 |
Chid's Charity Ride
3 June, 2009 - 08:33 — chid
From 15th to 21st June, teamwallis-CHH rider Andy McCann (known to some of you as chid!) is taking part in a 450 mile charity ride from Kilmarnock to Bart's hospital, London.
Please sponsor him and the other riders if you can. All donations will go to the Eve Appeal, a charity set up to fund research into ovarian cancer.
The ride is in memory of Abby Kerr, a friend of a friend of Andy's, who died of the disease last year. The main website, with more details about Abby and the ride, is kilmarnocktobarts.com. The charity has extra significance to Andy as he also has another friend in remission from the disease at the moment. When it is detected at its most advanced stage, over 85% of women who develop ovarian cancer will die from the disease, but when it is detected in the early stages, 95% of women will survive.
The people taking part in the ride are a real mix, some with little cycling experience, and so it will be a real challenge.
This is our last known location:
GPS tracking powered by InstaMapper.com
Thanks for any support you can give.
Cheers,
chid
Comments
I think we really made it!!
I just wanted to say congratulations to everyone involved the epic cycling journey from Killmarnock to Barts. Between us all we have managed to raise almost £8,000, which is amazing and I am sure the total will rise even further in the coming weeks.
As Andy has already mentioned, so many people have been involved along the way and given us riders great support, hospitality and food for our hugely increased appetites!! This along with the donations and good luck messages were truly inspiring and kept us all going when the going got tough. The fantastic welcome we received at Harlow, Blackheath and Barts were for me were both heart warming and really moving. It just goes to show how much Abby meant to everybody and how much we all miss her.
When I got home I looked at all the photos from the past week and they tell a great story. Boy do we all look nervous on the first morning in Killmarnock, a group of 7 seven relative strangers faced with a monumental task of riding 450 miles. But, it was amazing how quickly we developed into a really close knit band of brothers. While this included having as much fun as possible along the way, it was evident was that we were all fiercely committed to completing the journey and doing so together as a team. By the time we reached Harlow we were cooking on gas!!!
Thanks to Chris for bringing us altogether and making it all happen, it really has been the most wonderful trip with memories and friendships that I know will last forever. Despite, your brothers intentions you are and will always be the Real 'Rapha' Rowell. I would also like to say a huge thank you to Andy. Only a special person could join a group of people he had never met before, with limited cycling experience, no mudguards, maps or on some days even an address for where were staying and turn them into a half decent cycling outfit. Most normal people would have cycled off into the distance as fast as they could shout 'get a job'. He literally got the t-shirts, done the blog and kept us all on the straight and narrow with good advice and support. Thanks mate you are a legend!!
Here's to the next time when the magnificent seven ride again. Any new bright ideas Duncan?
cheers Nick
... and so it ends
After a few false finishes, the welcome at Harlow, then the one at Greenwich, the bike ride finally comes to it's end at the Rising Sun, near Barts (though the battery on tracking phone died somewhere around Millwall!). We heard the cheers echoing around the square as we approached our final destination.
I managed to say a few hurried goodbyes to my new friends and am now on a train back to Preston (with Buck Rogers on the iPhone!). People who had walked the route from Greenwich were still arriving as I left.
I never had the chance to meet Abby, but I thank her for the opportunity to experience the highs, made all the more intense by the shared efforts, of the last week.
I am sure she would be overwhelmed by the love and support of everyone who has Bern involved in this memorial, the people who have ridden, those who gave us accomodation and incredible hospitality on the way, those who joined us on the last day and made it so special and everyone, from friends to complete strangers touched by her story who sponsored us. Most of all, to Chris who had the vision to make this most fitting tribute a reality.
I've been amazed at the resilience every single rider taking part in the challenge has shown over the past week. I think all of us have found out things about ourselves which will help us on our journeys, whichever direction life takes us next.
It's all downhill from here ;-)
Greenwich
Made it to our rendezvous in Greenwich Park! And over £7,500 raised!
Walkers already set off back through foot tunnel towards Barts. Cyclists still eating ice cream but about to set off soon.
WELL DONE!!!
Early morning in Canada. Your map shows you approaching Broxbourne, where I first met Abby as a tiny baby. You have all done her proud and I know all of us who have been watching your progress are moved and in amazement at this wonderful gift you have given her.
How I wish I were going to be there to greet you all!
Well done all of you.
Jeanette
Last day
Just about to depart on last day for towpath ride to reception in Greenwich Park. Great fresh eggs for breakfast!
Made it!
We've still got the leg to London, but that will feel like a lap of honour!
Great welcome in Harlow, champagne corks flying, lots of laughing. Thanks everyone for all the support.
IPA
We are only 2 miles from Harlow! Celebratory pint in the White Hart in Roydon.
Done well over 400 miles. Everyone's bike needs a service-Duncan's needs a funeral service!
Looking forward to our triumphal entrance to Harlow and the Parndon sausages!
Last stretch
Only 20 miles or so to Harlow and everyone fired up with chilli sauce! Going to be so early, might have a sneaky pub stop in Royndon ;-)
Not far now!
Great to see you guys have almost made it. Looks like you're going from strength to strength - are you sure about the train back home tomorrow Andy, the way you're going I think you could pedal all the way!!! Sounds like you're in for a great finish to a fantastic journey so have a great day today and an even better one tomorrow! Wish we could be there to see you complete the ride but we'll be with you in spirit. Ronnie and Reggie send their love cl'andy!
Well done to all of you. X
P. S. Take lots of photos for us
Harpenden
A5 dual carriageway wasn't the most scenic route, but we made good time. Steve punctured and he and Andy Mc time-trialled back to the others, who we had sent on ahead. Good job Duncan hadn't had any energy beans like yesterday or we'd never have caught up!
Got to Harpenden so early not really lunchtime. Going to have coffee when they finally get back with the bike locks!
You're nearly there!!
Great going you're getting there, be great to see you all later!
Can't get into Justgiving at the moment but i hear you were up to nearly £8000 last night!
Lots of people calling this morning there's going to be a massive reception tomorrow, well deserved.
Have a good day and see you laters xx
Food hard to come by in Milton Keynes!
Neither pub last night was serving food. We ordered three enormous pizzas to be delivered and could have eaten as much again! Worked up a good appetite yesterday.
This morning we found there was no breakfast booked, but Andy 'Rapha' Rowell managed to sweet-talk the staff into letting us have some.
The pub band last night covered Buck Rogers and we have adopted it as our team song, 'I think we're gonna make it ...'
Rainy last night, but seems to be clearing now. We are aiming to be on the road by 9am (though we have been aiming for that every day and not managed it yet!).
Route not obvious today. Think we have decided to keep it simple and have a 20 mile blast down the A5 past Dunstable, then cut across to Hertford and then into Harlow, hopefully on quiet roads.
The end is in sight!
The Homestretch
Safely in MK--that's good. And tomorrow will be a piece of cake for you after all the hard slogs through the north.
Well done! A big hoorah for all of you!
Jeanette
safely in MK
We are comfortably settled in Milton Keynes YHA. Nice old building, two pubs nearby. Best day so far, all feeling good, Andy Rowell brought the sunshine and a tailwind.
Weedon
After a quick detour for Steve and Andy to Daventry to get new cables for Steve's bike, rejoined the others at pub in Weedon.
Afternoon.......
Well done on the first leg of the day, must feel like you.re really getting there now! I hope that there haven't been any more injuries?! Stop pushing Duncan off his bike!
looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow.
Chris took Rosalie to school this morning and she said to tell you "go Dad Go".
Have a good afternoon x
Warwick
Well spotted John! Cafe stop in a park near Warwick. Had to ride up and down cycle path a while to find support car.
All doing fine, weather been bright so far, though few ominous spots of rain just now.
Autograph
Duncan,where is my Eric Bristow autograph? Dont tell me you didnt ask. Joking aside keep it up your almost home. And jane little cuz of mine. I checked the price of flights with rip off air and i think Mr O'Leary or whatever you call him is having a laugh , so will just need to be there in spirit. DONT let Fergie on a push bike guys , he'll end up in the Stort!! Good luck for the last couple of legs pedallers!!!!
Not on road???
Just checked your position guys and for some reason you are not on a road but seem to be heading for a river just south of Warwick????
not I n the least bit worried
not I n the least bit worried except the prospect of seeing tim in his wrestling gear again
Day 5
My bike computer packed up in the rain days ago, so we aren't sure exactly how many miles we've done, but we reckon we are two-thirds of the way through.
Strange for all the now experienced cyclists to see Andy Rowell, who joined us last night, as nervous as they were all those days ago in Kilmarnock.
Stopped at an amazing house last night, looked after wonderfully again.
About 66 miles to do today, bright sunshine at the moment, should be a good day.
Hoooorah, nearly there!
Keep going guy's your doing really well! So sorry to hear your piles were playing up again Duncan, I'm glad you managed to rest them when you took your turn of driving the support car. What a stroke of luck that FedEx tracked you down and got the inflatable ring to you in time!!!! Not long now so keep up the hard work and good luck for the last leg. Best wishes Jo & Paul x
Friday
Last big day! Ride on Daddy! well done Alex! hope the knee is better Duncan! Keep going Steve! Great rider Tim! Go go Nick! Keep the show on the road Andy! See you tomorrow love Rosalie.
You're Nearly There!!!
It looks like you've made it to Friends' House--wow--300 miles! That's all the way from Toronto to Montreal--the route of the old voyageurs! Great news about the donations--just in case you think it sounds more impressive, it is CDN$ 13, 103. I am certainly impressed!
The next legs should seem like a piece of cake although I hope you have all taken Monday (or maybe even Tuesday) off work next week.
Well done, guys!!
Jeanette
Go Go
Go BOYS GO!
From Rosalie.
I'll ring you later Daddy.
Machine
We are starting to ride as a single unit. A well-oiled cycling machine. Some more well-oiled than others! Andy Rowell, you'd better watch out. You ever ridden up a hill before?!
uttoxeter
Another 20 miles ticked off. Sandwich & Sudocrem stop!
Today
Good to hear you are in the dry today! More than half way through. Rosalie in school. International Evening at school tomorrow - lucky we have kilt & haggis at the ready! Enjoy Birmingham!
i phone now working!!
Hi guys - glad to hear you're making good progress and the weather has improved. It's nice in Lancashire today too now you lot have gone and I'm back in work!!
Andy my i phone decided to start working again this morning before I tried your tip but I'll remember it for next time! Fantastic news on the sponsorship total so far - you should be very proud of yourselves - just keep befriending people on the way and you might reach £10k!
Happy cycling to Brum.
Double Top
Everyone very excited we just saw Eric Bristow in car park in Leek! Big Jake would be thrilled!
Well done
Well done you lot for the first leg of the day and for reaching £7000. What an achievement, sponsorship still pouring in! Enjoy your packed lunch.........
Very funny John, just realised I said Shep not Shap, bit too young to remember John Noakes though cuz! The haggis is to be eaten tonight and very much looking forward to it!!
You lot must have shares in the Spoons!! Get out of there and get youselves down to the mill for Saturday.
xxx
Leek
Tucking into packed lunch in Leek. Made good time to here. Everyone much happier than yesterday. Can actually see the scenery, which makes all the difference.
Well chuffed that over £7k mark-thanks everyone!
Hi All
Well done - keep going!
See you Sunday
Fiona and Laura x
Great Progress
just checked your progress on the tracker guys,some going !!! I see your just heading to LEEK. Handy if you need the loo !! BOOM BOOM. Hope your weather ok today , lousy up here in Kilmarnock. Wondered why Jane was talking about john noakes dead blue peter dog couple of days ago till i realised she was on about Shap lol. Smuggling haggis through customs obviously stressed her out lmao. KEEP IT GOING ,all in Wetherspoons in Kilmarnock tracking you and wishing you well. BIG J.
Macclesfield
Loo stop at Tesco. Making good time. So much easier in the dry, even though still a headwind.
Day 4
Ah, the luxury of a laptop keyboard rather than posting on the iPhone!
Day 4 today, Manchester to Birmingham. Longest day, quite a few hills, complicated route. The hardest day really, but I think compared to yesterday it is going to seem fine. It is dry at the moment and that will make all the difference.
Hopefully battery life will hold out for tracking and navigation!
Good night in Manchester, made very welcome, great food, good night's sleep.
Raring to go!
For me, Day 3 was definitely
For me, Day 3 was definitely the toughest day of the epic cycle ride from Killy to Barts. The boys who actually cycled the route also found it a bit tough. But, looking at the pouring rain from the support car as I sailed down the motorway I could really feel their pain. My journey over couple of days has been more about running to and from the nearest toilet rather than conquering the hills and adverse weather conditions from Kendal to Manchester. However, I am happy to update you on some of the more exciting highlights of the trip so far. Who can forget Chris running naked around a car park in Penrith with only a ukele to cover up his manhood or Steve getting shot by a Salford hoody in downtown Manchester. They even managed to get him on his sunburn. He was heard to say, "it hurt", as he tucked into his third full British breakfast of the day. Tim has the record of the most incidents to report, getting a puncture on day one, swallowing a bee on day two and having a spectacular blow out today. Alex has been involved in every crash so far, and his grim reaper outfit has led to the other riders steering clear of him at every turning. Duncan has set a number of world records on the trip so far. He has eaten four Go bars in one day, and riden the heaviest bike over Shap or the "F.... Shap" as he refers to it.
Andy"Its all down hill from here" McCann has been setting a pace like human metronome. Always at hand with a supportive, if not misleading word and an energy bar for the stragglers. He has become the trips very own Mother Theresa.
Anyway, I am looking forward to getting back into the saddle tomorrow and get a few miles under my belt.
Cheers Nick
Fi
Hold down the on/off button (on the top) and the home button at the same time for about 10 seconds ;-)
i phone freeze-must have been all that rain!!
Great! My i-phone has frozen and my techno guru brother is swanning about on some bike ride - how inconsiderate!! Seriously it was great to see all you guys this afternoon and I couldn't believe how chipper you all were! For all of you following the progress I can confirm that the weather when these guys arrived for (late) lunch today near Preston was officially awful and hadn't improved any by the time they left!! They were also carrying considerably more weight by then, not least Steve who opted for the 'BIG man's breakfast' apparently his 3rd of the day but it was 2.30 by then!
Sorry the boys missed you Andy but they were out buying new fish ( for us I hasten to add - I haven't killed any of yours yet!! ) but they were very impressed with your progress and send you lots of love.
Keep it up all of you - you're halfway there and the money raised is fantastic! Have a great journey down to London and once again it was wonderful to meet you all today - you are an inspiration to all.
Say Hi to Andy Rowell tomorrow and I'll be keeping up with your progress ( only not on my i phone!!! )
Love and best wishes Fi xxx
yo boys - it's bound to be sunny tomorrow in B'ham !
Sounds like it was very hard work today . I bet you are knackered - but what an achievement - we are so impressed!
Good luck for tomorrow and hope Nick gets off the toilet long enough to do a few miles with you.
Lots of love Julie, Sophie Billie and Jacob X
Made it through the rain and pain!
Did I mention I am the only one with mudguards on? :-~
I said today would be the hardest and so it had proved (so far!) Atrocious weather for nearly all of today. Very heavy rain and headwind most of the way. Thankfully cleared up for final stretch through Manchester.
We're all really proud to have made it and thrilled with the sponsorship total!
£6674 and rising!!
Keep going all!!
Just had a big donation from Anna & Callaghan £1 for every mile, they have faith as do we all.
Once you get to Manchester you'll be on the homeward stretch!!
xx
KEEP GOING
Even though the weather will blow
You've still got to keep on the go!
(by Rosalie)
Sounds like a heavy day, you wonderful guys! We're all thinking of you down here & telling everybody about you. Just back from school & Rosalie took her kilt in to show her teacher. The money is pouring in. You're doing so well.
Go, go, boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! says Rosalie.
Baton or Barm?
Finally made it to the cafe near Wallis Cycles. After explaining what a barmcake is, all tucking in, Steve on his third breakfast of the day!
Had to stop a few times for flapjack, but made it.
Still over 30 miles to go today though.
Hard work in wind
Keep revising our Wallis Cycles eta. Currently reckon about 2pm.
keep it up guys
It must be hard going in these conditions but keep going- you're all doing a great job! Not long now til bacon butties - not for you obviously Andy! Can't wait to see you all- I'm bringing towels!!!
To the wet and valiant team
I am so sorry you are having nasty weather--again! It certainly makes you all EVEN MORE heroic! I will be with you in spirit as it is starting to rain here and David and I are about to go off for our half hour of jogging. Nothing by comparison but we will think of you all.
Jeanette
You can do it!!
Can imagine it's grim in the rain and tempting to stay by the fire but you can do it, we're all behind you!!
Sponsorship now at £6150 and still rising by the hour.
Tell Duncan his Dad and Carol have called and wish him all the best x
Duncan's Journey
Cycling through the wind and rain
Trying to ignore the soreness and pain
NO hint of sunshine, only clouds overhead
And all you can think of is a nice warm bed.
But the wheels keep turning, another day, another town,
We can only trace your route as you make your way down,
But may the memory of Abby keep you safe with each mile,
And feel the sunshine within, from the warmth of her smile
Good luck to you all
from Roger and Carol xx
living without an iphone
Andy it is very difficult however the good news is I get the new faster 3gs on Friday at the same price so I will be able to track your progress then keep it up its downhill all the way after Shap!