Hi

(End October 2008): For those who don't know me well I've just escaped from hospital. 2 weeks ago I underwent major bowel surgery. I'll spare you too many gory details, but I have a full length abdominal wound and can rarely go more than 2 hours between trips to the loo. I lost 10 kg in as many days (mainly muscle). A short, half mile, walk currently feels like climbing a mountain and leaves me needing a sleep.

To help get myself back int shape I've set myself the challenge of cycling the distance of Land's End to John O'Groats before I return to work in mid-January.

Given I will not be safe on a bike outside for a while and that the winter months are upon us I'm going to do the 900 mile distance on my old road bike clamped to a turbo trainer in the garage.

Update 15th Nov: You will be pleased to see that awful photo has been replaced. So far I'm only about 60 miles into the challenge. I'm starting to feel a bit stronger than a newborn kitten and thankfully getting a bit more sleep so hope to up the pace.

Update 4th Dec: Progressing, but not as quick as I'd hoped. Arrived at the Severn Bridge yesterday so I'm a quarter of the way there. If the ice ever clears I'm going to include any road miles I can sneak in as well. If you feel that is cheating please feel free to pop out to Zambia and ask some sick patients for your donation back...

Update 18th Dec: Am halfway! All progress stall due to bout of man flu that will not shift.  Going to have to revise timescale to "when I return back to work fully" - that gives me till end of Jan.

Update12th Jan: Man flu culminated in pneumonia (I kid you not) before and over Christmas so lost out on about 2 weeks. Thankfully all settled and the icy few weeks have now thawed. I'm somewhere near Moffat and nearly 2/3 done. Hope to finish on time. Target sum reached but don't let that hold you back.

Finished 29th January. Witness the final few 100m by visiting this link:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BF5HFG7J2F8

Perhaps you might be kind enough to donate a little money to ZACCT to help me along my way. ZACCT support an excellent semi-rural hospital, St Francis, Katete, in Eastern Zambia. (See http://www.saintfrancishospital.net/ ).

Thanks for visiting my fundraising page.

James

PS. Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Zambia Anglican Council Charitable Trust gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

So please sponsor me now!