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Survived bike ride, an amazing experience, shared with a fantastic group of 18 riders and great support team. A truly physically demanding bike ride. Day one of the actual ride was expected to be an easier opening day, cycling mostly down hill from Madaba, 20km from to the . A very strong wind blew (in our face) making cycling very tricking and tough going.

Day two, we had a favourable wind allowing the 60km approx. fairly flat ride to happen in good time, this then allowed the real challenge of the day to happen, a near 40km up hill ride to Jerash, starting this from -400m below sea level and finishing at plus 1200m, the most physically demanding thing I have every down (by far) but so rewarding. Day three, a testing day again lots of ups and downs, eventually finishing at low levels on the Jordan valley and a boarder crossing to Neve Eitan, Israel, the late arrival ment a very dark bike ride to our overnight stay at a Kibbutz guest house, we travelled using vehicle lights front and back of group, an interesting experience. Day four, a mixture of ongoing steady rolling hills, a lot of off road work, followed by a long flat bike ride to the Sea of Galilee, this was the day I was very glad to get off the bike, was hurting a lot, but the following boat trip across the Sea of Galilee made it all worth while. Day five, a hard days cycling with lots of ups and downs, long hauls plus short very step pulls. The day finished with all the riders arriving together at our goal the , a very emotional time, being greeted so warmly by not only a local scout’s brass band but many students, Doctors, nurses, staff and directors from the Hospital, truly humbling. The following day we had a wonderful tour of the hospital, an amazing place. Hearing about this year's sponsorship project being directed towards setting up a Nazareth Hospital School of Nursing Bursary Scheme which will provide for the education, living costs and provisions of resources for students who have the potential to succeed in their studies but whose families simply cannot afford to send them to learn. The scheme will enable talented and intelligent young people from Nazareth and the surrounding villages (including those from Bedouin communities) to attend the School of Nursing, and have the opportunity to avoid the trap of poverty To hear of the continuing work of the hospital and to have been part of this years EMMS charity bike ride has left great memories, the training, the fantastic help from so many people with sponsorship raising, the demanding bike ride itself, the hospital and the new friends that helped and supported each other through what was regarded as perhaps the hardest bike ride taken on by EMMS in the area. So much thanks to everyone.

Present personal sponsorship total  over £21,000, so pleased. Will be well in to December before final totals, personal and over all bike ride totals will be known. Many people that I have spoken to still intend to sponsor me, I hope they do for the sake of others.

There has been a fantastic response, from so many, I never thought that I would be able to raise my target to £10,000, let alone breaking the £21,000, very many thanks to you all for your support and kindness. Many thanks to everyone who donated so kindly towards the online auction and a huge thank you to all who bought, it really has pushed the fund raising up to new heights. a great deal of thanks to Walter Raitt for running the online auction and resent BBQ. Thanks also to Carol Adams for her wood carvings at the Steam Engine Rally held at Crathes, thanks to Mo Fettes and her team for running the horse race night in our local Kirkton hall in Durris, a fantastic effort. 
I read about "Cycle the Jordan valley" and what struck me firstly was some of the wording "this is not a holiday", I needed a new challange.This will be the 18th EMMS Bike Ride, raising funds for the Nazareth Hospital. The hospital has grown from a 4 bed clinic to a 136 bed District General Hospital. The Nazareth Hospital handles 11,000 in patients, 57,000 out-patients and caters for over 2,700 births every year and has the only 24-hour Accident and Emergency Department in the area, which each year handles 48,000 emergency attendances.
Reading the information pack it informs of the very special ministry of the Nazareth Hospital, that being of a Christian love and reconciliation in a diverse community of Arab and Jew, Christian and Muslim. It is a place where all can work and learn together, to build peace and trust, and to heal differences between races and religions. This is what really struck a cord with me, got me excited, and I knew this was something I wanted to be involved in.
The Bike Ride itself will cover almost 400 kilometres (250 miles) in 5 days, starting from Amman, Jordan’s capital city, through the Jordan Valley, into Galilee and on up to Nazareth, a challenging but exciting route.
I, along with the other riders have committed to raising at least £2500 in sponsorship each, with my personal target being set at £10,000 pounds, with the hope of going higher with your valued help.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Emms International 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!