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Having completed a couple of London to Brighton bike rides, I wanted a bigger challenge, a bit more of an adventure and so at the beginning of the year decided to do cycle LEJOG (Land's End to John O'Groats). At the time, my Mum was ill with ovarian cancer and I planned to undertake the journey in May and combine the personal goal with taking an opportunity to raise money for a charity of Mum's choosing. Unfortunately, Mum died on 18th May and I decided to postpone my ride to September.
I am therefore setting off in 10 days time. My journey begins on Friday 12 September, with the intention of completing it in 15 days, finishing at John O'Groats on Friday 26 September. I have researched the route through other blogs and the Cycle Touring Club (CTC) website and will travel on mainly minor roads, stopping at pre-determined Youth Hostels and B&B's. The total distance of the trip is about 1,000 miles and I will be cycling solo and unsupported. I will be catching the train to Land's End and my wife, Lynn, will be flying up to Inverness to meet me at John O'Groats.
Although Mum died in The Rowans, Portsmouth she nursed for nearly 20 years at the Countess Mountbatten Hospice (CMH), part of Moorgreen Hospital, West End, Southampton. Both sites provide palliative care for the south of Hampshire and it was Mum's wish that I raised money for CMH which gets less publicity than it's Portsmouth counterpart. However, from the total money donated to CMH I will be giving 10% from my own pocket to The Rowans.
These places are truly fantastic and the level of care and dignity given to people in their last days is awe inspiring. Although some of their budget is NHS funded, a large amount is placed on fundraising efforts. I hope you will all agree that this is a very worthwhile course and I sincerely hope you will be able to support me in this venture. Mike
Many thanks for your support and please follow my progress on http://mharding.blog.co.uk.
