darren hoolin
C2C
Fundraising for Derian House Children's Hospice
Story
Update 05-07-2010
We would once again like to thank everyone for your kind donations and support. When we originally met up to discuss the ride our target was to raise around £ 2000. Looking at what we have raised to date we are amazed with every ones kind heartedness.
We have asked the Hospice if they would mention us In their magazine so we that can show everyone what a good cause your donations have gone to. If you would like a copy (when ready) please contact any of the riders.
Kind regards and a massive thank you. The riders
Update 19/04/2010
How we got on; Day one We set off from Workington around 10.30 am 15th April 2010. However, due to the recent floods and collapsed bridges we got lost which added around an extra 8 miles to our journey and to add to this Scouse received a puncture. We then headed on to our first stop, Cockermouth, as we entered Cockermouth Scouse received his second puncture which needed a new inner tube. But unfortunately we were told that the only bike shop in the town had closed due to the floods! We managed to find a spare one that sort of fitted, and then off we headed to Keswick. This route took us on our first off road section which Liam enjoyed the most because he could release his suspension and fly up and down hills. Up until this point he had been quiet, probably because he hadn’t been to bed the night before, the reason being he was celebrating the fact he had 4 days off work. (Not a good move when you have a 50 mile plus bike ride ahead of you.) We arrived in Keswick at around 2 pm and all had a healthy meal from the Chippy! Then off we headed along an old railway track to Greystoke, our next stop. This now started to give us an idea of what we was to expect over the next couple of days because after the track we started to hit a few hard climbs. After reaching Greystoke we then headed off to our first Bed and Breakfast in Penrith. After getting lost again we finally arrived at 7 pm knackered. We then all went out for a meal but decided not to bother and had 5 pints and a takeaway instead. Day TwoWe Set off around 9-30 am with the knowledge that this would be our toughest day according to the guidebook. We got slightly lost again and Darren was attacked off an 80 year old hooligan because he was riding at 1 mile an hour up a 1 way street the wrong way! We then headed through some beautiful scenery to what we thought would be our hardest and highest climb, Hartside. On the way Steve fell off whilst flying down a hill and suddenly finding a sharp left hand bend. After a cleanup and a check of his bike off we went. We finally hit the hill we was dreading and to be honest none of us found it that difficult. “We must have broken its back now!” someone said (little did we know!) At the top of the hill is a cafe and we all celebrated our achievement with another stodgy dinner that included chips! After lunch we set off to our Second B&B in Nenthead, which claims to be the highest village in the country. Nenthead exited Ruddy because it used to have a big mining community and it still has an old haunted silver mine.(once a pit mon always a pit mon) We then saw another hill that looked higher and steeper than the previous one. “We don’t have to go up that, do we?” someone said as we frantically looked at our maps... 5 minutes later we started to climb it half an later we were half way up it with the taste of chips repeating on us.. At the top we saw our destination for the evening at the bottom of the valley. Before we went to Bates hotel we had a pint at the Miners Arms next door to a bike shop where Dave who had somhow managed to ride for two days with just a back brake got his bike fixed. Whilst resting and trying to get rid of the taste of chips we were all nearly wiped out by the local boy racer who decided to take a sharp bend at about 60 mile an hour in his Transit Van at one point it looked like that the van was going to roll towards us, D__k head was screamed at the driver. This was also a phrase constantly used throughout the whole trip by Stu. We knew at this point we was out in the sticks because our boy racers have Corsa’s or Citroen Saxo’s not Tranny vans. We then drank up and off we went to our digs, up another hill. We were then met by Helen the B&B owner. Helen informed us that we was the first people to stay there since last year then Stu found his bed not made up since someone had last slept in it. Helen informed us that her hired help who cooks breakfast had phoned in sick and she would have do it all herself but Liam kindly volunteered to help. We then headed off to the Pub but decided to sit inside for safety reasons. We then had a few beers and more chips and headed back.
Day 3 At 7-30 am Liam received his early morning call to come and help with breakfast and what a good job he did! Apart from those sausages.(minging) as Stu found out going up the first hill. We then set off on what was explained in the guide as the longest but easiest day! We left the B&B and headed for Consett. We then hit 4 steep hills and after each one someone muttered the words “ we must have broke its back now” we then came across a downhill gravel track that took us all the way into Consett. We had Lunch at KFC before continuing on to Sunderland. It was all downhill or flat from here on in. Dave, Steve, Liam and Scouse must have been looking forward to the night out in Durham because they flew off into the distance.... I would say not to be seen again untill the finishing line, but that wasn’t to be because Scouse got another puncture. After another inner tube replacement we then set off with just10 miles to go. As we approached Sunderland Scouse got another puncture. Luckily it was outside of a pub on the river so we all had a pint whilst he repaired it. Off we went again nothing was going to stop us now until and with the finishing line in sight you guessed it, Scouse got another puncture. He then rode the last half mile with a flat tyre. Reaching the finish line made us all feel proud of our achievement but also a little sad it was over because of how much we had enjoyed it. We then had the bikes picked up and dropped off back in Wigan and we headed for a well deserved night out in Durham. The only downside to that was the fact that with aching legs we stayed in a hotel with 101 steep steps up to our room, with no lift! Thanks to everyone for your kind Support and donations we couldn’t have done it without you. If you haven’t yet donated please do so it is going to a truly good cause. If you wish to receive any more info or for any photos that we took along the way especially Stu in Helens dress please contact; darren.hoolin@peugeotmail.co.uk Kind regards and thanks again. The riders
Update 14-04-2010
Tomorrow is the big day! The bikes are on the way to Workington with Stupots and we leaving at 6-30 am to meet up with them.(if they havn't been nicked) Stu is sleeping with them in his hotel room i think! We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for your kind support and generosity; it really has given us the inspiration to achieve it We will update this site when completed and let you know how we got on. If you haven’t yet donated please do so, however much the amount. It’s going to a good cause. Kind regards and thanks again! The Magnificent SevenUpdate 07-04-2010
With the ride only a week away it is with great sorrow to inform you that James Ward sadly passed away at Derian House on Saturday the 27th March. James was so brave right up to the end and always managed to keep a smile on his face no matter how he was feeling. This has now given us extra motivation to raise as much money as possible for the hospice. This is to allow for them to continue delivering the optimum support and medical care they currently give to children and families with terminal illnesses. If you have already donated thank you! If you haven’t, please do so. If you wish to find out more about Derian House please visit: http://www.derianhouse.co.uk Kind Regards The C2C teamUpdate 14-03-2010
With the ride being nearly 4 weeks away this is an update of how the preparation is going. With your kind donations and messages of support it gave us all the inspiration to start training at weekends for the ride. Week 1; some went out riding on their own and some in little groups of two or three. When discussing with one another in the pub of how far we had done, the covered mileages became exaggerated. Liam and Ruddy said they did 40 miles. However, when checking their route on Google maps it was closer to 30! - (the power of tinternet!) Week 2; for those of us who are not receiving medical attention from Physio's and sports injury specialists (after week one) the others where covering the local bike shops looking for good deals on faster and easier to pedal bikes. Week 3; not sure what’s happened to the training but it has been cold and windy this weekend. I’m sure it will resume next week, being 3 weeks before the challenge!!!!!! Thanks once again for your kind words and donation and if you haven’t yet given us kind words and donations please can you? Or even just donations. Kind regards The Coast to coast team; http://www.c2c-guide.co.uk/ Thanks for taking the time to visit our just giving page. We are going to attempt to ride the 150 mile route from Whitehaven in Cumbria to Sunderland. For a seasoned cyclist who has trained rigorously, this distance could be achieved in one day. However, we’ve no chance so we will be looking to do it over 3 days! The start date is the 15th of April 2010. To give us the motivation to carry out the challenge we are looking to raise as much money as possible for Derian House Children’s Hospice. Derian House currently supports more than 250 families with sick children including one of our close friends child; James Ward. The high level of specialised care costs the hospice around £ 2 million per year, and with just 9 weeks funding available through the local government they are heavily reliant on generosity. Please donate what you can . If you wish to donate cash, please contact one of the riders who have paper based sponsor forms. Thanks very much for your support.