Many, many thanks to you for your support, sponsorship and encouragement in the run up to the cycle.  Between us we have raised an amazing £10,000 for Marie Curie Cancer Care which will go a long way to helping many people at their time of extreme need.

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Final update - 7th June

Well the time for talking about it is finished!  I head over to Ireland tomorrow and the cycle starts on Saturday afternoon.  I am trying not to look at the weather forecast as obviously we will be cycling regardless of the conditions, but I do have my fingers crossed for no headwind!  My last proper training run was on Saturday when I cycled from Edinburgh to St Andrews (55 miles) which was a good practice for the days ahead.

Several people have asked but afraid I have failed in my attempts to set up a blog or online photo library.  Probably for the best anyway: never good to see pictures of a grown man crying at the thought of another day in the saddle!

Many thanks to everyone that has sponsored me or come along to one of the fundraising events.  The website is obviously still open for further donations if you have been meaning to sponsor me and haven't quite got round to it yet - would be very nice to reach the £5,000 mark!

Thanks again.
Norm

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Sponsorship update:

With the success of the Race Night the total raised has almost reached the £4,500 mark.  This is so much more than I ever dared hope raise.  Thank you everyone!  When added up with Ally's (my co-cyclist) fundraising we will be very close to £8,000!

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19th May - Race Night success!

An amazing £1,141.70 was raised at the Race Night!  Thanks to everyone that came along, those that sponsored races and those that bid for the silent auction prizes.  A fun night was had by all.

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What's the story with the hens?

The fact that my top sponsor is a group of 8 hens in Fort Augustus seems to be causing much interest!  The background is that the hens are my Mum's and she sells the excess eggs at her work - for the period of my fundraising all the proceeds from these sales are going towards my fundraising.  Thanks Mum (and "the flock"!)

 
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Only 7 weeks to go!  Training is now in full swing, and so much nicer in the daylight and better weather.  Have managed two 65 mile runs in the last 2 weekends (many thanks to the Edinburgh CTC crowd for dragging me round) and several smaller runs in between.

 The other exciting news is that the venue for my Race Night (Saturday 19th May) is confirmed as Murrayfield Wanderers Rugby Club.  This is right by the South West corner of the stadium.  Details to follow but the evening will kick off around 7.30pm.

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Offline donations so far total £155.  Many thanks to Ken & Morag McWilliam, Indira Mann, Peter & Charlotte Batchelor, and Gilly & Nigel Innes.

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April update - ceilidh in St Boswells was a roaring success.  Over 100 people strutted their stuff and Ally (my co-cyclist) raised a masssive £1,350!  Thanks to everyone that attended.

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March update - target raised again due to everyone's amazing generosity.  With 2 fundraising events still to come I am now aiming to raise a huge £3,500.  Thank you.  Looking forward to the clocks going forward soon as this should allow some evening training runs.

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February update - target raised to £2,500 due to the fundraising success so far.  Thank you!

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I have been a great admirer of Marie Curie Cancer Care ever since they looked after my granny and grandpa with such skill and compassion.  It is an amazing organisation.

So, in an attempt to provide them with some much needed financial support, I have taken the leap and signed up for this year's Malin Head to Mizen Head cycle ride: the Northern most point of Ireland, to its Southern tip.  Approximately 440 miles, in a week, on a bicycle!

It will be quite a challenge for me and I have 4 months training left to get myself in shape.  (Unlike the photo, I'll not be doing it on a tandem so won't have anyone to help push me along!).

As well as asking for sponsorship I am also going to be holding 2 fundraising events (a ceilidh in Kelso and a race night in Edinburgh) to try and reach my target of raising £2,000.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure.  It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Marie Curie Cancer Care 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.

So please sponsor me!

Many, many thanks for any support you can give to Marie Curie and motivation for me on those dark, winter training runs.

Norm