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Hi,

Welcome to my fundraising page.

My name is Mark, and I am the Regional cycling lead for the St John Ambulance (NI) Cycle Response Unit.

The Cycle Response Unit are a small group of highly trained first aiders / health care professionals, who give up their free time to provide first aid at certain types of events, where they can get safely and swiftly to a casualty, when a larger vehicle will struggle. We are regularly requested for sports events (if you have done a marathon, you may have seen cyclists fully laden) and also festivals / airshows etc.

I am looking to raise enough money to be able to purchase a new bike for our fleet. The current cost is £1,645. Due to the nature of our role, we are unable to just buy any bike, as such the bikes we currently use have to be customised to support the amount of equipment carried. A fully kitted out bike weighs in the region of 45-50kg.

Every year, I attempt the ballot for the London marathon and have never been successful, however this year I got the "congratulations" email, so here I am. I am running the London marathon to (hopefully) with all your kind donations, raise enough money for 1 new bike.

I have one issue, that I will make you aware of. I suffer with arthritis in one of my knees, as such, it maybe that on the day I may not be able to take part in the race (my knee gets rather large, which can limit some movement) my aim at this present time, is to make it to the start line. Should this happen, I will still attend the marathon, but as a member of the Cycle Response Unit, covering the event.

I am starting my fundraising page now, as I'd like you to share my journey, as there will be times when I will feel like not running, but knowing you are watching over me, will give me that little push required.

ALL funds donated on this page will be ringfenced for the procurement of a new bike.

Our CRU team have also got a separate challenge going, where the team aim to cycle 1645 miles on bikes or exercise bikes, which works out at £1 per mile (the amount a new bike costs).

St John Ambulance is the nation's leading first aid charity!

Every year through St John Ambulance (NI), thousands of people learn how to save a life through our training programmes, including many young people who are members of our youth organisations. We are probably best known for our presence at sporting and other public events. Our volunteers receive expert training and many doctors, nurses and paramedics volunteer for us. St John Ambulance (NI) has around 1000 adult volunteers and over 60 ambulances that need your financial help.