How cool is that?

A chance conversation with one of my sound-engineering friends showed that we had quite an overlap of interests. In collaboration with a few local lads, Matt is helping to create a mountain-bike park on some wasteland in Trafford Park. I shan’t say just where, as it’s semi-secret due to legal and privacy reasons – i.e. it’s not official yet, nor do they want chavs coming along and spoiling it.

However, it is literally in the back garden of my place of work. Now that the weather is getting better, I can see me nipping out in my lunch breaks and coming back covered in mud and bruises…

Cancer doesn’t have favourites. You can look after yourself, keep fit, eat right and yet still get struck down in your prime by this most indiscriminate of diseases. We are starting to know a lot about it, and our knowledge gets better with every passing day and with every research pound that is donated.

But what about those who are living with cancer NOW? Promises of future breakthroughs and preventative medicine are all fine and dandy but how can we make life more tolerable for those struggling to live a normal day under its dark shadow?

We all know someone, be that friends or family, who are affected by the disease. And we can all do something about it. I’m not suggesting that you sit in the saddle for ten blistering days, but a small donation would certainly help!

My aim is to make £3200, but I hope to raise much more than this over the next twelve months. I’ve never done anything like this before so setting such a high fundraising target is more than a little daunting. I feel I’ll need every day available if I’m going to reach it, and all of your help and support – whether that’s in the form of sponsorship or just encouragement.

What a cracking weekend that was! The bruises and cuts are now fading, the pain and exhaustion now just hazy memories. 

A good bit of prep beforehand (see other blog) meant that it was just a question of driving there and getting on with it. Peter had hired a small van and it took a lot of mental and physical agility to get seven bikes and a load of baggage into it. I’m glad I watched the Krypton Factor as a child. I had to take my time over it, though. It’s one thing getting those bikes to fit in the back. But the skill is doing it so that they come out working at the end of it.

If we weren’t careful: 

(Pedals, handlebars, disc breaks and chains) + (Pete’s driving) + (Welsh roads) = EXPENSIVE SCRAP METAL

Shedloads of masking tape and corrigated cardboard did the trick, it seems. I’ll certainly remember that one for next time.