Thanks for taking the time to visit my Lap the Lough JustGiving page.

UPDATE 29 August 2010
Well, I successfully completed the 93 mile circuit by bicycle of Lough Neagh today, in a time of approx 7 hours, 20 mins, which I'm happy with. This was an endurance feat after all.
I'll post a blog update in the next day or two, and link from here.
Meanwhile, you can continue to donate to the page for the next three months if you'd like to sponsor the challenge retrospectively.

Thanks to everyone for your donations and messages of support - they were a real life-line today! Thanks.

UPDATE 28 August 2010
The event (see below) is tomorrow... and I'm starting to get nervous. I'm told just to try my best, but I really want to complete the entire 93 mile circuit of Lough Neagh.
Training has been erratic, and I'm not sure I'm quite ready, but fingers crossed.

A huge thank you to everyone that's sponsored so far... donations still welcome anytime this week. If you have any questions, email me at rjesimpson@gmail.com

ABOUT
Whether you know me by my nom-de-guerre 'Avalard' or as Robert Simpson, you will know that normally I spend my time researching in dark archives, writing, and plonked in front of the cinema or tv screen. This summer however I'm taking to the roads - country lanes, and city highways - around Northern Ireland.

On August 29th (2010), I'm taking part in the 93-mile (150km) cycle round Lough Neagh as part of the 5th annual Lap the Lough event.

At the same time I'm raising funds for the very deserving Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children, a registered charity which offers practical, emotional and financial support to children up to and including the age of 24, who are living with cancer, and their families.

This is a personal challenge for me, as whilst I'm a keen amateur cyclist I've never done more than 45 miles in a day before - and that was a massive push. So this is more than twice my personal best. Loosing a bit of weight (2 stone would be nice, please), and getting fitter isn't goal enough - I want you to show your support for a very worthwhile charity as added incentive to help see me over the finish line. 

I'll be riding my Ridgeback Flight T2 until the tyres burst (please no, I've just bought new ones) or my body gives up (I'm stubborn, shouldn't happen). Building up my distances and stamina has begun (what pros call 'training'). I'll keep you updated on progress, promise!

I'll even tweet on the day and during the months of 'getting a bit less unfit', and you can keep up to speed on my rambly blog: http://avalard.wordpress.com

Update: 20/5/10 - 'Training' is going okay, but as I think my weight is prompting more punctures than I'd like, I'm off the bike for a few weeks while I get my eating and weight under control. I've lost about 9 lbs now (my weight ballooned just before I started this... eek!) but I live in fear of it coming back. Lots more walking for me, and less biscuits! Haven't yet taken to drinking vodka instead of wine (less calories I'm told). 

Have also now set a target for the fundraising which is quite scary! Every donation makes me ever more determined to reach the finish line. So thanks to everyone supporting so far, and those yet to pledge!

Offline donations

* if you'd like to make a donation offline, or want to sponsor me per km or per mile as an alternative to a set figure, then drop me an email to rjesimpson@gmail.com marked 'Cycle Sponsorship' and we'll sort out details. You can still settle any sponsorship on completion via this justgiving page (which makes administration much easier!) after the event.

OFFLINE DONATIONS

In addition to the donations below, additional offline donations/pledges are below:

10/09/10 Clarissa - £10
05/09/10 - £10
20/5/10 - £40