Thursday 2nd November 

Hi Everyone,

First let me acknowledge, the very kind and generous donations that all of you folk have donated to Motor Neurone Disease Association. Not only to those who have donated directly through the Just Giving page, but also the many cash donations given to me as I rode along the route, and to Jennifer at home. I have added those cash amounts and items in lieu today as an anonymous donation and include money given by the following:

A man at Land’s End, whose name was lost in the wind.

Matt from Truro Scouts, and Abby from the same group

Hilary from The Masons Arms in Bodmin.

Tim from the same pub

From RMS Nationwide E.bikes who donated an inner tube

Karen at Deer’s Leap car park along with Nige who donated online

Helen in Bristol who also provided me with a nutritious lunch

Jane from The Blue Bell Inn at Dalston

Shutters café in Killin who donated a lunch

The man renovating his farm at Gartmore when I asked for help with camping

Andy at Clava Cairns

Martin & Yil at Highland Mobile in Inverness

Patsy & Don at Strathay Point who donated accommodation

Ros, Yvonne & John from WRBC

Brian, David & James from Letchworth Parkrun

Bridget & David from Hitchin Historical Society

The MND Association focuses on improving access to care, research and campaigning for those people living with or affected by MND in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. My original target and subsequent ones have been reached and passed umpteen times so thank you everyone who has supported this very worthy cause. 

At the time of writing this, the total raised including gift aid stands at £5885.00 

(There is a small fee that charities pay to Just Giving – The JG site can tell you more about this)

I finally completed the LeJoG journey on Thursday 26th October as per my original schedule, ending with a terrific easterly wind and rain accompanying my final ride into John o’ Groats. Initially there was not a soul to be seen apart from the counter staff in the café. After a lull in the weather a few brave souls emerged and I was able to take the obligatory photo of the signpost and myself. Before returning home, I enjoyed a couple of days as a tourist in Inverness, and finally arrived in Hitchin on Monday morning the 30th Oct to a lovely welcoming group of friends who congratulated me on the success of the venture. I’ve already been booked to give a talk to a local group and I expect there will a few more to come, so I hope that will take the total raised to over £6000.  

Dennis

26th October

I'm on the last leg (and on my last legs ho ho ho!) And have just hit my £3000 target...quite a bit more than my initial target of £500! I've been battling the easterly wind for the last three days and having to add 20% more effort to my pedalling so we're upping the target to match! 

Cheers, Dennis

10th September 2023

Hi Everyone. 

The journey I am planning to undertake is to cycle solo and unsupported from Land’s End to John O’ Groats (LeJoG). I’m starting on 28th September 2023 by train to Penzance, then cycle to Land’s End before starting the LeJoG route. The total journey distance is over 2000 kilometres as I am following a route provided by “Sustrans” the cycle charity. This route is mainly off-road utilising old railway paths, canal towpaths, alleys in towns and sometimes “C” roads in rural areas. 

Many of you will know that this is my second go at LeJoG, having started the first attempt back in March ’23. Unfortunately, I didn’t complete the journey on that occasion as I fell off my bike and fractured my collar bone. Having healed and exercised back to full strength I am now starting again, not from where I fell off in Somerset, but back to the beginning in Land’s End. 

I am continuing to raise funds for Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA), a very worthwhile cause which works towards improving access to care, research and campaigning for those living with or affected by MND. I have lost three long term friends to this awful disease in the last five years. All were fit, healthy and in their early sixties. Once affected all died within a year of diagnosis. Because of the generosity of all you donors out there, I am raising my target to £1500 (subsequently upped to £2000 thanks to people's generosity!) Please spread the word so that we may reach this new target together.

I intend to be camping most of the way, and have arranged food and fuel drops with several friends along the way. These food parcels contain calorie counted dried foods in portion sized packs just to save time shopping. I shall be carrying two panniers and a small rucsac with all my kit: tent sleeping bag and mat, stove, pot, fuel, food, spare clothes, waterproofs, a few wet wipes! Spare inner tubes, tools, battery for electrical bits and a solar charger to keep the bike computer with my route installed all charged up.

Updates on my progress will be via a WhatsApp group. If you would like to be included please ring me on 07880 735102.

Dennis