Charity bike ride

[JudgeDredd]

Hey guys

I know you all only know me "as a name" on here - but I thought I would put this out there anyway...I mean - why not? If I didn't then those who could/would give wouldn't know about it - and if I do and you don't want to then it's no big deal.

I'm fully aware of the pressures on everyone's wallets in recent times and also charities continuously ask for help...so if you can give, then feel free to do so. If you can't it's not a big deal at all and I promise I won't personally visit anyone  :)

Myself and a couple of pals are going to do a charity bicycle ride for St Helena's Hospice (http://www.sthelenahospice.org.uk/). It's a local hospice to myself. They provide accommodation for terminally ill patients and also provide that care outside "in the community" if the patient would rather be looked after in the family home. They also provide much needed respite for carers.

The ride is called Way of the Roses (http://www.wayoftheroses.co.uk/) and is 170 miles long across the north of England from Morecambe on the west coast to Bridlington on the east and we will be doing it over 3 days (What? I am 260lbs!!). All costs for the journey (which are substantial) come out of our own pockets - so all money donated goes straight to the hospice (less Just Giving's small admin price)

I recall some people put forward some cash last year when we did the C2C bike ride (http://www.c2c-guide.co.uk/) from Whitehaven in the west of England to Tynemouth in the east (140 miles) and I was very humbled - and thank you very much.

No-one needs to feel they have to donate...I'm just putting this here in the off chance that someone finds a spare fiver in their wallet...I might as well try and get what I can for the hospice, eh?

The Just Giving webpage is here http://www.justgiving.com/BillyR-WayoftheRoses where you can use Paypal or Credit Card.

This is the beast I'm going to do it on (yep - it does take my weight (tyres always seem flat at the bottom though! :) ) and rides beautifully...even with me on it!)


Thanks
Billy

[JudgeDredd]

This is a picture of the route

[undercovergeek]

Heh used to live in bridlington....

So its not for alcoholics anonymous then JD?

Good luck

[JudgeDredd]

I was based in Driffield with the Army (training on their fleet of vehicles) as a "Junior Leader" and we used to head to Bridlington for a wee dram at the weekends. Had a girlfriend there for a few months as well.

No - not AA - I expect some drinking will be done - we are 3 Scots after all! :-)

You lived in Bridlington? Small world - it's a small place afterall...what are the chances of me "knowing" a wargamer who used to live in a small seaside resort that I would never likely had known about had I not been stationed near there for 4 months!

[undercovergeek]

looking at that route its my childhood laid out - parents used to take me to Burnsall as a toddler, where i met my first electric fence! Many a school trip to Fountains Abbey, lived in York, best mate lived in Market Weighton and met wife mark 1 in Bridlington - well, thats where she came from, we met on RAF camp as cadets

Blimey

[Staggerwing]

Nice bike- you probably posted it knowing that we would know that the word 'Peloton' is French for 'Platoon', didn't you? ;)

[JudgeDredd]

thanks - and - erm....yes?  :D

[Staggerwing]

That's it- roll with it!  ;)

I'll be able to drop a coin or two in the hat after this week end. When is the ride?

[JudgeDredd]

Thanks very much.

Itenerary is as follows
15th August - Meet at Lancaster and stay over
16th August - Start ride and stop on first day at Grassington (50 miles)
17th August - Ride to York (59 miles)
18th August - Ride to Bridlington (61 miles)
19th August - back to York for the train back to Colchester

Total 180 (but likely detours!)

*edited - 59 miles on the 2nd day - not 69

[TheCommandTent]

Very cool thing you are doing JD

[JudgeDredd]

Well they're a good charity. There are lots of mainstream charities in the UK. Coming from the forces, I'd be well placed to get money for Help for Heroes - but they do ok without my wee bit - and the local, smaller charities suffer when big charities get the limelight.

And I'm not being totally selfless. I get 3 days on the beer with a couple of good mates - and a good feeling that I've perhaps helped in a small way for someone's last days on this earth to be as peaceful and as comfortable as possible. So there's an element of self gratitude I suppose.

[Arctic Blast]

Very cool, JD. I'll certainly be chipping in a bit in the near future.

[JudgeDredd]

Thanks AB - it would take some sting out the pain I'm bound to feel on that first day!

[bayonetbrant]

lemme get a check or two under my belt from the new job and I can toss a few bucks in the hat.

[JudgeDredd]

Thanks very much bayonetbrant.

I think the JustGiving page is available for about 3 months after the event