So, a final update: Thanks to everyone for all of the donations and contributions to the fund. Thanks also to Chris who won the voucher with a donation of £102 which is a fantastic amount to give to this great cause. I will be doing some other events next year but will give the sponsorship thing a miss for a while so that you can all save your pennies ready for the next one. Thanks again!

A quick update - The highest donation so far, on- or off-line, is £102 and will win the weekend hotel stay voucher if no higher donation is recieved.

Thanks to the donations made so far, I have been able to increase the target to £2000!

Thanks to everyone who has made a donation and to anyone who comes along to do so from now until the 10th September when I will cease to collect any further donations for this event. The ride was a great success and a lot of fun at the same time. It was certainly not as tough as I had expected but a lot of that was probably due to the training beforehand. A number of the other riders have expressed interest in doing a London to Barcelona or Land's End to John O'Groats so that might be in the pipeline for next year if we can get numbers together for it. I will let you know.

In May 2007, my daughter was born with a double hole in the heart, one between the upper chambers and, more importantly, one between the lower chambers. The next few months, although she was never considered to be 'at risk', were a little worrying until her heart specialist said that all was OK and she needed no further checks until she was ready to start school.

With that in mind and knowing that the Great Ormond Street Hospital is specifically looking for funds to build a new Cardiac Wing and Heart and Lung Centre, I felt it was time for me to get involved and do something to help.

Starting from the Kingston University Halls of Residence on the 10th July 2008, I will be joining a sponsored 3 day cycle ride from there to Paris. Over the course of the next 3 days, we will cycle a total of 373kms/233 miles and climb some 2865 metres or somewhere near 9400 feet to raise money for the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity.

Anyone who has heard of The Great Ormond Street Hospital will know of the wonderful work which they do to better the lives and treatment of some very sick children. To help them to improve their facilities, the charity is raising money to buy new equipment and to rebuild some of the older buildings so that the treatments which are on offer can be given more efficiently and to a greater number of children than ever before.

Please give a little to help with this cause.

As a bit of an incentive, my wife's family have agreed to donate two vouchers:

The first voucher will be given to the person or persons who donate the greatest cummulative total to my fundraising activities. The money must come from their own sources and not from any other fundraising activities. The voucher will entitle the named holder(s) to stay for a weekend at the family's hotel, the Hotel Lukashansl (www.lukashansl.at), in Bruck an der Glocknerstrasse which is just outside Zell am See in Salzburgerland, Austria. Included will be accomodation for a maximum of 3 nights (Friday/Saturday/Sunday) for 2 people in a twin/double room, Buffet Breakfast on 2 mornings and 2 Evening Meals. (Yes, it is a ski resort!)

The second voucher will be offered for sale on eBay at a later date and will entitle the named holder to 1 week/7 nights accomodation in the hotel for 2 people, also in a twin/double room and also including Buffet Breakfast and evening meal each day.

Please note that in both instances, the accomodation is subject to availability and the offer does not include transport, travel or drinks. The availability is subject to certain black out dates such as and not limited to Christmas, New Year and February half term holidays.

You can make a donation here or by giving/sending the money to me directly, either way, your name will be added to the list of people who have contributed and, once I stop accepting donations on the 10th September 2008, I will work out who has made the greatest contribution and send the appropriate voucher with my thanks.

Thanks
Matthew

(Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity (GOSHCC) will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.)