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So, as you are probably aware the challenge that i am doing is cycling from my home in Birdsedge to Newcastle completing the 2013 Great North Run and cycling home in 24hours. This is a total of 240 miles on the bike with a 13.1 mile run in the middle.

Could i do the challenge today (14/9/12)? not a chance! It is well outside my fitness limits. Even though i class myself as pretty active running and cycling. To be able to complete this challenge i have a very hard year a head of myself building up my endurance and mental strength.

Why?? I've been asked this question on numerous occasions. The simple answer is the number of people who say it is not possible. Never been one to shy away from a challenge the more doubters the more determined i became. As it is such a big challlenge i decided to use it to try and support local charities.

Having seen what a valuable asset the Yorkshire Air Ambulance provides the county it became one of my choices. With no goverment funding yet providing a vital service when time is important.

Being a father i can not imagine the stress and grief that parents suffer once their child is taken ill. That brings me to Forget Me Not Childrens Hospice, the fact that i will be able to raise some money to help this amazing place will drive me on during the hard hours of training. The smallest bit of happines i can bring to the chidren and parents will make it all worth while.

The final charity i shall be supporting is Kirkwood Hospice, now this place has been going for as long as i remember. Every report of a patients stay at the hospice tell roughly the same pattern,"What an amazing place" . This is a hospice providing care from diagnosis to the end of life. Amazing people providing such high standards of care to patients and families. 

Forget me not have agreed to collect all the money from this site and divide it three ways at the end of the challenge. For which i am very grateful.

I know times are hard at the moment but any help really is appreciated.

bless you all Gareth xx