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I am 60 this year. My "birthday treat" to myself is this challenge, which I think captures the imagination in terms of:- the distance - 200 miles give or take a gnat's wing in (Plan A) 24 hours (Plan B - simply to get there in the one journey); from  the Hospice (just round the corner from my home) to the nation's capital (London), and pretty much the centre of it for commuting (King's Cross). The actual destination is St Pancras' Youth Hostel which is just down the road, but that didn't scan as well as "Kirkwood to King's Cross" as my sub-heading. The other important aspect of this challenge is my age. 200 miles in (hopefully) less than 24 hours doesn't present much of a challenge to a) the serious athlete and/or b) perhaps anyone half my age. I am not a serious athlete, though I do believe I'm pretty fit for my age. However, I am taking this challenge seriously, and training up for it in any spare hours on my indoor bike.

This cause I also take seriously. Kirkwood Hospice requires a mind-boggling amount of money (to someone with empty pockets like myself) simply to keep open (£15,000 a day), and the fund-raising for it is on-going 24 hours a day. If I could raise £15,000 with this event, I would be speechless with gratitude, but what would I have achieved? Kept it open for one day longer. £15,000 is pocket money for some people, but I mustn't let the massive imbalance or injustice within society deter me. Nor must it deter you from any conviction you might have about sponsoring me (or anybody else so inclined), or even perhaps, going for it yourself. The fact that half of this challenge is a vanity project for me to prove to myself that I can do this, means that I will not give up on this lightly. I will do it, I will get there, so please sponsor me. Never say die.

Regards

Colin Speight