Craig Hogg
Craig and Matt's fundraising page
Fundraising for Asthma + Lung UK
Story
Hi everyone,
Thank you for taking the time to visit our fundraising page. It was on a cool, autumnal evening this time last year when we both lost our minds. The following is roughly how our conversation went:
Neil (Commin, team co-ordinator and mentor): Matt has a new bike, fancy cycling really far with him?
Craig: How far are we talking?
Matt: Really far.
Craig: Right, okay, yes (looking bemused). Why not?
Or something like that. So that was it, we were to cycle ‘really far’. Endurance, co-ordination and personal grit would all be required. We decided we would both go on a rigorous training programme and reconvene a year later to decide a route and to check whether we were both up for it.
Matt, in the meantime, decided to climb across all the high bits of Scotland, relaxing with a spot of cricket on the weekends. Craig prepared for the trip in his own unique way, running regularly and watching the entire Rocky series for the inspirational montage training bit.
The year soon came around and we decided to go for it. Lands End to John o’ Groats (Le Jog) was chosen as the trip and we set about mapping and planning our route. It’s far, really far (1,100 miles upwards) and we are travelling through unchartered waters (the north).
On the 20th September we depart Lands End. We plan on travelling through Barnstable, Bath, Worcester and Stoke- on- Trent en route to Manchester. Then, in an spot of Orwell-esque pastoralism, we will break out of the busy cities and into the scenic Lake District, where we hope to swap Mars bars for Kendal Mint cake as our fuel. From there, we plan on travelling up the coast to Carlisle and then east, across to Edinburgh. The final leg of the trip will take us on to Fort Williams and through the (apparently) lovely west coast of before arriving at our destination, the little town of Thurso. We plan on doing the trip in as close to eleven days as possible- arriving at Thurso on the 1st October.
We racked our brains for a charity to act as beneficiary for the trip and the British Lung Foundation struck us as a great choice. What other charity would better underscore the screaming pain soon to be felt in our chests than the BLF? We all know of someone who has been affected directly or indirectly by some form of lung condition or disease, be it asthma, hyperventilation or, at the nastier end of things, cancer, pneumonia or emphysema.
The work the Foundation does on the budget it has is simply immense and the efforts of the volunteers even more so. So please, if you can, make a donation! Any sum, no matter how small, would be appreciated by both the Foundation and us- the budding Hoy and Armstrongs of the future. The thought of any money raised will certainly keep us pedalling as we run out of food, spare tyres and clean underwear.
Thanks in advance for your support. Best wishes, Craig and Mathew x [8th September 2008]
“First, you’re going uphill, which is a bit dopey in itself and then you’re telling me you’re doing in something like 1,023 miles…or around that. That aint possible mate, not even for a Hogg”. It was my uncle, ringing up pre-trip to wish me luck, inspire confidence and to offer his words of infinite wisdom. I wish he hadn't called.
You see, Sir Geoffrey Hogg, a self monkiered ‘specimen of physical perfection’ had already climbed around England a bit with friends in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support and had been jolly successful (http://www.justgiving.com/geoffhogg). He normally used his words judiciously. Had we really bitten off more than we could chew?
I dismissed this thought and instead turned my attention to the words of advice offered by friends (Josh: wear good padding) and family (Dad: just cycle to Manchester and train the rest).
Pre- trip preparations are nearly complete. The bikes are ready. Matt is fit, I’m getting there. We have raised such an amazing sum in the short period of time this site has been up and I thank you all enormously for your ongoing support.
Craig x
P.S Geoff is now living in a retirement home on the outskirts of Camberly, informing all who’d listen (or are deaf) that he was once Britain’s finest ‘Explorer’. [Update- 17th September 2008]
Hi all,
Firstly, an apology. This update has been due for a while but unfortunately frantic pre- term prep stalled us both getting online.
Our last day of hard riding was fraught. We cycled hard, doing a good century mile day. Unfortunately, our steeds were starting to fall apart. Matt’s was held together by what seemed like a single length of 50m climbing chord. Mine had lost its pedal on the edge of Loch Ness the day before and was proving a little temperamental to say the least.
But despite this and the belting North Sea winds, at approximately 3pm GMT, the bustling metropolitan that is John O’ Groats woke up to the site of two, dirty, lycra- clad Sussex boys on mountains bikes. We had made it!
We encountered so many instances of kindness and warmth on our trip; I feel this quick note does little justice to them but I will try. Firstly, a huge thank you to Clive, Julie and James, who kindly took us into their wonderful home, fed us fine sandwiches and expected nothing in return.
To the Irish lady who gave us a map out of Bristol, thank you. I hope you are not still pacing circles around the Suspension Bridge today, looking for belfast and ruing the moment you gave away your City guide.
Mark Bruce of Innocence Foods, thank you for your kind sponsorship of Mule Bars and flapjacks. They helped us with the hills, either as encouragement at the bottom or celebration at the top.
We are also grateful to Gary and Jane Coomer, who kindly took our picture at JOG and sent us the pictures. They came out great!
To all those in the DAP/AOE Airports and Environment Division of Eurocontrol, wow! The generosity you all showed to a shaggy haired Uni lad on work experience was immense.
A debt is owed to my Aunty Hazel and her colleagues at Baker Tilly Brighton for all the ‘dress down’ money they raised. It was quite unexpected but appreciated enormously.
And finally, thank you to all our friends and family. Your kind donations, texts, phone calls, website comments and laconic offers to pick us up from various villages just outside Land End if we felt too knackered on day one were heartfelt and will not be forgotten.
Now how’s this for an idea? A team of Europeans travel horseback from coast to coast in America . Currently recruiting fit, twenty somethings with map experience and appreciation of pork pies and milkshake…
Craig and Matt x