WHY KRISTY’S CHALLENGE ?
At 8pm on the 29th. January 2001, our lives were to be utterly devastated by the very sudden loss of our daughter.

Kristyanne was 15 years old, preparing for 11 GCSE’s, spoke fluent Spanish, played the flute and wanted to travel the world.

Over a four-day period Kristyanne went from having the symptoms of a severe migraine to being on a life support machine.

Only as a result of pathology, was Kristyanne diagnosed as having had a CEREBELLAR MEDULLOBLASTOMA. An extremely rare form of childhood malignant cancer.

My reasons are clear. I want to help a cancer related charity and have named the event after Kristyanne. So this year, I’d like to raise funds for Sue Ryder Care who have a Hospice at Thorpe Hall in Peterborough.
As I work in Peterborough at the Perkins Engine Company Ltd. and received overwhelming support from my colleagues during last year’s event, I thought it would be appropriate to raise funds to support the only Hospice in Peterborough.

Last year, collectively ‘we’ raised £3026.67 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
This year I’ve ‘raised the bar’ and hope to achieve the £4000 mark.

SO WHAT’S THE CHALLENGE ?
It will be a solo, one day, 75mile canal towpath cycle ride from Limehouse Basin on the River Thames to my house in Milton Keynes. Passing London Zoo, Wembley, ‘Little Britain’ (yes this is an actual area name!), Rickmansworth, Hemel Hempstead, Leighton Buzzard and finally onto home.
The journey will take me under or over 130 bridges, passing 75 lock gates, riding along towpaths ranging from narrow potholed muddy paths to smooth gravel.

Obstacles and hazards include people, dogs, mooring posts, fishermen and you are never much more than 2 feet from falling into the water !

Throughout the ride around every 20miles, family and friends will again be there to cheer me on and give me a chance to have a breather ! (and a mug of hot tea !)

WHEN ?
Rescheduled to 3 weeks after the PERKINS ECHO publication is distributed.

WHAT’S THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF THE RIDE ?
Riding past all those quaint canal-side pubs serving fine food and ales, whilst I have to contend with water and liquid carbohydrates.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE ?
About 11 hours allowing for ‘pit-stops’, contingency and off saddle relief !

WHERE ELSE WILL YOU FEATURE ?
In the Peterborough edition of the Evening Telegraph.

I’m also starting the whole event by sponsoring myself £100 ! And why not, it will go towards a good cause.

Thanks for taking the time to read this article and if you wish, please support Sue Ryder Care.

Gary