Corben LEJOG 2010 Cycle Ride  

10th September - 2nd October 2010

Please take the time to read the narrative below. It explains Our Task, Your Challenge and the Charities that will benefit.

 

Lets Start with a Note for the Record

The Corben's cycle ride north aims to raise money for a number of our chosen Charities. Due to the limitations of the JustGiving web site we are restricted to listing only one Charity. Therefore, we have listed one of our chosen charities as the prime Charity and all donations will be channelled through GUTS. Once our task has been completed the proceeds will be split three ways. So please do not worry, all charities will benefit from our challenge.

All the costs for the trip will be met by us. All your donations will go directly to the charities. We will make a donation equivalent to 5% of the donations received when the appeal is closed on the 20th October 2010.

View the Charity logos in the photo window to the left.

 

Our Task

Sally and I will leave on the 10th September and aim to reach John O'Groats on the 2nd October 2010, my 60th Birthday. This will leave Sunday 3rd October free for me to settle down for the Ryder Cup singles. If Sally gets a move on I may see a little more!

 

The Route

Contrary to all you wags, LEJOG means we are taking the "uphill" route, but in September the prevailing wind should be westerly and with a little luck, more southerly.  If not, we are in for a really tough time.

Our route to John O'Groats will take us up the west coast. After the hills of and Devon we will travel towards where things should get a little easier. Then over to and up the Wye valley, followed by a meandering ride to the east of  via . Now the fun starts as we fight our way through the industrial heartland of Lancashire and onwards to . We aim to avoid and cheat a little with a detour across to the Isle of Arran; then progressing via Loch Ness to  and on to our destination. That’s the plan, and we will travel just under 1000 miles. Our wheels will revolve ~ 852,000 times . If the will is there, we may try to do a few extra miles to achieve the 1000 mile milestone.

Undoubtedly changes will be made on route and there is the temptation of  playing Sheffield United away on the 18th September. However, that may prove a little difficult and a rather hilly detour.

Logistics

Sally and I are travelling on our own without any on route support, other than what we can give each other. We have two Specialize Touring bikes and will carry all we need with us. We will have a couple of panniers each for clothing, maps, tools and cycle spares.

Our only luxury will be a B&B each evening which Andy or David will arrange as we travel. They will also provide you with updates on our progress either via this site or direct emails.

 

Preparation to Date

Training has gone well for us both. I commenced mine in March but  Sally, being much fitter, has only just started to bother about it. A quick 300 mile tour around the hills of northern last month settled our nerves, when we averaged 50-60 miles a day. We followed this with a 3 day, 160 mile trip from home to Pompey and back with a tour of the thrown in.

We have a few more trips planned before our start date along with regular hill training stints up to the golf club and back. We have 23 days available to us with 3 quiet days programmed and  a 2 day contingency against extreme weather included. Overall, we will need to average around 50 - 60 miles a day.

 

Our Invitation to You the Donators

At this stage I would like to think that we have warmed you up enough to request a donation for the charities of our choice.

 

The Fundraising Challenge

We have three charities that we are seeking your  help to support. As previously stated the money will be channelled  via GUTS, who will then distribute it on a third basis to each of the other groups when we close the JustGiving site in mid October.

 

So where will your money go?

1, Undetected Tumours: many of my friends will recall the cancer challenge I faced in 1997. cancer kills when not caught early and the work that GUTS has undertaken over the past 25 years has delivered early screening to thousands in the area. Professor Marks,  my surgeon, launched GUTS in 1983 and their web page will outline their work to date. http://www.guts.org.uk/ 

GUTS are about to launch their appeal for a new Endoscopy Suite at the . As a regular customer of the treatment, even now; I seek your help to start the funding of this suite. The benefits will touch most families in the County at some time in the future.

2,  Air Ambulance: the 7th September 1961 was my first day at secondary school and when I met my closest friend. We grew up together, played soccer together and have also drunk far too much together since.

Andy Crowther is a true mate, and was very fortunate to survive a bonfire accident a year ago when a petrol can exploded in his hand. Having witnessed his early injuries at first hand I remain amazed at his recovery A recovery that he has to thank for the expedient treatment of the medical teams from both the Air and services. The Air Ambulance arrived within 6 minutes and continued the excellent early work of the paramedics who arrived before them.

The Air Ambulance delivered Andy to the burns unit at within the golden hour. http://www.surreyairambulance.co.uk/ This is a remarkable service and survives on voluntary funding.

As our second charity we would welcome your help to support and maintain this excellent service. Andy may well have survived but his injuries would have been significantly worse without that early treatment and speedy transfer to a burns unit.

 

3, Captains' Charity @ Hindhead Golf Club:  the golf club has been an important feature of my life and more latterly of our son David. Each year The Captains’ Charity provides funding and support for local activities.

The 2010 Captains’, Duncan Parker and Ann Nash have selected:-

Disability Challengers  http://www.disability-challengers.org/ 

and

Care Trust  http://www.surreycaretrust.co.uk/.

as the beneficiaries of their Charity

DC is a children’s charity, which helps disabled children to challenge their impairments through play; it helps the whole family at high pressure times- namely at weekends, after school and during holidays. DC started 30 years ago and now supports nearly 1,000 children through permanent facilities in both Farnham & Guildford.

SCT’s vision is to transform the life chances and aspirations of local people who are marginalised by disadvantage and lack of opportunity or who need a second chance.

Employees work in local schools and at their own learning centres, motivating unhappy and disaffected teenagers. Children are encouraged to discover their own individual talents and this helps to develope their self confidence, to make the most of them.

 

Final Plea

We are not taking on our LEJOG challenge lightly. Sally and I know that we are going to feel many aches, a lot of pain, extreme tiredness and we guess the weather will not  always be  kind.

So please share and sponsor our PAIN and let the charities GAIN.

 

Many thanks for your very valued support

 

Terry & Sally

 

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll 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 - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.