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Air Ambulance charity bike ride - 975 miles
Posted by Steve Whalley at 2010-05-31 17:45

Hi all,
I’m heading out on a cycle ride from Lands End to John o’Groats in just under 3 weeks time. This started out as being just for the challenge, but myself and my 3 team mates thought it would be good to try to raise a bit of cash for charity at the same time. We have chosen the Midlands Air Ambulance. Given the often remote areas we fly in, it’s good to know this service is available if needed. Although I'm the only paraglider on the team, we are all mountain bikers too, so it's a charity close to all our hearts.

Our route is taking us over 975 miles in just 11 days, during which we will climb a total of nearly 60,000 ft. We will all be riding the full route – no relays, and will be unsupported, carrying all our gear on our bikes with us. The training has been tough – on top of a full time job, and still spending a bit of time with my family, I’ve managed to clock up over 2000 miles so far this year, despite a bout of tendonitis in my right knee! This has also meant the biggest hardship of all, less than an hours flying in 2010!

If anyone would like to show their support for us in the form of a donation to the Air Ambulance, that would be fantastic. I finally got round to setting up a Just Giving web page this weekend to make this easy to do. All our costs (travel, accommodation etc) are paid for out of our own money. All the money raised will go to the Air Ambulance charity:

http://www.justgiving.com/endtoend-maa

Many thanks, and I look forward to seeing you all in the air again after it’s all over. You’ll recognize me – I’ll be the one walking like John Wayne, with the large soft cushion on the seat of my harness!

Steve.

Posted by David Broughton at 2010-05-31 21:43

I wish you well Steve (wish I was up to such a challenge!) and I'll make a donation.

Just a mention of my mate Stuart Cathcart of High Sports & what must be one of E2E's most outstanding achievements:

In 2002 Stuart set the record for the fastest E2E SOLO cycle ride from Lands End to John O’Groats, 984 miles in 4days 12hrs: The rider must be unsupported and solo, the route must pass through Shrewsbury, everything for the journey for sleeping (tent, sleeping bag), cooking, clothing, repairs to be carried, only food may be bought on route, campsites or open camping only and the journey must be ratified by an on route observer but no assistance of any kind provided. Interested in attempting the same journey or smashing the record?, contact Stuart at High Sports and become part of the E2E SOLO CLUB and get the free exclusive T shirt for all completions of the distance!

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