David Davies
Rochester To Fishguard
Fundraising for Motor Neurone Disease Association
Story
Update: Sunday 11th April
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(Original text is beneath this update)
I've completed the challenge! I reached Fishguard and I've exceeded my donation target of £2,000 - a big thank you to everyone who has donated. I really appreciate the generosity of your donations to such a great cause. Your support got me through some difficult times as I cycled the 307 miles.
I've added some photographs to this page (near the top-left) showing me at various locations. My Canon G11 camera has a great flip screen which is ideal for self portraits!
I did add a fifth day to my journey though. I had to split the final leg, which was going to be 95 miles, into two by cycling the last 50 miles on the Wednesday. I struggled with bad knees and a sore 'lower body' from about the second half of day 2 and included painkillers in my diet from the morning of day 3 just to keep me on the bike!
The bike was extremely heavy which also hindered progress but I had to carry all I needed for the journey with me as I was cycling completely alone and with no backup or support vehicle. In a way it was good to be alone, it gave me time to think and it also kept me away from people when I was grumpy, angry, exhausted or emotional.
I arrived in Fishguard around 4.30 on the Wednesday afternoon and was met by family, friends and the Mayor of Fishguard & Goodwick!
GPS track data for the 5 days can be found here: http://connect.garmin.com/explore?owner=davidmdavies where you can replay each leg-aching mile of the ride!
The money raised will help the MNDA support sufferers, their families and help fund further research and awareness of the disease.
My thanks to:
> Everyone who has donated money, either here on JustGiving.com or using the traditional paper forms.
> My mother, sister and my girlfriend who have taken paper sponsor forms around and raised a lot of money off-line.
> My father for his help, advice and for monitoring my progress online via Google's Latitude service and ensuring that I was safe and on track. Oh, and for finding accommodation for the night of Day 4.
> The Mayor of Fishguard & Goodwick, Mr Gwilym Price, for welcoming me to Fishguard on the Wednesday afternoon.
> The proprietors of Rosling House B&B, High Wycombe, for a warm welcome on Day 1 (http://www.roslinghouse.co.uk)
> My friends Tom and Alex, and their children, for a warm welcome on Day 2, and a place to stay for the night.
> The proprietors of The Grange Guest House, Brecon, for a warm welcome on Day 3 (http://www.thegrange-brecon.co.uk)
> The proprietors of Ty Castell, Nantgaredig, for a warm welcome on Day 4 and for the excellent (and much appreciated) sandwiches they provided for Day 5 (http://www.ty-castell.co.uk)
Thank you all, very much!
Oh, and if anyone still wants to donate, you still can!
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Original Text
In the latter half of 2009 my father was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks the upper and lower motor neurones. It is for this reason that I am raising money to support the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA).
=======================
(Original text is beneath this update)
I've completed the challenge! I reached Fishguard and I've exceeded my donation target of £2,000 - a big thank you to everyone who has donated. I really appreciate the generosity of your donations to such a great cause. Your support got me through some difficult times as I cycled the 307 miles.
I've added some photographs to this page (near the top-left) showing me at various locations. My Canon G11 camera has a great flip screen which is ideal for self portraits!
I did add a fifth day to my journey though. I had to split the final leg, which was going to be 95 miles, into two by cycling the last 50 miles on the Wednesday. I struggled with bad knees and a sore 'lower body' from about the second half of day 2 and included painkillers in my diet from the morning of day 3 just to keep me on the bike!
The bike was extremely heavy which also hindered progress but I had to carry all I needed for the journey with me as I was cycling completely alone and with no backup or support vehicle. In a way it was good to be alone, it gave me time to think and it also kept me away from people when I was grumpy, angry, exhausted or emotional.
I arrived in Fishguard around 4.30 on the Wednesday afternoon and was met by family, friends and the Mayor of Fishguard & Goodwick!
GPS track data for the 5 days can be found here: http://connect.garmin.com/explore?owner=davidmdavies where you can replay each leg-aching mile of the ride!
The money raised will help the MNDA support sufferers, their families and help fund further research and awareness of the disease.
My thanks to:
> Everyone who has donated money, either here on JustGiving.com or using the traditional paper forms.
> My mother, sister and my girlfriend who have taken paper sponsor forms around and raised a lot of money off-line.
> My father for his help, advice and for monitoring my progress online via Google's Latitude service and ensuring that I was safe and on track. Oh, and for finding accommodation for the night of Day 4.
> The Mayor of Fishguard & Goodwick, Mr Gwilym Price, for welcoming me to Fishguard on the Wednesday afternoon.
> The proprietors of Rosling House B&B, High Wycombe, for a warm welcome on Day 1 (http://www.roslinghouse.co.uk)
> My friends Tom and Alex, and their children, for a warm welcome on Day 2, and a place to stay for the night.
> The proprietors of The Grange Guest House, Brecon, for a warm welcome on Day 3 (http://www.thegrange-brecon.co.uk)
> The proprietors of Ty Castell, Nantgaredig, for a warm welcome on Day 4 and for the excellent (and much appreciated) sandwiches they provided for Day 5 (http://www.ty-castell.co.uk)
Thank you all, very much!
Oh, and if anyone still wants to donate, you still can!
---------------------------
Original Text
In the latter half of 2009 my father was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks the upper and lower motor neurones. It is for this reason that I am raising money to support the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA).
To raise money for the MNDA charity, I am planning on cycling from my home to my parents' house: a bum-numbing 300 miles across England and Wales.
My route will take me into London, along the River Thames to the centre of the city where I will reach the start of the A40 road. The A40 will then take me from London all the way through Oxford, Gloucester, Brecon and finally through Pembrokeshire to Fishguard, where the A40 ends and where my parents live.
Starting on Saturday the 3rd of April, I will cycle between 68 and 95 miles each day and bed down overnight in a suitable Bed and Breakfast. Four days cycling, 2 B&Bs and one friend's hospitality, 300+ miles and hopefully a pile of sponsor money to fund further research via the MNDA.
Day 1: ~74miles
Day 2: ~70miles
Day 3: ~69miles
Day 4: ~95miles
(You can view an image of the route by clicking on the 'photos' link on the left-hand side of this page under the small image of the route)
Please help me and donate as much as you can so that we can raise awareness of Motor Neurone Disease and help fund further research.
Thank you for your sponsorship!
David
Find out more about the MNDA here: http://www.mndassociation.org/