Thanks for visiting my fundraising page.
This weekend Graham Bell and I cycled 138 miles from Aberdeen to Edinburgh to raise money for the urological cancer charity UCAN. The money you all helped raise (and thank you VERY MUCH for your tremendous generosity) is just short of £12,000 when the gift aid and cash donations are added.Graham, definitely won the yellow jersey and the polka dot jersey (King of the Mountains) and I might have sneaked the green jersey (sprint) due to my extra bulk going downhills. I am sure Edinburgh sits about 10,000Ft!
We covered 138 miles measured in a cycling time of 8-1/2 hours. Set off at 06:00, Graham had found 1 of several alpine passes on the journey, the first to Stonehaven via Cookney, and we made it by 06:55. John Smyth with the spare parts in his car was the support team and followed behind from about 07:45, and caught up with us near Arbroath. We went in to Carnoustie for some Breakfast around 09:30. He picked up my bag and later my Odfjell donated bike and pointed out I completely negated the advantage of a light bike as my bag was heavier! Oh well live and learn, but not getting there was not an option, so it was full of spares and clothing etc. Then onwards to Dundee and tried to get onto the Tay Bridge, but the way was cleverly blocked by a construction site. We circled for a while and eventually found the way into the lift and across the Tay, a milestone on the journey. Then we went across country again avoiding the main roads to Leuchars then Guardbrige and headed South just after there, finding the second Alpine pass across Fife. It was a great feeling cresting a rise and seeing the Firth of Forth. A lovely descent into Largo was followed by an undulating ride along to Kirkaldy having failed to find a bijou cafeteria by the sea for lunch (in the deserted mining towns) along the way. So around 13:30, we settled for some Stovies (that were yuch!) in the “lang toon” high street. Bijou / continental style, it was not; “Fish and Tea Cafe” it was as per the description! Anyway, I managed to leave most of mine behind. We set off on the final leg me trailing Graham as he stretched ahead on each uphill as we made our way to the bridges. It was great passing under the shadow of the rail bridge, descending into Inverkeithing and popping out onto the cycle path along the M90 onto the Forth Road Bridge. We took our cycling across there just taking in the magnificent views knowing the journey was all but complete and not knowing the last 8 miles would take us an hour due to navigating narrow cycling lanes, broken pathways, avoiding nettles along the overgrown route and finally jousting with the Edinburgh traffic from Blackhall to Princes Street. Even there we had to retreat back to Queen street and descend from St Andrews Square and turn left to the final point of the journey, the Duke of Wellington Statue opposite the Balmoral Hotel at Waverly Station. Job Done! 16 miles an hour average cycling time. Legs OK, we took some photos at 16:10, then went for a seat for a couple of beers outside in the sun; heaven....
The only lasting effect is the hiccups, which I have had for about 2 days on and off!
Thank you all very much again for your support. Next year, Inverness Edinburgh? Maybe not.
UCAN is a wonderful charity for helping people with urological cancers such as I have had. They saved my soul when I lost more than my prostate gland, and I want to repay them in the best possible way, to fund their after care services and assist in research to find prevention & cure for prostate cancer which will affect 1 in 12 men.
I would love to enroll any company assistance and in return arrange an educational talk to your employees.
I wanted to run a Marathon, but slipped a disc. I find I can still cycle, so intend to cycle to Edinburgh in a day as an alternative human endeavour. It is about 130+ miles when you avoid the motorway and dual carriageway.
I would like to lean on your generosity for the first time and help me blast through the target with many small (or large) donations. So, PLEASE send this to as many people as you can who knows a man who might one day need UCAN.
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: UCAN 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 me now!
