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LATEST NEWS: First fund-raising event - Music Quiz at Gowerton Rugby Club  13/4/12 at 7.30.  Tickets £10 for quiz and buffet.  There will be a raffle too.  Hopefully we will get plenty of people coming in for a great evening.  If you are reading this for the first time, ring or text me on 07989763545 for tickets. 

If you know anything about me, you probably know that I am a keen cyclist.  Keen in terms of not thinking a 30-mile trip is too long.  This year, I am upping the ante and riding 320 miles (yes, 10 times further than my comfort zone!)  from Paris to Swansea in 4 days in August 2012, to raise money in support of Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres.  I recently visited the Maggie's Centre in Swansea, to see what they offer.  It's a wonderfully warm, cosy yet impressive place, as they say there it feels like "visiting a friend's house".  I'm raising money for Maggie's because I actually have a friend who has visited Maggie's following cancer,and she can say nothing but good about them,the psychological and practical help, and the sense of support they provide.    £25  will cover an hour's time with a relaxation therapist to help relieve stress and anxiety for a cancer sufferer.

So how am I training for this ride?  Well, apart from the clothes (the most important bit for a comfy ride!)...

18/2/2012 - the first training ride from Swansea to Jersey Marine.  Horrendous weather (pouring rain, 30 mph winds,  pretty chilly) - all this and trying to learn the terrifying skills of riding in a peloton 4 feet behind the bike in front, at a target speed of 15mph which seems to be beyond my legs.  Really scary!

25/2/2012 - another training ride (26 miles).  What a difference! Sunny, warm, along the sparkling edge of Swansea Bay, sunbathing at Verdi's.  Who'd believe it is still February?  Peloton riding is much less scary and more achievable when the road is dry!

I am putting in the effort, people -  I'm out running, cycling and doing aerobics classes to cross-train, so come on, let's see a bit of response!  Thanks to my fabulous donors, we have now cracked the £300 barrier, so 20% of of the total has already been donated.  Less than £1200 to go!!! 

Like everyone else, I know and love many people whose lives have been altered, damaged or ended, by cancer, so Maggie's  is both close to my heart and close to home.  I think the whole concept is fantastic and well worth supporting.  I have raised money to support different cancer charities for years, usually by running, and this should be a lot easier than running, she says hopefully!  (Maybe I need to check out this part of the plan!)

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