Cancer it seems effects most families either directly or indirectly and until recently the money I have raised on previous trips has been to support family and close friend of others peoples causes.
Last year however it became much more personal, as on my dads 60 birthday he was diagnosed with a grade 4 cancer of the kidney.
Following an initial major operation to remove the effected kidney the cancer had unfortunately passed to the lymph glands and was also appearing in his lung and stomach.
He is still battling hard with more planned operations and treatments. Between treatments dad is showing a hugely positive determination to beating the cancer by keeping himself as fit as possible through long daily walks.
None of his treatments, care and positive hope for the future would have been possible without the support of Christie's and that is my reason for choosing to go through all of this again.
Dad has recruited a number of close friends and family to run in the Great Northern Run which he is also focussed and determined on completing but running as you may well know is just not for me at all.
I can’t run, I am no swimmer and you will not find me jumping out of planes either – but that said I do want to do my bit for Christie's and seeing that I actually enjoy cycling I decided to find a worthy challenge that would hopefully engage the interest of potential sponsors!
I have already completed the Etape du Tour and yes this was incredibly tough for a novice cyclist not to mention a lump like me completing 5 Cols (categorised mountains) and 120 miles in one day. But this time I am pushing myself to the absolute limits in a ride that will take me over 35,000 ft of climbing from Hendaye on the French/Spanish border on the Atlantic coast to Cerbere on the French/Spanish border on the Mediterranean coast - across the entire length of the Pyrenees.
This challenge is called The Raid Pyrenean.
The route of The Raid Pyrenean consists of cycling 720km over 18 categorised Tour De France mountains, and the whole course must be completed in under 100 hours. The Raid is one of the hardest cycling routes out there, and it traverses famous Pyrenean peaks such as the Col D’Aubisque, the Col du Tourmalet, the Col D’Aspin, the Col De Portet D’Aspet, and the Col de Peyresourde.
Please donate what you can and every penny raised I know will give me inspiration to help me complete this task as well as raise money for a very worthy cause.
So please sponsor me now!
Thank you!
PS the picture of me on the left at the top of a mere 28mile climb - no wonder i was happy!!
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