Many thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page!!

sportJohn to Malta 2010

in aid of:

Bradford Disability Sport & Leisure; and

Sue Ryder Care at Manorlands

Done It!!!   For details of all the adventures and excitement on the way see www.sportdennis.co.uk.  It was a tremendous experience and I'd just like to thank everyone who took part or supported in any way, shape or form and of course to everyone who has so kindly donated to this page or via other routes.
I'm still calculating the final amount and will post that as soon as it's known.  

The Idea: The idea was a personal challenge to cycle from Haworth in West Yorkshire to , aiming to arrive in Valetta (after a 2,013 mile ride) for 21^st August 2010, which was the date of my 50^th birthday.

The Route: Basically, from Haworth eastwards to Hull.  An overnight ferry to Europoort and then heading south through Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and right down the west coast of Italy.  Another short ferry crossing to , down the island and then a final ferry to Valetta in Malta (many thanks to Virtu Ferries who donated all crossings for people and support van - really generous!).

The Dates: I set off at 9.30am on Thursday 22^nd July 2010 and arrived in Valetta at 5.30pm on Friday 20^th August 2010. We had rest days on Sunday 1^st August in in the Alps, Saturday 7^th August in in (to lean against the tower!) and Wednesday 11^th August in averaged out at approx. 70+ miles per day with the longest day being 110 miles and the shortest day 40 miles.

The Reason: The trip is aimed to raise money for charity and I selected two local charities that are very close to my heart.  I had already done a number of charity rides to Hamm in Germany on behalf of Bradford Disability Sport & Leisure and it is great to see the money raised going on equipment to enable everyone, across the whole spectrum of ability and disability, to share the joys of cycling and indeed sport in general.

I also have a very special affection for the Sue Ryder Hospice at Manorlands in Oxenhope.  A few years ago my wife was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma and unfortunately was unable to beat the disease.  The whole experience taught myself and my two boys a number of things, two key ones connected with money.  Firstly, the fact that no amount of money in the world can guarantee your health.  Secondly, that the fantastic job of support and care for patients, family and friends, carried out by organisations like Sue Ryder Care and BDSL, is not part of mainstream funding and is hugely dependent on charitable donations.

The Malta trip (chosen because I have many friends in Malta through links with my sister and because it is an interesting and fantastic route across Europe) represented making most of the health with which I've been blessed and the opportunity to raise some money, whilst providing me, my sons and the people who rode sections with me or supported in any way with a unique, once-in-a-lifetime, challenge.

I hope that it will really make a difference, however modest, to the ongoing work of Sue Ryder Care and Bradford Disability Sport & Leisure.

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Cheers

John