updates
29
January - we've done the London to Cambridge Cycle Ride four
years running, and we've been thinking about what we can do that's
different this year. Between the two Chris's and Peter Reynolds, The Red
Pouches 3 Peaks Challenge is born ! We decide on a date - 25th & 26th July
2009 which just happens to be the same weekend of the London to Cambridge
Cycle Ride - that way we won't be tempted to default to doing the cycle
ride again
4
February - invitations go out to last year's Red Pouches - in no
time at all, the Challenge is accepted by the vast majority of last year's
team. Some can't make it because of holiday commitments, others because
they've committed to do the London to Cambridge Cycle Ride again.
15
February - with 13 confirmed participants, we open the
invitations further afield, and advertise the Challenge for others to join
in. There's a bit of interest, but this is not a Challenge for the
faint of heart !
6
March - the final Team is announced. We've decided to stick to 16
climbers and 2 drivers - this gives us the right balance for travelling
between the Peaks, and will allow everyone to get a decent night's sleep
after the effort of Ben Nevis, on the drive to Scafell Pike. Our team is
confirmed as:
Chris Welsh, Lynn
McGhee, Mark Benton, Craig Abbs, Paul Blacktop, Steve Ratcliff, Peter
Reynolds, Paul Taylor, Alec Pybus, Peter Ford, Phil Barnard, Simon Crow,
Andy Atkinson, Jason Mansfield, Matt Fisher and Steven Card.
Chris Clingham and Dave Roach are confirmed as expedition drivers.
9
March - Jason Mansfield is now unfortunately unable to take part,
and so the gap left by him needs filling. Martin Binks, one of last year's
Red Pouches cyclists and initially undecided about the Challenge, says
Yes, Count me in. The Team is back up to full strength.
12
March - we invite two reserve climbers to join our ranks, just in
case. Welcome Tim Blake and Richard Brusell. Preparations
continue - there's lots of information being shared amongst the Team -
details on boots, maps, preparation and practicing is the main
conversation topics.
12
March - we have our group navigators ! Thanks to Alec Pybus and
Steve Ratcliff
for putting themselves forward for this. Alec has already kindly bought
all the maps we need for the Challenge so he can get some practice in.
Thanks for getting those Alec - the Team can see what's in store for each
peak by clicking the links on the left.
We've
also had some great feedback from two of the Team on boots - Matt Fisher
has found these boots massively reduced in
Sports Direct and Paul Taylor has found a good range of boots at
Simpers of Cambridge. Thanks for the feedback, guys.
17
March - how quickly things change. We have today learnt that Mark
Benton is no longer able to take part in the Challenge, but he will
be doing the London to Cambridge Cycle Ride, and will still be raising
money for our two charities, Arthur Rank Hospice and East Anglia
Children's Hospice. Sorry you can't make it Mark, but well done for doing
the cycle ride, and still raising lots of money for charity. So ....
welcome Tim Blake ! You're not No 1 reserve anymore ..... you're in
the Team.
17
March - sponsorship forms have been shared with the Team, but if
you need to print more,
here's your
link to the form.
18
March - Nooo ! We've lost another one ! Come on guys ....
at this rate we'll be down to nobody taking part within the next week or
so. Late yesterday we heard that Phil Barnard was having to drop
out. Sorry to hear that Phil - you'll be missed. Time to dig into the
dwindling reserve list again, so let's welcome Richard Brusell to
the team - nice one Rich !
Our
team now looks like this:
Chris Welsh, Lynn
McGhee, Tim Blake, Craig Abbs, Paul Blacktop, Steve Ratcliff, Peter
Reynolds, Paul Taylor, Alec Pybus, Peter Ford, Richard Brusell, Simon Crow,
Andy Atkinson, Martin Binks, Matt Fisher and Steven Card.
Chris Clingham and Dave Roach are our drivers.
Okay,
guys, that's enough now ! No
more dropping out allowed !
More
news from today - having sent the sponsor forms out only last night, let's
hear a huge cheer for Lynn McGhee who secured her £100 target
by 10.21 this morning.... well done you, and a lesson to us all.
19
March - Good news today - we've had nobody else drop out of the
Challenge, in fact we've had two more people put themselves forward as
reserves which is good news. Mark Pleasance from the Engineering
team at Cambridge Mail Centre, and Rob from the Quadrant Restaurant
are our new reserves - well done to you.
Even
better news from today - it's great to see the competitive spirit
developing in some of the Team. Having celebrated Lynn hitting her target
on the first day of getting sponsorship yesterday, we quickly learned that
Andy Atkinson surpassed that achievement in spectacular fashion. In
just three hours yesterday, Andy secured pledges exceeding £250 !!
That's absolutely fantastic, but boy are you in trouble now, Andy ! Lynn
has declared sponsorship war and may the best woman win !
Also
today - Mark Benton started collecting pledges from his customers
for his London to Cambridge Cycle Ride. Let's not forget Mark's still a
Red Pouches man, and this year is our lone representative in the Cycle
Ride, so good luck to you Mark !
Wonder what tomorrow will bring ?
23
March -
reports are coming in that one of the team went for a walk around
Rutland Water
over the weekend for some distance conditioning ! Eighteen miles is a good
bit of preparation, but he quickly realised that even these distances are
not easily achieved. He quickly became aware that he has a lot more to do
in preparation for the big event ! Guys - this is tough stuff ! If we're
not in suitable condition to do this, then we put ourselves and the rest
of the team at risk. WE MUST PREPARE OURSELVES !! and thankfully we
still have time to do this. Keep plugging away in the gym and on the long
walks. Hills come next.
25
March - the
sponsorship war took a new turn today. Having made a great start in
securing her £100 target in the first couple of hours, Lynn
McGhee lost quite a bit of ground to Andy Atkinson who streaked
past her with a great £250 on day 1. We were all really impressed
with both achievements.
Well
...... today Lynn proudly announced that she's reached £480
- "eat my dust" is the message to Andy ! Andy's response - Game On ! I've
just started Chip and PIN !
Ten
minutes later - Lynn had hit £505 - fantastic !
Finally today, we started publicising ourselves on the East Anglia Area
intranet website - an article has gone out in the East Anglia News, and
more sponsorship is starting to trickle in through Just Giving. First
person to answer our call for support was Debbie Coxford in Thetford,
closely followed by Chas Barnes in Ipswich. Thanks to both of you, and
let's hope that more answer the call.
26
March - NEWS
FLASH ! Lynn's up to £580 ! You've got some serious catching up to
do, Andy - that'll teach you to go on leave ! Lynn thinks it's Game, Set
and Match. What's the response going to be ?
30
March - We've
received a massive anonymous boost in our sponsorship today which takes
our current total to £2054. This is great news ! Given this new
development, and the rate of current donations, we're reviewing our target
total, and now want to raise £4,000 for the two charities. Given that we
still have 4 months before we do the event, this should be within our
scope. Well done to everyone who's pulling the money in already.
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