James Leighton
James' Fundraising Page
Fundraising for The Prince's Trust
Story
On Sunday 13 September I will be taking part in a challenging cycle ride from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle, which I and many other riders have registered for to raise money for the Prince’s Trust. This covers 90 miles in total. The route I’m cycling will take me out of central London via Richmond Park through the leafy suburbs of Kingston upon Thames, and Walton on Thames, past Hampton Court into scenic, Surrey countryside.
Tackling some fairly steep hills along the way, I’ll pass through Esher, Cobham, Leatherhead and Woking; dropping down into Aldershot. From there, back up through Farnborough to Ascot and ultimately coming into Windsor Park, along the famous “Long Walk”, right up to the gates of Windsor Castle.
Completing this ride will give me immense satisfaction in terms of achievement, even more so, knowing that I will be raising money for such a good cause.
The Prince’s Trust does fabulous work helping disadvantaged young people in the UK, into work, education and training. It has a very high success rate in its almost forty years as a charity, set up in 1976 by Prince Charles. Up to 58,000 young people this year alone, will benefit enormously from the help and support of The Prince’s Trust, gaining the right skills and self-confidence to secure gainful employment and a career path to their success.
With unemployment still very high in UK amongst young people, especially with those from difficult circumstances; the work of the Princes Trust cannot be underestimated. But, without continuous funding, this just wouldn’t be possible. For example by raising a total of £240, I will generate enough money to fund six young people towards launching their own business through The Prince’s Trust, an achievement otherwise beyond the broadest of their horizons!
Think about how just pledging even a small amount on my Just Giving Page will help towards even one young person fulfilling their potential. I’ll put in the slog each mile of the way and promise to work for every bit of money that you may be willing to, or able to pledge..? The amount doesn’t matter more than the pledge itself. I cannot tell how much appreciated any donation would be..!
Making a pledge is very easy from where you will be already in my Fundraising page. At the top right is a red box saying Donate. Just click on this and follow the instructions choosing how much you want to give and then continue to add your bank debit/credit card details to confirm this. If you have problems with this, please let me know or you can contact The Prince’s Trust Palace to Palace Cycle Ride event team on: 020 7543 1370.
I have always enjoyed cycling since as a child along the country lanes and roads outside of Chichester, West Sussex. As a teenager and in my early twenties, I took part in a variety of structured rides as a member of The Chichester and Bognor Cycle Touring Club; all around and over the Sussex Downs, further afield in Hampshire, Dorset and The Isle of Wight. In 1994, I cycled for two weeks with a group from Chichester/Bognor Cycle Club, through France and the Swiss Alps to the base of Mount Blanc.
After a break from cycling, I resumed this again in earnest seven years ago having by then lived and worked in London for three years since 2005. It was my aim to regain the same level of fitness and do something about the amount of weight I’d gained in my late twenties and early thirties. This has had and continues to have the desired result. I cycle all over and around London; typically at weekends covering up to 40 miles or more; my favourite spots being Greenwich, Richmond Park and Wimbledon.
I took in some quite to very hilly cycling, two years ago when on holiday in the remote little, medieval village of Ajat, just outside of Perigueux, in the Dordogne, Aquitaine; France.
Cycling with one or two minor exceptions, is now my sole means of transport in London and even when I go back home to Chichester. I cycle every day to work from Pimlico to King's Cross. In addition to cycling, I also enjoy long dog walks and on my own admissions, the odd pub lunch.