Inspirational Alice!

Had a message from Alice today. It appears her health has not been great which is hugely disappointing as she was soon hoping to go home. She has given me fresh motivation as she's posted this on ther blog...

Martin’s Sunshine Ride for @RaysofSunshine August 23rd, 2010 | Author: Alice Halstead

As some of you may remember in November 2009, I was interviewed on Radio Five Live about my condition and also Rays of Sunshine!! That afternoon, Martin Templar was listening and was inspired by my story…he wanted to fullfill one of his dreams – to cycle from Land’s End to John O’ Groats – whilst also fulfilling the dreams of children living with serious and life limiting illnesses.

In August/September Martin will cycle 970 miles in 12 days. He said “I’m trying to fulfill a dream whilst at the same time raising loads of cash for serious and terminally ill children so that they might fulfill theirs.” In an email i received from him today, he said “You’ll see that I have a Rays of Sunshine teddy bear strapped to my bike. I’ve named him ‘Hal’ after you as you are the inspiration for this fundraising effort. I wanted a tangible reminder as to why I’ll be putting my body through the pain. Hal had his first ride yesterday and he enjoyed the views though got a little wet as the heavens opened with 10 miles to go.”

Martin is number two now of Rays of Sunshine’s top fundraisers on JustGiving!! Yikes, he is catching up with me!! Please give him some encouragement and donate here

Thank you Martin and Good Luck!!

Can it really be so?

Well yes it can. Today was my last 'big' ride before the off. An 'easy' 66 miles across the moor with 6,700' of climbing. Weather great first thing (7.10am start) as I looped Burrator, crossed to Moorshop and then climbed to Two Bridges. The next time I do this stretch I'll be accompanied. On through Postbridge and then down to Ponsworthy Bridge, Dartmeet and the 25% at Hexworthy. Descended to Buckfastleigh where the heavens opened so jacket on for the last 10 miles home. Is this a taste of what's to come I wonder as 50mm of rain is forecast for tonight!

At home the bike has had a good clean and then its a tyre change and into Certini for a final check over. Exercise plans for the week ahead are a couple of commutes if the weather holds and maybe a swim. Nothing too serious. The foot is ok but I have a niggle at the top of my left hamstring. Feel it occasionally on the bike though hurts more walking uphill. Good incentive to ride! Let's hope it doesn't stiffen up on the ride!

Bag is now packed as yesterday's wet weather gave me time to fill it. Problem is the bag's missing 20% of my kit. Bigger bag or more thrifty? Tough choices will need to be made. I didn't realise how much space my energy gels and powders would take so I'd imagine the bag will be a lot lighter come the end.

Wore my Oakley Radars for the first time today which were fantastic. My other glasses are quite small so I normally 'cry' downhill. No such issues now. Just waiting for my leg warmers and the kitty will be exhausted.

Hal enjoyed his ride, staying in place admirably. Not sure he liked the rain though. He may need a wash en route if he begins to pong!

Welcome to 'Hal'

Say hello to 'Hal'. Wrote to Olivia at ROS earlier in the week as I thought that if times get tough on the ride I might need reminding why I'm putting myself through the pain. She sent down some goodies and 'Hal' has made it onto the bike. Why 'Hal'? Well because of the inspirational Alice Halstead of course without whom this fundraising effort would not have occurred. Hopefully Hal will make LEJOG on the bike and if the ride is too rough I'll put him in my pocket so he can enjoy the views!

Have felt a little 'heady' the last couple of days as the August weather is in it's element. Fog, rain and very low visibility. Lets hope this weather exhausts itself before the off. Hoping the headiness doesn't develop as I've been so well for so long it would be a disaster to get a bug right now.

Managed an hour on the trainer this morning and then hope to be out agin for a 50-60mile run tomorrow. One last trek across the moors if body and weather allows. Now for writing a press release!

Oh what a 'phoney' week!

Well here it is. The sponsored shirt that all my lovely sponsors 'paid' to have their logos on. Having lost some weight it now looks a little like a night shirt though Sportworx of Ivybridge did a great job of the printing. Thankyou. This little gem of an idea raised about £2.5k so it's responsible for nearly half my fundraissing! Thankyou to all who gave so generously.

The original idea was to print on my cycling jersey however Gore wanted me to send the jersey to Scotland to be done as it's specialist print. Needless to say the complexity meant I turned to the cotton contingency.

So why a phoney week? Well we're on that cusp now. 12 days to go as I write so shouldn't over-do the exercise yet I'm still eating like a horse. The thing is I WANT to exercise. I think my body is in a routine. After another 86 miles last Sunday I had a couple of days off before a half hour spin on the trainer yesterday and a good swim tonight. One more longish ride this w/e and then just a couple of commutes and maybe a swim next week. I pray for an injury/illness free run in as any problems now could spell disaster.

I figure the miles are in the legs as the Garmin has recorded 1800+ miles since January with a good number of 20 mile commutes on top. It's now or never!

Once again massive thanks to the support with the fundraising. I'm up to £5.2k-ish and there's still more coming in so fingers crossed for the big six. Olivia at Rays of Sunshine is delighted.

Items are now making it into my kit bag and there have been a few last minute panic buys including leg warmers as the days are getting cooler and new glasses so I have 'spares'. Wiggle, Evans & Ribble sales will soon be in decline as the event starts so 'sell, sell, sell' those shares now! Bike's going in for a 'check-up' next week though all running smoothly at the mo so should be routine.

I just can't wait to get going. I want to relish the challenge and the fun as trips like this don't come around too often in life. Gill and the kids have been a HUGE support throughout. I owe them a lot of love and will be giving them more 'Dad time' on my return. Gill's getting the paint and brushes primed as I sense an Autumn of decorating ahead. I wonder if I can paint whilst sitting on the trainer?

How GOOD does that feel?

What a tremendous day. My sponsorship came through from Wrigley which sent me crashing through my revised target. I now have sponsorship in excess of £5,200 which is absolutely fantastic.

I want to sincerely thank all my supporters for your fantastic generosity. Every donation counts and will make a difference to children and families that are in need of a lift.

I started with a target of £4k which was then revised to £5k and now who knows where I may end up? I set off in 2 weeks time with the full knowledge that I have amazingly generous supporters. What better way to start the trip of a lifetime. I won't disappoint you.

To everyone, I thank you.

A Solid Week

Back on the bike having returned from the caravan. Did 86 miles across the moors in wet and blustery conditions. Waterproof on for 60 miles as I went out to Burrator, Horrabridge, Princetown, M'hampstead, Teign Valley, Bovey, Mannaton, Haytor, Ashburton & home. The poor people in Princetown celebrating their festival where their gazebos were at 45 degrees and the female choir on the steps of the High Moor centre looked like drowned rats! Foot sore from 30-50 miles but had gone numb by the end so seemed ok.

4 commutes to work on the bike this week racking up 80miles and I'll be out again this Sunday for a long one. Travel with work next week so training will be interupted but it's time to start winding down.

Fundraising has stalled recently so 2 weeks to push on now. T-shirts printed by Sportworx in Ivybridge so time to get a press release done.

Have started packing the bag. Getting exciting!

fish, chips egg and bacon

Just ending 5 days at the caravan. Great fun with the family but oh how unhealthy. Didn't bring the bike so I could rest the foot which feels a little better though not healed. I just hope this weeks excesses are burnt off soon or else I may regret them! A nice break ahead of the final fundraising and exercise push. Bring it on!