I can't believe I'm getting involved in this ride again! And this year I'm helping to organise as well which just goes to show how much I think PROPS is a great cause...
Training is going well which is a good thing because the 2010 Cycle Challenge is going to be even tougher - we've got the option of cycling an extended route which works out at a total of 452 miles... In 4 days! But we've got 50 cyclists so it'll be fun riding with some new people, and hopefully raising even more money for PROPS.
We're leaving from Queen's Square in Bristol horribly early on Thursday 27th May and cycling to Portsmouth where we'll catch an overnight ferry to St. Malo. Then it's 3 days hard riding through the French countryside staying overnight in Nantes and Rochefort, and finishing in Bordeaux on the evening of Sunday 30th May for a well earned rest and a glass of wine!
And on top of that some of the same riders are doing a spin relay at The Mall, Cribbs Causeway on 7th-8th May so raise awareness and hopefully some more money. It's from 12 noon on the Friday to 12 noon on the Saturday and we're hoping to cover the 452 mile distance from Bristol to Bordeaux in just 24 hours on spin bikes! I'm a sucker for a challenge! It would be amazing if you could come along and give us some support... you'll find us near the food court.
PROPS is just such a great cause and they really need all of our help. When kids with learning difficulties reach their late teens there's not much provision for further education, social experiences or work opportunities, which is where PROPS come in. Their vision is to become the South West's leading provider of vocational education and work experience for these young people, working with them in their own Centre.
They're also developing BriarBiz, a business enterprise initiative which sells bespoke banners, branded clothing and canvas prints which the kids have worked on, meaning they can contribute directly to the charity which is supporting them - everyone's a winner! When you meet the kids and talk to their parents you realise how worthwhile it all is - some of them may come along to the spinathon so do come along and meet them.
Anything you can give will be a great help. PROPS is only able to fund its projects through individual and corporate sponsorship and each cyclist pays their own costs so all donations go straight to PROPS.
If you'd like a bit more info check out our website: www.pedalforprops.org
or follow my training progress at www.twitter.com/PROPSAndy
