Hello Lovely People,

This is my final message. “Yay”, you say J  First and foremost, I would like to thank you for reading these this page and the updates, and supporting my crusade to help Parkinsons UK.  It is through your comments and your encouragement that made me go ahead with this trip – and complete it. Physically I wasn’t quite ready for it, but my stubbornness more than compensated for it.

Vietnam and Cambodia in a nutshell -  514 KM over 8 days. Heat ranging between 35 – 40 degrees every day. Mixed terrains, from crazy roads dodging mopeds, people, cows, and trucks, to dusty dirt tracks. Dodgy bridges. Amazing locals. Incredible sights.  Sores in places that we really shouldn’t discuss, and lots and lots of heat rashes. And occasional delirium through tiredness and heat.

But what an experience. And what an amazing bunch of people. Epic is overused at times, but this was an epic trip with epic people. I've added a “past the post” shot from Cambodia – proof that we did it.

f you want to see pics, here is a link to a dropbox folder. Use as you wish.  https://www.dropbox.com/sh/szjiygukyvatsnk/AAA0ti2z38F4Uxje5V5sfM_Qa?dl=0

Thanks again for the support, it was emotional.

Signing out,

Mr Z
x

Hello to all you wonderful people J,

Earlier this year I embarked on a bit of a personal challenge to cycle 1,000 miles in registered events all in aid of Parkinson’s UK.  I have emailed many of you already, and many have graciously supported me with tweets, Facebook messages and sponsorship. I thank you all. The cause is very close to my heart, and the challenges are painful to my ASS :)

So far the total miles completed is: 503 Miles  - 9 events completed! 

Sunday 27th April - Cambridge 50 Miles – it was windy!
Sunday 18th May - Hertfordshire 50 Miles – it was hilly!
Saturday 7th June - London 100 Kilometers – it was brilliant!
Sunday 20th July - London to Southend 52 Miles – it was wet!
Saturday 26th July - Essex Castle 50 Miles – it was great!
Sunday 3rd August - Suffolk Castle 60 Miles  – it was extended!
Sunday 7th September - London to Windsor Castle 55 Miles – it was a breeze!
Sunday 14th September - New Forest 62 Miles  – it was bloody hilly!
Sunday 28th September - Bristol Castle 62 Miles – it took hilly to a new level of hell!

However with work commitments and it now being the end of the cycling season, I have run out of day events for this year, so I have decided to make the 10th event something special and epic.

On the 7th February 2015 – I will be flying to Vietnam, to hop onto a mountain bike, with a group of 50 other like minded folk and cycle 500+ kilometres to the 8th Wonder of the World – Angkor Wat, in Cambodia. It will be across a variety of terrains, from flat roads, to bloody hills, to dusty dirt paths. There will be a few heavy moments along the way, including cycling to the Killing Fields, but it will be an amazing endurance adventure - all for an amazing cause – Parkinson’s UK. 

You are either thinking I am either a mad hatter or a lucky bastard at this point. Well, I have been told it isn’t a sight seeing trip, and I will need to pack Sudafed, so the jury is out on that one!

If you are still reading this, then stay with me, because this is the important part!  To make this trip worthwhile, it would be great if you could support this mid-life crises event is some way… either by tweeting regularly, or Facebooking your friends, or by making a small donation to the cause.

I have set up the charity page so that all proceeds go directly to Parkinson’s UK. All costs for this trip are being picked up independently by a corporate sponsor. But I am looking for other corporate sponsors if you are interested J printed logos and PR opportunities all over the place. 

Please help… as much as this is a personal battle and challenge, it is to raise awareness and monies for Parkinson’s UK. There are real people in that organisation that actually do offer real support to people, when they really need it.

I have 10+ weeks to lose 20 kilos and get into real shape for this 8 day cycle. It will be a challenge training over winter (think of all those mince pies) but will be a bigger challenge completing this event in the 35 degree searing sun and humidity (think sweaty padded shorts). Some days will be 95km, others will be 45km and HILLS – I hate hills!

I will post one or two more updates before the trip (I know you can’t wait) :)

My last comment – in the UK we are the biggest givers to Charity causes - so apologies to keep asking you to dig deep – but this will be my last charity event for a very, very long time, so rest assured I won’t hassle you again anytime this decade.

Thank you for listening.

Mr Z