Hi Everyone

Yes thats right -  I'm cycling through India for charity!!!!!  I will be cycling 500km over 6 days in November this year.  I have the support of the Anthony Nolan Trust and Classic Tours ( a company who organise worldwide charity challenges).

The Anthony Nolan Trust is a registered charity which provides lifesaving donors to patients with Leukaemia in need of a transplant anywhere in the world!!!!!!

'JustGiving'  is a leading charity website providing a quick, easy and secure way for people to donate money online.  Money donated on my page is paid directly to my charity's bank account.  Any donation, no matter how small is greatly appreciated. 

Please feel free to check out the website and take a look at my itinerary etc:- http://www.classictours.co.uk/Challenges/OpenChallenge.aspx?ChallengeID=387

I look forward to keeping you all updated with my training and hope you agree that sponsoring me and this great charity will help save a life somewhere around the world.

Love Karen

UPDATE EMAIL - 24 OCTOBER 2008

Hi Everyone
 
 
Just thought I would update you all with the news!!!!!!
 
Some of you would have heard we held a Charity Dinner/Auction on the 10th October.  We raised just over £9000.00 (AMAZING!!! as we were hoping to raise around the £5000 mark).  It was a great and VERY successful night which was held at 'Great Fosters' a grand old English Hotel which was originally reputed to be a royal hunting lodge, parts of which dates back to the late 16th century.  We had approx 80 people and the night consisted of a Champagne Reception and then 3 course dinner followed by raffles and an Auction.  An example of some of the auction prizes that were donated for the night were '2 seats in the Chelsea Football Box including dinner and drinks to a game of your choice' - a Ski Holiday for 4 valued at £2000 which went for £1000 (great prizes and great value).  We also had a Senior Manager from the Anthony Nolan Trust who spoke to everyone on the night about the Charity and our Bike Ride Challenge. 
 
The training is going well and now starting to wind down with only just over 1 week to go (OH MY GOD).  Three of us went for a long ride on Monday and have now done a 100km bike ride (we were out from 9.30am until 5.30pm stopping for a homemade sandwich in a field somewhere between Maidenhead and Oxford.  The weather was not great as it blew all day with the last 2 hours of biking in torrential rain).  We survived and felt really good at the end of it although we were all in bed early that night, exhausted!
 
I have been shopping for my 'Personal and Medical Supplies' which were on our 'Packing List' - consisting of:-
Wet Wipes, Sun Cream, Insect Repellent, Antiseptic Ointment, Plasters, Pain Killers, Sting Relief, Diareze, Dioralyte, Isotonic Powders, Water Purifying Pills, Anti Bacterial Handwash, Deodorant and Toilet Paper just to name a few!!!!  My toilet bag now matches the size of my carry on luggage!  
 
I would like to THANK YOU all once again for your support and generous donations towards this fantastic Charity. I look forward to sending my next email on my return from India including some fantastic photos.
 
Luv Karen