I am cycling the Coast to Coast route from Whitehaven to Tynemouth on 21-23 May with a group of about 12 others, a blind date!  The trip is organised by Sustrans, short for Sustainable Transport, www.sustrans.org.uk, and we are all fundraising for the Charity.  The route is 150 miles long, and takes three days.  I wanted to camp, but the organisers are insisting on B/Bs!   The route goes through the hills of the Lake District and over the high points of the northern Pennines; the second day is particularly challenging, going up to over 500m. 

The charity was formed in the mid 1990s, and has been responsible for the huge cycle network that now covers the whole country; the infamous red numbers on blue rectangular signs.  They are now extending their remit to construct safe cycle routes to all schools and colleges in the UK, and most recently to pressurise local authorities for genuine cycle-only lanes, separating cars from bicycles by a proper curb, in the main cities.  Like so many such organisations, their grant from central Government has decreased significantly in the last few years, and the winter rains of the last winter have left a huge backlog of repairs needed to the cycle network, especially in the north of England.  Indeed, part of the C2C route near Keswick was swept away, but we are hoping it will have been repaired by late May.

There are so many worthy charities asking for ££ these days, and many of you will have supported me in previous years for Bloodwise.  I do hope you will feel able to support me again in this act of pure vanity or stupidity; but what else is (partial) retirement for!  I am hoping a target of £750 is attainable.  As usual with JustGiving sites, UK taxpayers can GiftAid.  

To encourage you to deplete my bank account, I am matching all donations £ for £.

Many thanks.   Richard

.