Hi Everyone, just back from the Only Fools & Donkeys Charity bike challenge through Brittany fantastic experience and much harder than what we were all expecting! I've ridden 400 miles with 10 other guys split into two groups spread over 6 days, with the rest of the riders working as equally as hard over a tough route over about 300 miles, lots of blood, sweat and tears on the way and a very sore ass to end with but all well worth it when you think of the charities who will be benefiting from this almighty effort from everyone involved including the support staff who were amazing...............so it's not to late to donate if fact more the reason to now that we've done it, and you realize the charities which will benefit from a donation..... so I would like to smash my target which i'm just short off and i'm hoping with you're generosity i will........

Thanks in advance....:) 

Hi Everyone, for a long time I have wanted to challenge myself and raise some much needed money for charity at the same time and this year I was determined to get involved with the great work Ray & Mike & Only Fools and Donkeys have done so far as I've kick myself for not doing it last year!

So my challenge isn't only the painful miles but more importantly I would like to raise at least £3000 pounds because I’m not only doing this for the Only Fools & Donkeys Charities I’m also going to be riding for two Special Needs Children’s Charities which my daughter is involved with and a member off

So my aim with your help is to raise a minimum of a £1000 pounds for each of the three charities one being for The Only Fools & Donkeys who are Supporting this year The Guernsey Sports Association for the Disabled has a membership of 40 aged from age 14 through to adults, all of whom have learning difficulties or physical disabilities, The St Martin's Day Center  which offers support for adults with learning disabilities to be included in activities in the community which will help them develop independence, relationships and social inclusion & Le Rondin School which is the only primary special needs school in Guernsey, catering for children from aged between 3 and 11 who have a range of learning and physical disabilities.....they are the main charities which everyone is riding for and Only Fools and Donkeys are organising the whole event but they have kindly allowed me to also raise money for two other Charities which are.................

As you may or may not know I have three children Ryan, Erin & Niamh and my middle daughter Erin has unfortunately complex learning difficulty as a result of having Meningitis when she was only a few weeks old, Erin received some Brain damage which affects her learning and understanding, Erin also has Epilepsy and Hydrocephalus - Hydrocephalus, also called Water on the Brain is a condition in which there is an abnormal build up of CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) in the cavities (ventricles) of the brain. The build-up is often caused by an obstruction which prevents proper fluid drainage. The fluid build-up can raise intracranial pressure inside the skull which compresses surrounding brain tissue, possibly causing progressive enlargement of the head, convulsions, and brain damage. Hydrocephalus can be fatal if left untreated. So Erin was fitted with a VP Shunt when she was 3 years old which lasted until the end of last year when she had to have it replaced in December in Southampton’s Neuro Department - A hydrocephalus VP shunt is also referred to as a ventriculoperitoneal shunt, and it is used in children or adults who have excess cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. Normally, an incision is made in the abdomen and another incision is made behind the ear. A catheter is placed in each incision, and then a valve is connected to both catheters. The valve is placed underneath the skin behind the ear. When fluid builds up in the brain, the valve opens and drains the fluid into the catheter. It then flows into the abdomen where it can be more easily absorbed.

OK that's enough of the horrible stuff Erin is now 16 and has made great improvement over the years mainly through the great schooling she has received over the past 12 years and the clubs which she loves to attend without these clubs & Schools Erin's Social skills and social life would be very limited as most of her friends have their own cocktail of complex needs making contact after school difficult.

Erin has been a member of the Special Needs Gym Club Member Number 249 - A Gymnastic club for children of all abilities, run by fully qualified coaches with special need training for the past 12 years and she loves it, the staff who give up their time to run this club are simply amazing because without them it wouldn't happen, this club has helped Erin so much socially and also helped Erin with her Balance, coordination and confidence but the club desperately requires cash to help with the high running costs and the training of new staff.

So my aim with your help is to raise £1000 pounds for The Special Needs Gym Club as a small way of thanking them for all their great work they have put into Erin and her friends.

Then there is Monday Club Member Number 170 - Monday Club is for youngsters with varying communication, emotional, education and physical disabilities, the age range is from 9 to 21 years old, they meet every Monday during term time between 6 and 8pm at the Youth Service at Les Qzouet Campus and charge 50p per session. The Main purpose of the club is to encourage and build on social skills and to provide a safe environment in which they can meet and relax. For some of them this is the only club they attend.

Erin Absolutely loves this club it has really helped Erin develop more social skills and confidence she hardly ever misses it as she just loves meeting up with her friends and hanging out with the staff who are all fantastic, which again like all clubs wouldn't happen without them giving up their own time for free!!!

 So again my aim with your help is to raise £1000 pounds for Monday Club as a small way of thanking them for all their great work they have put into Erin and her friends and hope it continues to benefit children and young adults for many many years to come.

So please dig deep everyone and I will keep peddling and lets get this done.

Thanks in advance to everyone.