Help me buy some Vaseline!

WHAT?

I am proposing to cycle from London to Stourbridge in a single day, that’s a total of 140 miles, approx 14 hours in the saddle, longer than John Wayne spent in a whole career.

WHY?

Well, officially to raise money for the Chris Westwood Charity for children with physical disabilities. I am a trustee of this Stourbridge - based charity, which incurred zero overhead administration expenses last year, and has made thousands of pounds worth of grants to local children. Please visit the web site to get more information on the children who have benefited.

Examples of recent grants:

• Funding necessary equipment to enable a 3 year old child with a genetic disorder to receive physiotheraphy treatment at home.
• Funding for a computer to enable a 16 year old, with cerebral palsy and unable to hold a pen, to study at home.
• Funding for a special chair so that a severely disabled and epileptic 17 year old can continue to live at home with his parents.
• Funding for twin girls, aged 2, both with Micro syndrome, to receive a special sleep system as they are unable to turn themselves over in bed at night.

But, equally, I am doing it for myself. It is now 10 years since I completed my first marathon, the New York Marathon, and although I didn’t win it (finishing 6,697th actually!) it was a wonderful experience for me, and many of you will have supported me in raising over £14,000 for the children’s charity “Get Kids Going”. Although 140 miles cycling in one day may not be seen as such a marathon effort, being 10 years older, and 3 knee operations later, it is hopefully within my capabilities.

WHEN?

I shall be travelling to London BY TRAIN on the 27th June, with a view to starting out at 6 am on Sunday 28th June from Buckingham Palace, (well I have to get my Bed and Breakfast somewhere) before arriving at my office in Stourbridge at approx 8 pm that evening/the following evening/ a week that Sunday depending on traffic.

HOW?

On a bike, of course! Come on, keep up. I invested in a road bike in April for this purpose, in the full knowledge that my trusted Raleigh Chopper bike, even with its stabilisers, would not stand the course. The last few week ends have been spent plotting and achieving circular routes taking in the delights of Kidderminster, Worcester, Alcester, Stratford, Redditch, Bromsgrove, Stourbridge, Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Leominster and Bewdley, to name but a few, and I question myself why I chose to live in the hilliest part of the world outside the Himalayas, or so it seems.

WHERE?

I was planning to start from Marylebone Station in London. I have to say I was a bit phased when I first put the route into Multi Map to check the distance, and was alarmed to note that I would be cycling some 10,609 miles, but greatly relieved when I realised that my Fat Finger Syndrome had inadvertently typed in Melbourne Station. Phew !! My most direct route from Buckingham Palace would have been along the M40 but the speed restrictions would slow me down, so I plan to travel along the A40 to Oxford and then the A34 to Stratford, before arriving at the office in Market St Stourbridge in time to open the post. At last count that makes a total of 140 miles, assuming I don’t take the wrong turning.

SO HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Well, Vaseline is both a necessity for my recuperation process and very expensive. I am, of course, looking for sponsorship. No! please don’t roll your eyes at this point and turn away. I realise this appeal is not the most timely in the present economic climate, and I do not expect to hit the dizzy heights of £14,000 raised last time (but why not try !) and why should you pamper the indulgence of an aging has-been seeking to satisfy his ego. Well, in all seriousness, that is not the reason. I do urge you to visit the site of the charity to see the extent of the grants made to local children and the rewards it brings to them. Your help would be greatly appreciated and you can donate either by going on-line at my sponsorship page or completing the attached form with or without the sponsorship money to ease administration (I promise I shall complete the route somehow).

Finally, honestly, I invite any one of you to join me on all or part of this epic journey, whether from London, Oxford, Stratford …..or even, Oldswinford, yes, that’s a whole mile, on the condition that you commit to £1 per mile cycled in sponsorship.
I shall keep you informed of progress and the eventual outcome, sores and all!