Thank-you for taking a moment to stop-by this blog, to learn more about our most-recent challenge - a 5 day cycle ride through the mighty Grand Canyon, to Las Vegas, USA!
I bought a bike early in 2013, specifically to train-for and then undertake what at the time was [for me] a mammoth challenge - London to Paris cycle, to fundraise for Parkinson's UK after my younger brother was diagnosed with early-onset PD in 2012, aged only 40. I thought throughout the training in 2013, that this would be a one-off. However, soon into the challenge, meeting new friends and with the new-found confidence of 1,400 miles in my legs (the training during 2013), I was thoroughly enjoying myself, and it seemed, I was hooked, by the time I reached the Eiffel Tower!
Many of you know that since then, my son Adam (21 at the time) joined me the following year for the same event, and I was very proud to have him beside me when we rolled into Paris, around such iconic landmarks as the Arc de Triomphe, along the Champs de Elysees and then to the finish - the Eiffel Tower. We both had so much fun, we did it again in 2015.
However, my main challenge for that year was a 5-day cycle through Death Valley to Las Vegas, USA.
Following that, in July 2016 I rode the [gruelling] London to Paris 24hrs event - 216 tough miles, headwinds & rain, in 17 hours & 17 mins [pedalling time].
So, what next? The "Death Valley" group was a nice, tight-knit size numbering merely 12. On that event, it wasn't long before we were all looking-out for each-other, and spurring each-other on through the desert, over the huge climbs, to the bright lights of Las Vegas. To quote one of the group: "I entered Death Valley with 11 strangers, and emerged from it with 11 amazing friends" - says it all really.
During that event, there was much excitement about a new event that the guide-company was running in 2017, so, signed-up, here we go - Grand Canyon to Las Vegas. By bike! 5 days, 575kms.
The Grand Canyon cycle challenge was my 6th. Again, I was fundraising for a cause very close to my heart - Brain Tumour Research. 15 years ago my mum Janet died from a brain tumour, aged just 57. My son Adam suffered a seizure in May 2016, and a brain tumour was discovered. At the time of undertaking this challenge Adam had undergone a craniotomy to remove the tumour, followed by a very intensive course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Adam & I both signed-up for the Grand Canyon cycle challenge together in Dec 2015, and it has been hugely emotional for us both that he was given the `"green light" by his consultant to come out and take-on the challenge that has been a goal throughout his recovery, but also that he should ride every day, double his single biggest training ride of the year, and then smash past his total distance for the year too, finally leading the peloton of 43 other riders into the finish point on Freemont St, Las Vegas. Wow!
Thanks to so many people who've supported us on this challenge, our fundraising total (£5,000) was reached just before we departed - very nice to head out knowing we'd reached the target we'd set. That total has now been smashed (£6,900), and I hope that the blog of the challenge lets you relive the ups and downs of each day with us, as a thank-you for your support!
And sincere thanks to everyone who has supported the 6 fundraising cycle events - a staggering £21,300 has been donated (exc. Gift-Aid).
I bought a bike early in 2013, specifically to train-for and then undertake what at the time was [for me] a mammoth challenge - London to Paris cycle, to fundraise for Parkinson's UK after my younger brother was diagnosed with early-onset PD in 2012, aged only 40. I thought throughout the training in 2013, that this would be a one-off. However, soon into the challenge, meeting new friends and with the new-found confidence of 1,400 miles in my legs (the training during 2013), I was thoroughly enjoying myself, and it seemed, I was hooked, by the time I reached the Eiffel Tower!
Many of you know that since then, my son Adam (21 at the time) joined me the following year for the same event, and I was very proud to have him beside me when we rolled into Paris, around such iconic landmarks as the Arc de Triomphe, along the Champs de Elysees and then to the finish - the Eiffel Tower. We both had so much fun, we did it again in 2015.
However, my main challenge for that year was a 5-day cycle through Death Valley to Las Vegas, USA.
Following that, in July 2016 I rode the [gruelling] London to Paris 24hrs event - 216 tough miles, headwinds & rain, in 17 hours & 17 mins [pedalling time].
So, what next? The "Death Valley" group was a nice, tight-knit size numbering merely 12. On that event, it wasn't long before we were all looking-out for each-other, and spurring each-other on through the desert, over the huge climbs, to the bright lights of Las Vegas. To quote one of the group: "I entered Death Valley with 11 strangers, and emerged from it with 11 amazing friends" - says it all really.
During that event, there was much excitement about a new event that the guide-company was running in 2017, so, signed-up, here we go - Grand Canyon to Las Vegas. By bike! 5 days, 575kms.
The Grand Canyon cycle challenge was my 6th. Again, I was fundraising for a cause very close to my heart - Brain Tumour Research. 15 years ago my mum Janet died from a brain tumour, aged just 57. My son Adam suffered a seizure in May 2016, and a brain tumour was discovered. At the time of undertaking this challenge Adam had undergone a craniotomy to remove the tumour, followed by a very intensive course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Adam & I both signed-up for the Grand Canyon cycle challenge together in Dec 2015, and it has been hugely emotional for us both that he was given the `"green light" by his consultant to come out and take-on the challenge that has been a goal throughout his recovery, but also that he should ride every day, double his single biggest training ride of the year, and then smash past his total distance for the year too, finally leading the peloton of 43 other riders into the finish point on Freemont St, Las Vegas. Wow!
Thanks to so many people who've supported us on this challenge, our fundraising total (£5,000) was reached just before we departed - very nice to head out knowing we'd reached the target we'd set. That total has now been smashed (£6,900), and I hope that the blog of the challenge lets you relive the ups and downs of each day with us, as a thank-you for your support!
And sincere thanks to everyone who has supported the 6 fundraising cycle events - a staggering £21,300 has been donated (exc. Gift-Aid).
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