We've signed up to take on a MONSTER of an event in aid of Maggie’s Cancer Care Centres. The 'Monster Bike and Hike' 2011 (www.maggiescentres.org/monster) is a gruelling 24-hour fundraising event with teams completing a 30-mile mountain bike ride and then we’ve chosen to do the maximum of 43 miles on foot.

The event takes place on the bank holiday weekend of Saturday 30 April to Sunday 1 May and starts in Fort William and finishes at Inverness. 2011 will be the eighth year of the Monster Bike and Hike, with over £3.6m raised to date. The Monster has allowed Maggie’s to open new centres and to support tens of thousands of people on their journey through cancer. Maggie’s model of support empowers people to live with, through and beyond cancer and their centres offer a programme of practical, emotional and psychological support to people with cancer, their families, friends and carers. Maggie’s support is free of charge and operates on a drop-in basis.

We wanted to raise money as a number of people we know have been recently touched by cancer. We’re always doing a fair bit of running and cycling, so we knew people would only sponsor us if it was properly tough!

All donations are very gratefully received … as are positive thoughts sent our way on that royal wedding bank holiday weekend …

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - we raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Thanks very very much ... 

Andrew and Sarian (and Tui)