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Target: £8,000.00
Raised so far: £8,135.45
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My story

 
 

We made it!! A huge thank you for your support and donations for Beating Bowel Cancer.  Colin and I arrived home safely after 21 of us successfully completed our challenge to cycle from London to Paris raising in excess of £60,000 for the charity to date. To those of you who cycled with us, Emma from Beating Bowel Cancer and Geoff, Matt, Helen & Becky from Discover Adventure - you are amazing - thank you!

Day 1 was a shock to me as I thought that the Lincolnshire Wolds were hilly – believe me, they are nothing to what we faced from London to Dover! Just after our lunch stop, I managed to ride into the back of Colin and bring us both down; that was the first of our ‘Tourettes’ moments’! We still managed to make it to the docks with enough time to ‘carb up’ before boarding the ferry for the crossing. On docking in Calais, we then had another 7 miles to go to the hotel so it was on to the bikes again - ouch!

We saddled up at 7.30 am on day 2 and I succumbed to a cold which had been threatening for a few days. Added to that, the woods were not what I would call first class facilities so decided that a rural chocolate factory would be a better option! Handmade chocolates don’t come cheap and it was the most expensive ‘pit’ stop of the whole journey! We saw some really beautiful countryside and rural villages with the sun finally making a welcome appearance at the end of the day as we cycled in to Abberville.

I was feeling a bit sore and sorry for myself on day 3 and was really pleased when Colin agreed to take on the ‘Carbon Tarts’ up front! I’m not really sure if he met his match or not but I can tell you that there were some serious cyclists with us and he certainly kept them on their toes. I don’t know what we were given at the lunch stop but I found a burst of energy and caught up with the Iron Lady of our group who was really surprised to see me – in celebration and as we had time, the pub seemed a good place to head for. Colin had already made it to the hotel with the first group so I left a message on his mobile to come and join us. I suspect that he was so knackered that he fell asleep. His story disputes this; he maintains that he didn’t get my message until after the search party had been sent out only to find 4 of us ‘wobbling’ back on our bikes to the hotel in Beauvais!

Day 4 and we were all looking forward to Paris. Early on we faced a hill a mile and a half long; the Tourettes kicked in again and, whilst it is not a medically known fact, the disease is definitely contagious! We then had a long straight ride on a busy road with a head wind and yet more hills. The front runners found a cafe just before our lunch stop and several of us stopped off for a delicious hot chocolate.  We knew that Sam (my husband) and Alison (Colin’s wife), following in the car, could not be too far off and called to let them know where we were. For a chartered surveyor and school teacher on a cultural trip, the response of ‘looking at the map, we think we are about 2 inches from you’ was not what we expected! A picnic by the river seemed such a good idea but without sunshine we struggled to keep warm so we were soon on our way again and into the Paris suburbs. The French came into their own cheering encouragement and creating an atmosphere almost on a par with the Tour de France. The Eiffel Tower loomed ahead and as a bride elegantly alighted from her stretch limo, 21 of us whooped, whistled and wobbled over the cobbles past her and on to the finish – I offer my profuse apologies to this lovely lady for stealing her thunder and appreciate her big-heartedness in sharing our excitement!

The whole experience was absolutely fantastic, from the organisation of Beating Bowel Cancer and Discover Adventure to the other participants who ranged from 3 young people from Birmingham who lost their father to the cancer in February of this year to the professionals in the group who understood firsthand what can be achieved by supporting such a worthwhile cause. Special mention goes to Alison for ‘loaning’ me Colin to get me through this and Sam for keeping me going when the going got tough. I don’t have words enough to thank Colin, without him, I couldn’t possibly have endured the training and not once did he offer me less than 100% support and encouragement.

If Colin and I have inspired you to take on a challenge - go for it and, remember, 'Pain is temporary; failure is permanent' and 'Pain is only weakness leaving the body'  No wonder I made it with these words ringing in my ears! Colin's other quotes are far too rude to mention.......Cats; smoke and knitting needles - don't try it at home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Many thanks again and kindest regards

Jill & Colin

 

 

 

Congratulations Jill (and Colin). Hope you enjoyed that drink afterwards. Jim Donation by James Durham 16/10/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Well done you guys Donation by Ray and Eric 16/10/09  

£25.00

Well done to you both Donation by Rod & Hooty 14/10/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Well done on reaching your target!! Donation by Guy Lower 09/10/09  

£25.00

Well done both of you. Donation by Kerry Wilson 06/10/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

WELL DONE EVERYONE!!!! A VERY WORTHY CAUSE. Donation by Andrew Bayliss 06/10/09  

£37.00 + £10.44 Gift Aid

best of luck to you both, see if sam will ride the bike back for you. Donation by dave & sharon 04/10/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Sitting on my comfy office chair and thinking of you Jill - hope all is going well. Bravo to you both. Jenny Donation by Jennifer Sherlock 02/10/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Have a great time! We happen to be in Paris this weekend so will look out for your arrival!! Well done. Donation by SARAH HENSON 29/09/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Important information for Jill! Paris is in France, as Madrid is in Spain not Italy. Kick on and Good Luck. Donation by Julie, Charlotte and Richard Elkington 29/09/09  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

If you need your bum soothing afterwards we have the perfect candidate for you! just let us know! good luck xx Donation by Sophie & Kirsty 28/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck - You must be both mad !! Donation by Guy 28/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck Donation by David Bouch 28/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck Jill, enjoy it!! :) Donation by Kelly Ferguson 28/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Colin - happy pedalling - I'll raise of glass of Bushmills to you - Donation by Hilary Cottam 27/09/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Good Luck Jill. Donation by Delores Smith 27/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Donation by Brendan Blythe 25/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good Luck and have fun. Croggy me a gorgeous french man home! Donation by Jules 25/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Piles (!) of good luck to you both for an epic ride. Have a great time. Donation by Julie Williamson-Cotton 25/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good Luck from everyone at Brauncewell Quarries. Donation by Tom Dickinson 23/09/09  

£25.00

Good luck to both of you Donation by anonymous 23/09/09  

£185.00

The very best of luck - enjoy the scenery! Donation by Roger and Elaine Wells 21/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good Luck! Donation by Robert Hodgson 21/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck to you both! You must be mad - cycling that far with Colin!! Go easy with the chamois cream Col, it cud all go so horribly wrong!! Enjoy! Donation by Euan Adamson 18/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Mind the trains in the tunnel! Hope it all goes really well. Donation by Chris Burford-Bradshaw 17/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good Luck from The Directors of MCMountain & Son Ltd and Mid UK Recycling Ltd Donation by Mowbray Mountain 16/09/09  

£100.00

Bonne Chance! Donation by Rupert King & Company 26/08/09  

£25.00

Bon Chance, aller vite et mange bien a Paris!! Donation by Peter and Annie 24/08/09  

£150.00 + £42.31 Gift Aid

good moaning, eet weel be a leetle painful ahm sur as Rene would say it will be wonderfuul when eet is finished. Donation by jan 22/08/09  

£100.00

surely dealing with tenants is easier than riding a bike to Paris!!! Good luck and hope you reach your target. Adrian Donation by Adrian Wray 20/08/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid
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