John Dove
Johnny's Jogging / cycling JOGLE
Fundraising for Alzheimer's Research UK
Story
UPDATE: 16th May
254 miles by foot...
Due to too many injuries sustained whilst on foot and in the spirit of ‘keep calm and carry on!’ My friends Adam Waldron and Luke Adams have brought up my bike. Carrying the Journey on to lands end by bicycle without any preparation (or muscles) is it self a new challenge but one we’re happy to do in aid of charity and the spirit of adventure.
I’m forever great full for the option to be able to continue and will endeavour to do my supporters proud
JOHNNY'S FIRST ATTEMPT AT A LONG DISTANCE SELF SUPPORTED Jog/ walk BEGINS THE FIRST WEEK OF MAY THIS YEAR. HE'S NEVER BEEN MORE EXCITED! STARTING IN JOHN O'GROATS JOHNNY AIMS TO TRAVERSE THE MOUNTAINS IN SCOTLAND AND THE PEAK DISTRICT TO THE ROLLING HILLS OF SOUTHERN ENGLAND TO LAND'S END. AVERAGING UPWARDS OF 30 MILES A DAY TO COVER THE 900 MILE (IF HE DOESN'T GET LOST!!) ROUTE.
MY STORY
I NEEDED A BIG CHANGE...
I STARTED RUNNING AFTER A BREAK UP OF A LONG TERM RELATIONSHIP A FEW YEARS BACK. I HAD A LOT OF SPARE TIME ON MY HANDS AND EVEN MORE NERVOUS ENERGY. I SIGNED UP TO A GYM AS MANY DO AND THROUGH THE WINTER I LOST OVER 3 STONE (20+ KILOGRAMS) IN WEIGHT. EVERYTHING WAS GOING MY WAY ALTHOUGH I HADN'T RID MYSELF OF ALL MY VICES, (ALCOHOL AND SMOKING) I MANAGED TO RUN UP TO 30 MILES A WEEK AT A 9 MINUTE AVG. PACE DESPITE PROPPING THE BAR UP MOST EVENINGS AND WORKING FULL TIME AS A GAS ENGINEER.
I MADE NEW FRIENDS LEFT, RIGHT AND CENTRE AND ENJOYED THE NEXT FEW MONTHS OF NEWLY GAINED BODY CONFIDENCE. USING ALCOHOL AS MY ICEBREAKER TO NEW SITUATIONS AND EXPERIENCES, MY SOCIAL CIRCLE GREW.
IT ALL CAME TO A HEAD IN APRIL, I WROTE MY CAR OFF UNDER THE INFLUENCE. THE GUILT I FELT WAKING UP IN A CELL WAS INCREDIBLE AND LIKE NOTHING I'D EXPERIENCED BEFORE. THEN IT DAWNED ON ME... "I'M NOT IN A HOSPITAL OR WORSE A MORGUE!" I REALISED THAT I COULD CHANGE. I COULD WORK TO BE SOMEONE THE PEOPLE AROUND ME COULD BE PROUD OF.
I PAID MY DEBT TO SOCIETY BACK WITH 100 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE IN A SUE RYDER SHOP OVER THE SUMMER. I VISITED A PSYCHOLOGIST A FEW TIMES AND BEGAN TO Jog /walk AGAIN BUT THIS TIME WITH A GRAND GOAL IN MIND....JOGLE!
WITH THE HELP AND SUPPORT OF A FEW KIND PEOPLE AND FAMILY I HAVE CHANGED MY JOB, ACCOMMODATION AND LIFE AROUND TO ENABLE THIS TO HAPPEN.
MY MISSION IS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT A ONCE OVER WEIGHT AND DEPRESSED INDIVIDUAL WITH TIME, HELP AND DETERMINATION CAN CHANGE THEIR SITUATION COMPLETELY. EVEN IF YOU FEEL STUCK, THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY OUT.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP THIS CHALLENGE SUCCEED THERE ARE A FEW WAYS YOU CAN HELP!
- DONATE TO CHARITY ON BEHALF OF JOHN R DOVE - JOGLE