A bear, a frog, a bike and me.
Fundraising Target: £500.00
My Donations to date: £125
Fundraiser(s): Tom Scargill & Andre Chanavat
Event: Vancouver to Tijuana 2008
Event Date: 22nd November 2008
Charitie(s) Supported: Claire House Hospice
Greetings one and all,
Before I ask you for your money, for those of you not fully versed in the venture, I shall quickly explain. On the 31st of August, myself, that fine fellow Andre Chanavat and a brave wee bear called Claire (pictured in training to the right) will fly out to Vancouver with our pushbikes. From there we commence a two and a half month tour down the pacific coast, camping where we can, till we reach the Mexican border and Tijuana. It promises to be some adventure covering 2000 miles, taking in a variety of terrains, weather conditions and cities whilst battling the inevitable sore buttocks!
For whatever personal rewards I may reap, it was always my intention to take the opportunity to raise some money for a worthy cause. After being introduced to the work of Claire House Children's Hospice, my mind was set. A local charity, doing amazing work and with 2 million pounds a year running costs very much in need of your money.
Claire House cares for over 240 children and their families, all the children are suffering from life limiting/life threatening conditions and none are generally expected to live into normal adulthood. Primarily the hospice offers respite care which enables the children to be looked after while their parents can have free time to spend with other children in the family and attend to tasks which are impossible whilst caring for a sick child.
The second type of care is is palliative care which is the relief of symptoms. The children cannot be cured of their conditions; if they could they would be in a conventional hospital not a hospice. If however their symptoms or condition create pain, discomfort, or distress then the child can come to the hospice and be treated to help the situation before returning home to the family. When the child is approaching the end of their life the hospice offers terminal care where the emphasis is to keep the child free from discomfort and distress as much as possible and to support the parents at what is perhaps the most difficult time they are likely to experience.
Since I started this campaign I've had the chance to meet some families who have received help from Claire House. The warmth with which they talk of the charity and the stories of the care and support they were given really brought home to me the essential work the hospice is doing. Claire House receives no statutory funding so please give as much as you can afford.
For more information on the charity click on their logo to the right or go to http://www.claire-house.org.uk/
Claire the Bear was inspired to join us after watching a report on a Gnome who recently had much fun travelling the world, read about this by clicking on the photo (top left) or go to http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7556244.stm
Claire is a swashbuckling little scamp who will I'm sure keep spirits high when limbs are weary. For that reason I coerced her into writing her own version of the undoubted shenanigans we'll get entangled in! Catch up with her adventures by clicking on her picture (bottom right) to read her blog or go to http://afrogabikesomeblokeandme.blogspot.com
Back in the real world: Claire's inclusion was indeed inspired by said tale of gnomenapping and her blog will I hope, give the kids in the hospice a bit of a giggle and a chance to engage in what we're up to.
If you don't want to look at various Americans holding a teddy bear but have a vague interest in how we are doing, check out Andre's blog by clicking on his picture to the right (with Roche Harbour in the background) or go to http://www.pacifictouring08.blogspot.com
To read my blog, click on my picture (with Claire!) to the right or go to http://abearafrogabikeandme.blogspot.com
To read the Chester Standard article about the ride simply click on the map, again on the right.
Cheers,
Tom
STOP PRESS (13th November): Tom and Andre are now back home having covered 2250 miles with ... in Tom's case ... only one puncture!
Gifts & Pledges via the sponsorship forms from St Michael's Church and the Bridge Inn currently stand at nearly £300 which with Gift Aid will easily top this. SO ... we are nearly there and we have only just started! Next target £1000?
Contributions
| Display Name | Date | Amount | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andy Scargill | 20th August 2008 | £10.00 | Rock on Tommy and make sure you treat that bear fair! In the words (nearly)of the two Scottish balladeers "... and you will cycle two thousand miles" |
| Gib | 23rd August 2008 | £10.00 | Good luck mate, if you end up anywhere near Toronto (1) You're hideously lost (2) Give me a call and I'll buy you guys a beer. Good luck |
| Simon Jones | 25th August 2008 | £10.00 | Good work Tom. So errrrr, that bear, single? |
| Mr Timothy Head | 25th August 2008 | £20.00 | best luck |
| Morag Scargill | 26th August 2008 | £10.00 | Hasta la vista |
| Dave & Sue Edge | 30th August 2008 | £10.00 | Hope you raise loads of money for Claire house and enjoy the ride!! |
| diane miles | 31st August 2008 | £10.00 | Good Luck! |
| David & Lesley Cracknell | 31st August 2008 | £10.00 | Keep safe and keep on! |
| Tom Lenton | 03rd September 2008 | £10.00 | Good luck...do hope you have got your bear essentials...I presume the bear is meant to help in your hour of need when you meet it's larger cousins from across the pond...good luck with that! |
| Janet Forsyth | 11th September 2008 | £10.00 | The trip of a lifetime - what an adventure - good luck all 3 of you! |
| Rhiannon Jones | 11th November 2008 | £5.00 | Nice one! |
| Helen Felid | 15th November 2008 | £10.00 | claire bear can't wait to see her friend and cousin. pixie has missed you too. |
