S Lyndon
Paul's page
Fundraising for Oxfordshire Mind
Story
Hi!
Well it’s all over, and I’m glad to report that I managed to complete the 100 mile challenge in a time of 45 hours 48 minutes.
I had trained pretty well for this event, and was confident of finishing before bedtime on Sunday night, but hadn’t factored in the mud, a dodgy stomach from about 20 miles onwards (I will leave it at that coz to tell you more would definitely be too much information), the mud, the torrential rain that started Saturday night and continued through much of the rest of the event, the mud, plus a continuous urge to go to sleep….oh and did I mention the mud?
Having decided to choose a later start time than the ten o’clock mass start so that I could have a more leisurely walk through the early city sections, I was encouraged to see about 50 others choosing this start time, but they all turned out to be runners so by the time we got to Victoria park (½ mile) I couldn’t see anyone and that was pretty much how it remained for the next 100 miles.
Once the weather turned wet and windy on Saturday night any chance of a good time went and it just became a mental war of attrition to ensure I finished, and I think if I hadn’t been doing this event in support of Oxfordshire Mind, my will power might of let me down, but remembering how much kind and generous support I had been shown (plus contemplating the embarrassment of having to explain failing to complete the distance) kept me going. Watching many other participants retire along the way, knowing they were off to a hot shower and bed was not easy.
So thank you very much for all of your generosity, kind words of encouragement and support it definitely kept me going.
This site will remain open until the beginning of July so hopefuly we can further improve on a truly fantastic effort so far, for what is a really deserving cause much in need of support.
For those coming onto this site for the first time this is a little bit about me and my fund raising event.
My name is Paul Bobby and I'm a keen long distant walker. I've decided that after many years of walking for my own pleasure (although some would question how walking 100 miles can be described as pleasurable?) I would like to mark reaching 50 in 2012 by trying to raise some money for a good cause. My chosen charity, Oxfordshire Mind, is a local mental health organisationwhich is close to my heart. Like so many other charities in current times Oxfordshire Mind is finding it tough to raise funds and has been hit with ongoing funding cuts.
I have entered the LDWA Annual 100 mile event which traditionally tends to be held in venues like the Scottish Highlands, Yorkshire Dales or the Shropshire hills where last years event was held. However this year in an effort to help promote long distance walking to the widest possible audience the LDWA (Long Distance Walkers Association) is aiming to make the most of the 2012 Olympics being held in London and will start the 2012 walk in London close to the Olympic Park and finish via a rather convoluted route (which takes in a number of landmarks and Olympic venues) in Windsor Great Park. For further information on the event and the LDWA the following link will take you to the event website www.ldwa.org.uk/2012Hundred
The objective of the event, being held on the Jubilee weekend at the beginning of June, is to complete the 100 mile course within a 48 hour timescale. While England's south east cannot offer the greater hills of some recent LDWA 100s, the 2012 route includes some 10,000 ft of ascent and descent, so is no pushover.
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
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. However if have got a traditional sponsorship form so you can see me in person and pledge your support that way or send a cheque made payable to "Oxfordshire Mind" to 100 Miles for Mind, Oxfordshire Mind, 2 Kings Meadow, Osney Mead, Oxford OX2 0DP
So please dig deep and donate if you can.
Many thanks! Paul Bobby ;o)