Thanks for visiting the Natural England East Midlands Mountain Bike Challenge 2009 - Pennine Bridleway fundraising page. Snappy title, eh!?

On Saturday 19th September, we completed our challenge to cycle the 35 miles of the Pennine Bridleway from Hayfield in the High Peak to Middleton Top, Nr Wirksworth. SEE THE NEW PHOTOS ABOVE!! This was a challenging route rising to 450m in altitude. YOU CAN STILL GIVE -PLEASE DO!!

We put our legs to good use helping those who are less fortunate by raising money for STEPS Charity Worldwide - a small national charity supporting children and adults affected by lower limb conditions.

The day went like clockwork, much of this due to Jo and team chasing round the countryside with water, maps and flapjacks to ensure the team were looked after along the way! The riders were amazing and still in high spirits at the well-earned lunch stop at Wormhill. The day ended at Middleton Top - a bit later than planned, thanks to a technical issue..! It was great to see so many people there to cheer the riders in and hand out (more) food! A huge THANK YOU to all the riders for taking the time out to do this for STEPS and to all the helpers for putting in all their time and effort to ensure the riders were well looked after and making the day go so well. The two youngest riders, James and Sam, did amazingly well on such a tough ride.                                                 WELL DONE EVERYONE!

We have smashed the £1000  target!!! HOWEVER YOU CAN STILL GIVE! Thank you very, very much to anyone who has sponsored us already. Our page will be open for a few more weeks, so there is still lots of time to donate - see below for details. We will be adding pictures taken on the day very soon.                                          THANKS AGAIN!!

The idea for this event came from Dan Abrahams, whose daughter Poppy was born with Bilateral Talipes, a condition that used to be called Clubfoot. At a 20 week pregnancy scan it was found that Poppy had talipes. This was a great shock to Dan and his wife, Carole - they had never heard of 'talipes' so it was an upsetting and stressful time. However, the STEPS website provided a fantastic range of information and uplifting case studies which helped put them at ease but also informed them of what was to come.

Poppy was born in 2006 and at just 3 days old she began treatment (Ponsetti method) - plaster casts on both legs from her thighs to her toes! These were changed and re-cast once a week after her feet were gently manipulated towards the correct position. This went on for around 8 weeks, followed by an operation on Poppy's achilles tendon. Next, Poppy was fitted with 'boots and bar' which held her feet apart and in a set position - this is where the 'fun' started! Poppy, or 'Houdinni', as she was re-named, could escape from these boots in a flash, much to her parents dismay. The boots had to be kept on for 23 hours a day (just coming off for bath time) in order to be effective. Dan and Carole came to despise the boots - apart from Poppy's escapology, they made her feet sore, she did not sleep well and it was awkward and often painful to cuddle Poppy or lift her in and out of the car seat, cot, etc. It was only from STEPS website that Dan discovered that there were other (more expensive) boots available in some areas. Thankfully, they were able to get Poppy fitted with these much improved boots - from which there was no escape!!! Life became much easier..... Poppy is now 3 and has responded really well to treatment. She only needs to wear the boots through the night now - her feet look great, she loves running and dancing and can do anything other 3-year-olds can do!

Without STEPS, parents would not be able to get vital information and support at very upsetting and stressful times. It is a great shock to find that there is something wrong with your unborn baby and parents naturally want to know as much as they can about the condition. STEPS get no government funding, so any money raised will help continue this vital service including providing equipment and support to those who need it.

So please, please give whatever you can, pennies or pounds,  to support these great bike riders as they pedal 35 miles in order to raise money for this fantastic charity! Either sponsor us on line or grab one of the riders and pledge whatever amount you can.....THANKS! DID WE MENTION THAT YOU CAN STILL GIVE?

Many thanks go to Derbyshire County Council for their support and donation of extra bikes and helmets!

Also a huge THANK YOU to Leeann Staggs and Harris-Active.co.uk who have very generously supplied our riders with some energy bars and energy drink sachets - free of charge. This generous offer to support our riders and help increase their energy levels on this event is very much appreciated - THANK YOU!

Many thanks also to Jo Poll for all her organising the water stops and amazing flapjacks!!! Also Jenny Campbell and Vicky Gillott for their help on the day - we couldn't have done it without you!! 

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor us: Steps Charity Worldwide gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

So please sponsor us now!

                                                                              Team Members:

      Dan Abrahams   Carlos Abrahams   Felicite Dodd   Paul Dodd      Ben Rodgers 

      Phil Bowler    Adrian Rochford   Mark Taylor    Denise Lorne        David Jackson     

     Sara Barrett     James Barrett        Martin Heathfield      

      Dean Skrabania     Mark Tingle    Sam Fawcett