Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. In November 2005 my dad passed away peacefully in his sleep having suffered with a brain tumour for over 14 months.  I am doing this challenge in his memory and as a way of thanking the nurses who helped him (and mom) through this most painful time.  Additionally, its high time I did some exercise and this seemed like something I could really get my teeth into.  I've got lots of ideas for raising money but I will never look a gift horse in the mouth so please be as generous as you can.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Macmillan Cancer Relief will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. Many thanks for your support.

More good news! I am now on the Macmillan website as a supporter. Click on this link to go straight to the page. Before you ask, it is me - not Fern!!!!

I would like to say 'ello 'ello 'ello to Dennis and thank him for being the first on this page. When you are next in the country I will buy you a mickey mouse! Big hello to Carol Beckford - I'm coming after you soon as a training partner - I've seen you out and about kitted up like a pro! Thanks Carol. Yum yum to Nanny Janice (baby pie), thanks for sponsor and even bigger thanks for the cakes we are going to eat today! Hope you have fun at the Fundraising House warming party.

Special thanks to Mike Bloxham of the Sandnats. He has donated £50 and asked that "the girls" write an obituary for the SandNats magazine. Dad spent a lot of time in Sandwell Valley, both walking and cycling and cared a great deal about the environment. Details of Sandnats can be found on the Sandwell Valley website. Thanks Mike.

Today, Wednesday 25th January I banked a cheque for £100.00 from Paul Deakin, a very good friend of my dads. Thank you Paul. Look forward to riding some of those hills you have threatened me with! A little bird tells me that Paul has bought a mountain bike and crash helmet so he can join us along the Birmingham canals.

Thursday 26th January.  What a day! Look at all the money I have got on my site. I am impressed and sooooooooooo grateful. Especially Michael. We think he has had too much to drink and hit the zero key too many times! Good on ya Mike!  Must say thanks to Donkey Darby too and Pam - two good Smethwick girls who know how it goes!  Not to forget Mr. Jones, the oldest baggies fan I know. In fact, one of the few baggies fans I know! LOVE YOU ALL! Ta x

Friday 27th January I had my first event at home - a coffee afternoon cum wine evening.  It was a great success as we raised £300. I would like to thank everyone who came, you are making it happen for me.  Lots of friends donated through this site as they are able to qualify for gift aid which increases my fundraising.  There are plenty of cakes left if anyone wants to pop in - at a cost of course! Thanks ......... I have it on good authority (retired Holly Lodge English teacher) that you spell cum like that.

Lots of people asked me for details of the challenge. Go to www.macmillan.org.uk/perubike/index.asp for more information about this exciting adventure I am embarking on.

A word for mom, Julie and Jane. Where would I be without your help and support in everything I do? I can't thank you enough.  Dad would be so proud of us wouldn't he? When Jimmy called us the Gatlin sisters he wasn't far off the mark was he?

Monday 30th January. Today I banked the £300 from Fridays event. Its getting difficult to thank everyone in person so I can say CHEERS to all the staff at George Betts School in Smethwick. They made Friday such a pleasure and the money is still coming in from those who couldnt be here! Stan Osborne (better known as THE HEAD) has also pledged all the money he raises from his sponsored marathon! What a team. Incidentally Stan there is a photograph of you and it appears you were stuffing something in your pocket. You will shortly be hearing from my solicitors - Robb Dogg and Co.

Can I thank Herville for his donation and say that I hope he will support me further by sorting something out at the Baggies ground? If you don't I will have to show everyone the Valentines Card you sent me back in ............. 1975? Yes, I still have it!!!!! Thank you also to Pete and Elizabeth - I haven't met you yet but I have heard lots about you and the work you do.  Thanks to Kully for the carrot cake - you need to taste it, trust me. Kelly for supporting me whilst little Freddy is poorly. Sharon for just being Sharon. Anton - thank you in advance for sorting my pc out - it was lovely to meet you, your reputation preceeds you. Jim Anderson? What can I say? The less the better lol. Actually, how did you fix it Friday so that your beautiful daughters won all the prizes? This list is endless - I will come back to you all.

Hello to Phil, I told you I would be in bed for 9!!!!!!!!!!!!! If anyone wants to know anymore they will have to pay me!!!!!!!!!!! Anne and Aud - you are so generous - I knew if I gave you enough wine and samosas  you would succumb!!!

On a serious note............. do you all know how hard I am working at Sams Gym at Warley High School?  I did 30 minutes on the cardio vascular stuff today!!! Impressed? And I have increased my repetitions on the equipment. This girl means business you know! Take care everyone. I am loving this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

More thanks go out to Val, Jennifer, Gurbaksh, Cheryl, Helen and Elaine - Errolls colleagues - hope you can make the meal so I can thank you in person. Having said that you could come along for a spot of pampering with my beautiful sister Julie - not that she needs it!  Hello to Paul and Juliet - Juliet being the best spinner at The Village,  Dudley - how does she do it? More to the point, she swims 30 lengths after doing 30 minutes on the bikes - she should be doing this challenge not me!

Thank you to all of Trevors friends who donate every week! Thank you, thank you! Thank you for your donations and thank you for being there for mum.

Thursday 9th February: We received even more cash off Trevors posse this week and today mom has banked another £100! You are ALL so generous. You keep telling me dad would be proud - can I tell you that he was overwhelmed by everyones kindness and generosity when he was ill. He never really accepted that he had made such an impact on so many peoples' lives. He was so grateful for everyones time and love. One of my biggest regrets is that we girls lost touch with so many of dad's friends over the years but it looks like you're all coming back to keep an eye on us.

Wednesday 8th February. Special prayer tonight for Tracey Demers dad, who passed away today. We are with you Trace. ........all the staff at SureStart Uplands and Londonderry..... xxx We cant take away your pain but we can be there for you, like you've been there for us.

I have made email contact with some other people who are doing the challenge so hopefully I will get to meet them soon and do some training with them. Its all good!

On Friday 10th February George Betts School did another raffle for me and I need to thank them once again.  Denise's crew at Sandwell Homes have started one off at work for which I am grateful.  I was contacted by the Express and Star newspaper as they are keen to do an article about my adventure. Just need to send in a photograph - oh no, not again!

 I do hope I am not forgetting anyone. Thanks to Marion and Brian for your donation. Thanks to Elaine Morrell who has given us whisky, brandy, port and wine for the next raffle - I cant believe you trusted me with a bottle of Martell! 

Tuesday 21st February. Mike Catton of George Betts School is the first to fill his Smartie tube. Well done Sir, you can have a star off Mrs. Syropoulou tomorrow! 

There is going to be a quiz night on Friday 31st March at St. Albans Community Centre, St. Albans Road, Smethwick.  The fundraising team are organising this one - they don't know it yet but YOU ARE (including Tonia and Lee - they have agreed - all be it whilst I twisted their arms up their backs) Cheers. Probably £5 per team with lots of devilish ways to get your money off you.  Unfortunately the centre is not licenced so you will have to bring your own drinks - I am so sorry, it's such a hardship isnt it?

Sunday 26th February.  Mom did a sale at Warley Model Railways and raised lots of lovely money today - with the help of Dot (and Trevor).  Greens in France have not only put £50 on justgiving but they also gave me 12 bottles of bubbly for our meal at Azzari Too.  Thank you both (and thanks to Mike Green for the GPS thingy wotsit). Trevor Mills passed on some arm warmers donated by Northfield Cycles - they will come in very handy believe me.   We have plenty of helpers for the Sutton Coldfield collection now as we are sharing the event with two other people who are doing the challenge to Peru. 

Thursday 2nd March.  Clare, a reporter from the Sandwell Chronicle has been to see me and Sam down at the gym today with a view to writing an article about the challenge so keep your eyes peeled. Lets hope its a better picture than mine was! Still working hard at the gym - up to 50 minutes on the cardio vascular machines and increased my weights on the other equipment. Starting to feel the benefits of it now.  Denise Hooper organised a raffle for me at work and home, she raised £53, prizes went to Bal Sandhu and Liesle Cooper of Sandwell Homes and Maria Hill of Metpro.  Thank you all for your support - and those who didn't win. Better luck next time. Hello to Florence, my little French friend - je t'aime! I might just have to go over to France soon to thank them for their support. Any offers? Today Razna and Dal at SureStart put on a delicious curry lunch for the staff who all contributed to my fund - thank you all so much. I will continue to do my job as community involvement officer / mouse detective ....... they know what i mean! Money is still coming in offline and mom is taking care of that for me.  I know she tells you all how grateful I am.

Friday 3rd March: Girlie Night at Hair Bizniz, Broad Street, Langley.  What a fabulous night we all had and raised over £300 to boot.  Special thanks to Tracey for hosting the event. Pam, Linden, Gloria, Nicki, Jane, Julie, Mom, Denise, Sharon & Selina for offering their services all night and everyone else who joined us. Didnt we have a lovely time and didnt we all look beautiful when we left? I've got the photos to prove it.

On Sunday 30th April Langley Town Youth Football club are hosting a charity football match for Macmillan. Special thanks to Lee for his support in getting this organised. More details can be found on www.langleytownyouthfc.piczo.com Watch this space.

I would dearly love to build a website so that I can show you all the pictures of this challenge as well as have somewhere for people to leave messages but I dont know how to do it. Is there anyone out there who can help me? Pretty please?  I've got lots of pictures and information about dad too which I am sure would be of great interest. Please get in touch if you can show me how to do this.

Slight change of date to the Quiz as you can see - its now FRIDAY 31st MARCH. Hope you can all make it! Lee Darby is the Quiz Master for the evening (I hope) so it should be a good 'un! Remember to bring your own drinks and I must remember to order the samosas.

I am also organising an Easter Egg Raffle and tickets are on sale through the usual team of people. If anyone wants to donate an egg, they are more than welcome.  Come along - I am still putting the effort in at the gym. Increased weights and reps and this Thursday I should be in the Sandwell Chronicle with Sam from Sams Fitness and Leisure Centre. You may have seen Jo in there last week - she has been training for the Commonwealth games and is lifting on Saturday 18th March - go girl! Good luck.

Donations are still coming in from people out there - there are too many to thank individually - but you know how grateful I am. I can think of two recently - Evelyn from Smethwick and Ann Pritchett from Sandwell Early Years Childcare Partnership.

I am having a meeting with Langley Youth Football Team on Thursday - will keep you posted on that one.

HAVE YOU SEEN THE HALF PAGE SPREAD IN THIS WEEKS CHRONICLE - IT IS EXCELLENT! AM I A  CELEBRITY OR WHAT??????????

Langley Youth Football Team have organised a charity match in dads name. Its at Hadley Stadium on Sunday 30th April at 1.00pm. There is a penalty shoot out for the youngsters as well as a game. There will be a raffle. All welcome to support. Drinks on Lee in the Barleycorn afterwards............. cheers Lee!

On Sunday 2nd April Stan Osborne is running a marathon in Sutton Park to raise money for Macmillan. If you want to shout Stan on (and have a look at those infamous knobbly knees) come along with your wellies and a flask.  It should be fun! My friends are so generous - drinks round at Stans afterwards - honest!

By the way, theres been no money donated online for ages. We are here busting a gut and all you have to do is press a few keys and a mouse. Come on, get with the programme. Good old Nicki at work is doing her car boot sale soon so when you are lazing in bed on Sunday mornings, I'll be in the saddle, Stan will be running and Nicki will be freezing her butt out in the cold! As for Jean, she is sunning herself in Oz - Ayres Rock to be precise. Alright for some.

Money in from Mrs Reacord, Miss Cartwright and the Goodgames - thank you very much, thats gone in the pot.  Thank you to Mrs Stretton from Tividale who saw the article in The Chronicle and donated £100. 

Darius and Gabriel Francis have been saving their 20 pences in a Smartie tube and today they gave me £12.40! Wow boys, that is great. Thank you very much!

Sunday 2nd April. What a weekend! £200 at quiz. A good time was had by all including the winning team of mom, Dot, Trev, Steve, John and Paul. Before you ask it was not fixed - they won fair and square.  Nice to see Joy and Christine as well as Donkey. Langley Youth Football team attended - they wanted to know how to put on a good quiz so they can copy our ideas for theirs on Saturday at Thimblemill pub! It was great to see so many friendly faces.

Stan did his run this morning and the photographs must be worth a small fortune. I feel as if I should name Stan as one of the fundraising team because of all his support. Mmmmmmmwwwwwaaaaaaa big kiss to you Stan.

 Mom went to support a race hosted by Stourbridge Cycling Club today in Bobbington. It was in dads memory.  I am sure I took him there once before and my little Spitfire ran out of oil - needless to say he was absolutely no use to me whatsoever! He didnt even know how to lift the bonnet let alone where to put the oil! I got rid of him and did the damsel in distress bit - sorted! She had a lovely day speaking to everyone and presenting prizes.  Thank you to those of you who have visited this site. Paul Garvey has donated his change as has Margo - you are lovely people.

 Haven't updated for ages so here goes................. the Easter Egg raffle went well with most of the eggs won by Warley High School Staff.  More kind donations in from amongst others Dave Derricott and family - when that little girl came into your class back in the 60's you never thought she'd still be hounding you all these years later! Thanks for your support and always being there. Aside from my education you taught me how to play pool and snooker at St. Pauls Youth Club!  Stan has got his money on here so special thanks to George Betts Primary School (again), Old Park Primary School staff, Stans friends and Evertonians at The Chepstow Castle PH???

I have really increased the training - its killing me! What am I doing??????????

Keep you posted ................

WOW, just look at that money coming in. Thanks to Les Archer and all of dads friends at Stourbridge. Almost there now, cant count the gift aid towards my target ........... better get on with my training now ........

The football match last week was a great success and the money should be in soon ............. thanks to Sarah, Lee and their friends for putting on the event, we really appreciate it.

My niece Maria organised a "Copper Collection" at Halesowen college and raised over £100 ............. thank you all for your support.

The bank holiday weekend looms ever nearer, dont forget to book your place at the meal - its my last fundraising event and it would be lovely to have a big get together............. Keep you posted .......... Juanita x

Wednesday 17th May - Langley Youth Football Team raised a grand total of £1,100.40 - ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! They are presenting me and mom with a big cheque on Saturday at Hadley Stadium. Who knows there may be yet another article in the Chronicle! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!  The team are featured on the Macmillan website under supporters stories in Birmingham Sandwell and Solihull.

Sunday 28th May - Azzari too - fabulous day and the rain kept off so we were able to sit outside in the sunshine.  The raffle went well with luggage from Latifs, flowers from Olivias florist in Abbey Road and a Nokia mobile phone from Andy at Kings Mobile in West Bromwich.  We had a suprise guest celebrity in the form of Cyril Regis - WOW! It was a great day and we raised £300! Great stuff

26th June.  Long time no write!!!!!!! All the fundraising is done and I am getting down to the training now with my own crack team.  Julie had a puncture today so rather than rely on Trevor, we decided to have a go ourselves in moms kitchen. What a sight to behold - but hey, we did it, clever girls......... thats coz we had the best dad in the world! All those afternoons in the garden, cleaning between the spokes with a rag and finding the punctures in old tyres (in the washing up bowl lol) certainly paid off. Everyone says he is watching us and smiling. I know he is because I couldnt get up some of those hills without him pushing me like he did when we were little.

SUNDAY 9TH JULY .......NEWSFLASH...... I went to Fred Williams bike shop in Wolverhampton yesterday and bought a new bike then, guess what?  I got home and went outside to pick some sweet peas ...........and fell out of the patio doors and hurt my foot. This morning when I woke up I realised it was quite serious so at lunchtime I went to City hospital to find out I have broken my metatarsil - just like Rooney. I have got to back on Tuesday to see if I can get a Beckham boot and start training again, otherwise the trips off.  If in the meantime anyone wants to drive me to Wolverhampton I would appreciate the lift. Having said that .............. theres no rush!!!! Keep you posted!!!!!!!!!

13.7.06 Got the boot! It's really comfy - wonder if I can get an oxygen tent too just like Rooney. I need to thank lots of people who keep on donating to this very worthy cause: Ivan Parish (who is always there for us all), the girls at Smethwick library (ps I might be late bringing my books back!!!), Kim, Tracey and Mike at George Betts (again)! My mind has gone blank and its too far to go upstairs to get my records. You know who you are - thank you. Thanks to Stan for my medicine - I love the rose but dont mind trying the red and white if you want to change the prescription...... a glassful of medicine helps the Thorntons go down!

Thanks also to Fred Williams cycles for my superb bike and all the extras - I will have to just look at it for now. Big thank you Mike White for taking me to fetch it. .Enjoying the sunshine just wish I could get out on the bike!

Must give a mention to everyone who has visited me - you are more than welcome, especially those of you who do my housework, fetch my shopping, bring me presents and offer to take me out . Having spoken to Foot Doctor Mike Green, who tells me I need to rest rest rest, I think I am going to see if I can get on the later challenge on 28th October. That  gives me more time to recover fully. Is this one of those quirks of fate that will change my life forever? . Oh and the emails are great - keep sendin 'em!

THE BOOT IS OFF! Went to fracture clinic last week and they discharged me, just need a couple of weeks rest.  I'm itching to go out on my new bike but I'm not ready yet.  Dad came to me in a dream last week, he had put stabilisers on my new bike but tried to convince me they were angel wings to protect me! Bless....  I am all set to go to Peru on 28th October now - providing I can get the all clear from my doctor, fingers crossed.

FINAL EVENT........... seeing as how I'm not going until 28th October now, I have decided to have one last event - FRIDAY 29th SEPTEMBER is Macmillan Coffee Morning so I will be having tea, coffee and cakes on the afternoon followed by food and wine on the evening. Bring along your old books, magazines, unwanted gifts etc and we can raise a bit more money.  All welcome - you know where I live!

17th September - training going well, the bike is excellent but I am fed up of punctures! OK, we've sussed how to do it now - give us a break! Shane Sutton (pro) has given me some kit via Rob Nixon, thanks Shane, its fits a treat and I look like a proper cyclist now.  Thanks once again to Elaine at work for donating more drinks for the next raffle Special thanks to Head teacher - Lorna Scott, children and teachers at Albion Junior School for your donation of 20pences in the Smartie tubes .........See you next week .

We did the Macmillan Coffee morning and all the money has been sent off. Received a thank you letter of Martin Clunes this morning (not a personal one you understand). Yesterday on Friday 13th October I was taken very much by surprise when a "Send off Party" was held for me at the community centre. It was so lovely to see all the people who have supported me throughout.  Thank you (again).  Needless to say I was not up in time to go cycling with my new mate Simon Aston (hes doing the Peru trip as well). Oh well, this time two weeks today I will be at Heathrow! Wish me luck and I will keep you posted........

Friday 20th October - Just had a challenge off Stan! One of his mates will donate £10 if I have my photo taken at Machu Pichu wearing an Everton shirt. I'm up for it. Any other requests?

I'M BACK AND I DID IT. IT WAS THE MOST AMAZING EXPERIENCE EVER.  IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE GIVE ONE OF US A RING AND WE'LL FILL YOU IN. IN THE MEANTIME - THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT. WATCH THIS SPACE BECAUSE I AM HOOKED AND ITS "GOOD MORNING VIETNAM" FOR ME NEXT YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! KEEP CHECKING THE MACMILLAN WEBSITE ITS CONSTANTLY UPDATED!

Go to http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~hwoollar/peru_photos.htm and if you've got several hours with nothing to do, you can look at our photos!