we, the riders, were informed that the amount of money raised so far by the Ride, which has now been sponsored by Halfords, has passed £1,000,000. This is fantastic particularly when you consider that when Bryn and Emma Parry came up with the idea of the Charity, they hoped to raise around £10,000 from the ride!!!
Once again, my very sincere thanks to everyone who has supported and sponsored me, I am extremely grateful.
2nd May
It’s now just over three weeks to the start of the ride which I am very much looking forward to. The training seems to have gone OK. Although I have experienced the odd scare and discomfort in the, not so young, joints I feel that I have probably done enough not to embarrass myself on the ride and will manage the distance!
I’m very close to the £3000 mark which would be great to pass before ride starts. I have also received a guaranteed pledge of £500 on completion of the ride, which is fantastic, I’m very grateful.
Once again my very sincere thanks to everyone that has sponsored me so far and to Amanda, who I am sure, really would be able to get blood out of a stone!
1st April
The compulsory target of £2000 has now been reached and, exceeded. My grateful thanks to everyone that has so generously sponsored me to date, which includes those that have done so off line. I still wish to achieve my own target of £4000, so please keep the sponsorship coming in, every little helps.
Training is continuing and coming along OK. Now that I am increasing my distances, the reality of challenge ahead is quite daunting! I hope that now that spring is here the weather for cycling will improve, well, I’m nothing if not an optimist!
2nd March
We have very nearly reached £2000. This is the compulsory target set by Help the Heroes for those who are taking part in the BBBR. It’s also half way to my own personal target. My thanks to everyone who has supported the charity by sponsoring me so far.
In addition, my heart felt thanks for the very kind words of support that I have received both personally and for the charity. I believe it’s proof that our service people are not forgotten by the public, who genuinely seem to care.
My training suffered this week as I had a very severe bout of flu, although my wife would probably describe it as more of a minor head cold! Tomorrow, now that the days are getting lighter, I start cycling to and from work, a round journey of 22 miles, which I am sure will please the commuting motorist!! I will also be increasing the distances that I cycle at the weekends.
2nd February.
A huge thank you to everyone that has sponsored me so far. £1200 in such a short space of time is great. A particular note of thanks must go to my wife. Amanda has taken on the role of, ‘campaign manager’ and has worked very hard to help achieve the current total.
My training is going OK. My saddle and I are just about getting to understand each other! I now have all the proper kit and look like a real cyclist. Like those often seen on Sundays when I would comment, "you’ll never get me wearing that stuff and looking like that".
To some of the many motorists that I have encountered whilst out on my rides, please leave your nearside window open as you pass me, I can then hand you a sponsorship form, you’re close enough!