Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Let’s get this straight right from the start. I hate it when people say, “Will you sponsor me?” I don’t like the feeling of guilt when I don’t sponsor the person who has asked because it’s not a cause I support.

 

So, as I’ve never done anything for charity in my 44 years on this Earth I want to do a little bit before I shuffle off this mortal coil. I’d like to do this for the Alzheimer's Society a disease that took my Mum from me back in November 2009 but ruined the last 8 years of her life before she died. It’s an awful disease I wouldn’t wish on anybody.

 

http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, affecting around 496,000 people in the UK. More info here

http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=100

 

Like my bikes I want to do this charity thing a little bit differently and focus this year’s riding towards this Septembers Isle of Man End2End challenge. For those who have supported/sponsored me I’d like to give a little something back from me directly and offer you a chance to win your money back and more.

 

I’d like to offer you a type of lottery and sell you time slots to guessing my official finishing time I cross the line in and the person who guesses correctly will get £50 of my own cash (not this charity money) a Hozelock 30m Auto Reel, some Hozelock hose guns, Tee shirts, socks water bottles etc from Richie at Silverfish Cheers Richie. A years Subscription to Single Track the best Mountain bikeing magazine in the world, plus socks and a tee shirt.

8 x 1hour sessions (in a month) with a personal training in St Helens with PB Fit www.pbfitness.co.uk and a PB fit Tee shirt.

And a Generation Game flash bask a Fondue set.

 

 

I’m using Just Giving so you can pay by credit card, Paypal and claim “Gift Aid” back from the government.

There will be 200 time slots available to buy at a fiver each meaning if I “sell” the lot it’s £1,000 to the Alzheimer's Society.

So, £20 will buy you 4 time slots, rather than £20 in one go why not buy a slot a month for the next 4 months?

For every £20 given Gift Aid adds another £5.00

 

Rule 1 - You can't buy any time slot within 15 minutes of any other guess you've made

Rule 1a is now - If anyone donates £20 (or more) their 4 (or more) time slots can be no closer than 7 miunutes apart.

 

The time slot chart is here

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AoCkTTsMR4Y-dHVZRFNaR0pmRnVlOHZnX0pQUkhCd3c#gid=0

 

Now the facts to help you guess

2011 the winner Nick Craig finished in 02:53:17 – 1228 finishers

2009 I rode it on my geared Jones in 03:44:37 – 831 finishers

2010 I rode it on my geared race Niner in 03:38:46 – 1002 finishers

But this year I intend to set my self the challenge of finishing the event on my 42lbs Mukluk Fat Bike and this year there are 1700 confirmed entrants

 

Now, most of you know I want to finish this year in the gold medal time of under 4hours but there are many things to take into consideration.

• I won’t be riding at all the week before (holiday)
• Weather depending, both rides have had unusual favourable side or tail winds.
• If it’s dry I plan to ride from the ferry the 25miles to the start of the race the day after with my bivi gear on board and sleeping out wild en route.
• If wet I hope to sleep at a mates house over there and he likes a drink or two and I might join him, or a B&B.
• With the fat tyres and heavy bike I won’t be as fast on the road section, so will get stuck in the pack of riders and forced to push up Ballacobb the first mountain pass with all the other mid table riders.
• Mechanicals
• Punctures, those big tyres have a big footprint and pick up more thorns than skinny race tyres.
• Weather, wind, rain or heat who knows?
• Fitness, injuries, sickness

 

If no one picks the correct time slot I will give the nearest time slot to my official finishing time £20 of my own money and some Hozelock goodies, the other £30 of my cash will be added to the Alzheimer's Society money pot.

 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep, donate now and let me know which time slot you would like to buy, first come first served and good luck to you as well.

Time slot chart link here https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AoCkTTsMR4Y-dHVZRFNaR0pmRnVlOHZnX0pQUkhCd3c#gid=0