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What was my motivation for this challenge?

That's easy to answer. A very close friend and colleague, Carol Gilbert, has recently been diagnosed with lung cancer. Carol is one of life's little gems and just doesn't know how to sit still. I felt I wanted to do something to raise money in Carol's name and being a non-bike riding 17 stone ex-rugby playing pen-pusher a 1000 mile cycling adventure seemed the obvious choice!!??

Adventure chosen, it was time to choose the right good cause to receive any money raised. A specific cancer charity was considered, but Carol and I were both of the opinion that the CHSW Precious Lives Appeal was the perfect charity as the work and dedication they put into making the most of short and precious lives is amazing.

The Precious Lives Appeal is specifically raising money for a new Children's Hospice to be built just outside St Austell in mid Cornwall. This is so important for the hundreds of families that currently need the services of Children's Hospice Southwest but currently have to travel to the nearest hospice, Little Bridge House in Barnstaple which is up to three hours away. A hospice in mid Cornwall will help to relieve stress, time and expense from the families of children with life limiting conditions. The land has already been donated and so far in excess of £1.6 million has been raised but the target is £5 million, so more needs to be done and with your help we can make steps to achieving the goal and giving children with life limiting conditions and their families easier access to the fantastic care that Children's Hospice South West provides.

I know in these uncertain times of credit crunches and house price falls things are tough, but imagine being the parent of a child who needs the care provided by CHSW and then imagine how much less stress and how much more time children can spend actually in a more local hospice rather than spending time in a car getting to the hospice.

Please give what you can and I will be pedalling away to raise as much as I can!

Thank you,

Gordon