YES I DID IT !!!!!!

4 Days of warm sun shining blue skies, 347 miles, hills, valleys and views which went on forever and more food then I would like to recall. I made all the way on my tank of a bike from Paris to Geneva.

Although I had a cycle accident less then a week before and it looked like I might have to pull out or spend the week in the support vehicle, Praise God that the injuries were all at a point where they didn't cause any grief or problems. In fact I think they served to only make me want to complete the ride even more and the only time I went to the support van was in search of food or water.

The hills were tough, more tough then I could have trained for but every meter which I went encouraged me that anything is possible, even for an average working girl like me on a bike which made many of the elite cringe compared to their featherweight toys. Getting to the peaks held a sense of pride and relief that could not be easily described.

All 16 people that set off from Paris completed it with no major stacks or bike problems. A few people took some wrong turns along the way but that is another story.

The fun doesn't stop here. Thanks to YOU, Crisis is now able to continue to their work with London's homeless people so that many more people can reach the tops of their mountains (maybe not on a bicycle) and achieve their goals in life to live in hope and purpose. I had so much help and enouragement from all of you to get me where I did and I am prividged to be able to use this challenge to build up other people.

I would still welcome you to continue to donate to this amazing group. I've volunteered with Crisis over the Christmas period for the last 3 years and have met some of the people who have climbed their mountains in life to break the cycle of home and hopelessness. Here are a few of their stories:
- One women wrote her life story and published it in bookstores everywhere;
- One man writes poetry and stories for magazines and sells his mosaic work along the river;
- Another woman received help to write a resume and as a result got a job;
- A group of women received training in computer skills that we often take for granted but boosted their confidence and employment opportunities; and
- Other women received placements in housing or longer term programmes to help them through the issues which brought them to the street in the first place.

For those who haven't looked at the webpage, in early June I also joined in the Crisis Square Mile Run which consisted of about 2000 people running (or for me walking) around the streets of London for about 3.3 miles. It may not seem much but even little things can make a big difference.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is probably the most efficient way to sponsor me as Crisis will receive your money faster and, if you are a taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. On the other hand, if you don't like typing your details into the internet I am also taking donations personally or you can send money direct to Crisis in my name. You may feel that you don't have much to offer but believe me, even a penny or a word of encouragement holds the potential to go miles.

Going though tough patches, everything helps and we are all the same but not all of us have friends or family to help us.