Raised: 96%
Target: £1,000.00
Raised so far: £963.00
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My story

 
HASTINGS TO ISLE OF WIGHT COASTAL CYCLE CHALLENGE

31st May to 29th June

www.drawingbreath.org

VERY MANY THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO'S HELPED ACHIEVE THE FIRST TARGET OF £500. NOW LETS GO FOR A GRAND! I have had difficulty accessing your emails to thank you personally, so if I don't already have your contact details, please know anyway how appreciative I am of each donation.

Update: I finished my ride at Sandown, Isle of Wight on 29th July. The total mileage, give or take a mile as i had trouble with my mileometer, was 188.8 miles, well over my projected 150 miles. As ever, please see blog at URL above for details.

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On Sunday 31st May I set out on my second cycle journey, this time between Hastings and the Isle of Wight, to raise funds for the British Lung Foundation. The project aimed to raise the profile of lung disease and demonstrate the potential of exercise for managing conditions like chronic obstructive lung disease - which I have - but the journey is also part of my ongoing arts and health project, Drawing Breath. I photographed and documented my journey as it happened and the completed narrative can be accessed on my blog at www.drawingbreath.org.

The most direct route is about 100 miles, though I had expected to cycle nearer to 150 with visits off route for shopping, local exploration and visits to BLF local Breathe Easy support groups. In the end I covered almost 190 miles including a Roman road through a forest north of my route, where I became lost in the dark and had to be rescued by a sweet National Trust warden, and a trip south to Selsey Bill where I crashed off the bike, luckily escaping with bruises and a sprained wrist.

The journey was about meeting people and setting up collaborative community art projects about breathing. On 17th June during Breathe Easy Week I was joined by my own Breathe Easy group (Canterbury and District) in the foyer of Eastbourne District General Hospital where we built an interactive balloon sculpture of giant lungs with the breath of patients, visitors and staff as a means of discussing lung health, and in the hope of persuading respiratory staff to set up a local Breathe Easy group. I gave talks on my project at Brighton and Worthing Breathe Easy groups and after arriving on the Isle of Wight on 27th June I joined up with their Breathe Easy group the next day for their 10th birthday party, then cycled coast to coast with the NHS local respiratory team's lead nurse as a lovely cross country finale to my ride.

So these four weeks have been more than a bike ride - rather a total experience which has been symbolic for me in terms of my own quality of life, and crucially a success in raising funds for the British Lung Foundation, on whom I and many thousands like me depend. I set out with a target of £500, but thanks to all donors the current total is three quarters towards my new target of a thousand.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It's also the most efficient way to sponsor me: British Lung Foundation gets your money faster and, if you're a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

My ride has finished but retrospective sponsorship will be very appreciated for the BLF's ongoing struggle to provide support and research into cures for lung disease!  Thank you.

Donation from Diane Ceresa Donation by Jean Fraser 08/10/09  

£20.00

Donation by Mandy Merck 07/10/09  

£70.00 + £19.74 Gift Aid

Not too late I hope, from this great admirer.xx Donation by Dil 30/08/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

dear Jean congrats again on your great ride & sharing the story so powerfully with us all Donation by katrina brown 05/08/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

"Here's a contribution for your cause, cheers, John Hardy" Donation by Jean Fraser 05/08/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Further £2 from Roger S, £10 from donor Im embarrassed ive forgotten, late in entering it. Donation by Jean Fraser 04/08/09  

£12.00 + £3.38 Gift Aid

From Izzi and Jen - thank you! Donation by Jean Fraser 04/08/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Well done, cousin! Lots of love Donation by Paul Stewart 29/07/09  

£75.00 + £21.15 Gift Aid

Barn Caravan Park; Daisyfields Campsite; Red House Campsite; Mark (Community Transport, Chichester), Mike, skipper Hayling Island passenger ferry Donation by Jean Fraser 08/07/09  

£29.00

Joan Tarratts at Windy Corner on Sunday! Donation by Jean Fraser 08/07/09  

£10.00

Jackie Cutler + Peter Banbridge, Harbour Watch Donation by Jean Fraser 08/07/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Well, you should be very proud of yourself! Well done girl! Donation by susan 03/07/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

We're following your progress on the blog - good luck for the rest of your trip! Donation by Valerie and Brook 19/06/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

great photos - good luck Donation by Jean Broomer 17/06/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Great blog! Donation by Jo 16/06/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Great to see you last week and I love your project. Donation by Rachel 14/06/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Go Jean go! Love your site x Donation by Marianne 10/06/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck! Donation by Helen 09/06/09  

£10.00

For your project. Donation by Anon looking for Julie 09/06/09  

£2.00

Windy Corner! Donation by sam 09/06/09  

£5.00

One for the road! Donation by Philip and Lynn 09/06/09  

£20.00

We'd love you to come back and show us your next lot of pictures. Good luck on the trip and may the breeze be gentle and in your back all the way Donation by Chest doctor 05/06/09  

£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid

Good luck and safe, fun cycling! Donation by Chris 02/06/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

hope to bike with you at some point all breath to you x Donation by Dawn 31/05/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

see you at eastbourne? x Donation by jo and rosa 27/05/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Absolutely inspiring Donation by Marian 27/05/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Best wishes for your new adventure Donation by Sarah 27/05/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Good luck! Donation by Roger Seijo 26/05/09  

£10.00

Best wishes for the journey. Donation by mark margaret+millie 22/05/09  

£5.00

Wheels keep turning - body, soul, mind. Love the ongoingness. Donation by Sue O'Sullivan 22/05/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
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* Total raised online: £963.00
  Offline donations: £0.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £203.64

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