Update (01.11.08) Good news! We have received a £500 donation from E&Y. We would like to thank again all the people who supported us (including our friends from Becket House). We're now planning a short ride for xmas and / or new year. Any suggestions?

Update (14.08.08) Claudia's knee is still recovering. Sonia has started reading about the "Camino" in Spain. Who knows, we might be cycling through Spain next year... towards Santiago de Compostela.

Update (02.08.08) Claudia's knee is improving and sponsorship keeps coming in. We both returned to work on Monday 28th but miss the 10 hours cycling days and the countryside. We are eager to plan our next trip / challenge so any suggestions are most welcome (preferably less hilly).

Update (30.07.08) Photos ready at http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/58469609.

Update (29.07.08) Photo album is nearly ready and we're recovering fast. Claudia's knee is soaring but other than that we feel alright. Our sponsorship has gone up again so please support us if you haven't done so yet. It's never too late. PS. We got lot of support on route; donations, free accommodation and free food. Thanks to all! The challenge wouldn't have been possible without you.

Update (28.07.08) We're back (in one piece fortunately). We'll be sorting photos during the week and posting the photo album link for all to look at. It was amazing but tough. Much more to come! Thanks to all! Good luck, The Bicigrims. PS. Our total has gone up and it's nearly reaching £2,500. You can still support us. It's never too late.

Update (23.07.08) Hello Everybody, we're searching for Nessie as we cycle by the Loch. The weather has been nice to us: bright and sunny days which is very unusual. We've brought the nice weather with us (we've been told). Scotland's landscape is very inspiring. We visited Wanlockhead, the highest town in Scotland. It was tough but we survived. Tomorrow towards Rogart and then one more day to go. We are still exhausted and still happy. It's been a wonderful experience but very challenging. Thanks for your cheers!

Update (17.07.08) We're exhausted but happy... today we completed 700 kms. We're in Manchester. Everyone has been very supportive and we have collected £64 towards our sponsorship.

Update (11.07.08) We woke up at 6am and since then we've been running around. We'll have lunch at 12 and will depart towards wpf (the charity we're raising money for and where Claudia works) at 1.30pm. We'll say goodbye to all and off to Paddington to take the 5:03pm train to Penzance. How exciting!

Update (09.07.08) Accommodation in Lancaster is sorted (phewww). Thanks Ben!

We've been asked a lot about our country Colombia so here's a video. Perhaps you'll think different about it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXtvGsYS0UM

Update (08.07.08) We would like to take this opportunity to thank our landlord, Mr Joe Kulsdom, who have been extremely supportive (applauses!).

Although we managed to meet our target thanks to all our supporters please continue to donate if you haven't done so yet. It's very encouraging!

If you feel like sending us a "good luck" message please write to claudia.lema (at) wpf.org.uk.

Update (07.07.08) We are still sorting out accommodation in Lancaster. We finally managed to finish the route (14 sheets from two road atlas). Batteries have been charged but we still need to buy some nuts (cashews, pitachos and peanuts). 

Update (04.07.08) Claudia's hair has been saved. We are most gratefull to all our supporters. The stolen front wheel has been replaced. 7 days to go!

Update (03.07.08) We are just £19 away from our target. Would you save Claudia's hair?

Update (02.07.08) Our accommodation arrangements in Lancaster have been cancelled. Any ideas, suggestions or friends in the area?

Update (01.07.08) One of our front wheels was stolen and we were left with a trolley full of shopping at Sainsbury's car park (and yes, it was locked). :(
The advice from the security guard was to report it to the police. We just laughed imagining the police officer's face if we turn up to a station to report a stolen wheel.
In the meanwhile Claudia is using Sonia's wheel and Sonia is using public transport :(

Fundraising target: £1500 (or Claudia will shave her head on Friday 11th July 2008 - departure date). Please dig deep into your pocket!

Once in a life time

For an inexplicable reason we all live our lives relying on a guaranteed future. Since we believe we are not always going to be physically young, fit and healthy or in the UK, we have decided 2008 was the perfect year to cycle from Land's End to John O’Groats to raise funds for charity.

Even though there are many organisations out there doing a wonderful work we decided to raise funds for wpf Counselling and Psychotherapy, a charity based in London which provides affordable counselling for those who are most in need and can’t afford to go private. You and I might not be very familiar with mental health statistics but on research one finds the figures alarming. We would therefore like wpf’s services to be more available to all. For more information visit www.wpf.org.uk.

Our effort would be minimal compared to what people seeking for mental health support have to go through. Besides, we hope the wind will blow us up to Scotland. With that in mind, not the miraculous wind but the huge difficulties many people have to put up with, we are cycling 1300+ kms, one km per each client seen at wpf last year.

We will leave on 12th July 2008 to start the 15 day / 1000+ mile route. If all goes well, we should be in John O’Groats on the 26th July 2008 for a much welcome dive in the sea if we can cope with it (we’ve already tried and succeed in Bossiney, Sandwich and Tynemouth).

For more information (training, background, progress etc) please visit our site at www.wpf.org.uk/newmiles.html.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor us: wpf Counselling 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.

Thank you for visiting our fundraising page.

Have a nice day, eat plenty fruit and veg, smile regularly and go ahead and search for that “once in a life time” opportunity waiting for you.

Claudia & Sonia

PS1. For those not familiar with the sponsorship scheme
Please note that we are covering all our expenses and that your donation will go staight into the charity's bank account.

PS2. We both live in Croydon and work in Central London.

PS3. Claudia is also a freelance graphic designer. Check her portfolio www.lemadesign.co.uk

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

We are also gratefull to our off line donors. We would like to thank
C Campbell
W Monticelli
The lady from the park
G Evans
Dina
M Head
C Gundry
Dee "the birthday girl"
Someone's husband
M Scott-Johnson
R Kirby
E Gale 
H Galer
A Symonds
S Middleton
M Knowles
J Jones
R Whately
Those who bought a ticket for the draw on Sat 28th June
I Hill
S Crawford
P Whyte
T Woolmer
E Sharma
D Duncan
E Palmer
E Sharma
S Wakefield
The jolly lady
Agata
Sharon
C Alexander
Tonny and Kate

and thanks too to the people on the road (pedestrians, drivers, cyclists, bikers) who have wished us good luck.