The Team
Ian Dowling (aka Chris Hoy)
Although the ride gives me the chance to complete one of the many challenges of life I felt that it was an appropriate time to raise some cash for a local charity. I picked the village hall as my cause as the hall is an integral part of our village life. It is used by all age groups from pre-school, brownies, yoga groups, Pilates, lunch clubs and for parties. There are many village halls closing up and down the country due to increases in fuel bills and insurance costs. Without our hall there is nowhere for local events to take place.
Since emigrating from the great smoke six years ago my family and I have always been made to feel like part of the village and have been included from day one. As a way of a thank you to the residents of the village I feel that by raising this money I would be able to contribute something back to a small community that has accepted us into the local way of life. All monies raised will go to the Village Hall. Please give generously.
Mark Whitaker (aka Lance)
So why I am blistering my buttocks for 8 days in June, 2007?
Having had dodgy knees for most of my life (too much running as a youngster), cycling has been one of the few sports which doesn't leave me feeling the need to walk on crutches for the next month. Having watched the Tour de France for as long as I can remember, the idea of being able to eat, sleep, and cycle like a pro for eight whole days, whilst raising money for local causes is something which in sporting terms is hard to beat. The idea of doing LEJOG was set for one of those things to do when one retires, but why wait.
I have decided to raise money for two local registered charities which have an enourmous influence on my family and of the residents of Bussage, Chalford, Eascombe and Brownshill in Stroud, Gloucestershire. Like with many local causes they often get overlooked by the "national charities" and are left by the way side relying on local funds.
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Ridgeway Playgroup is a community playgroup which operates four mornings a week from Bussage village hall. The playgroup accomodates children from all across the parish of all abilities aged between 2 year 6 months and school age. For many of the children this is the first time that they are apart from their parents and their first gentle introduction to education. My aim is to raise funds for the group to be able to purchase a quantity of play bikes for the children to enjoy and to get them in training for 2012! |
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St.Micheal and All angels church like the playgroup is set in Bussage. Both my children have been baptised at the church, which is reliant on the good will of the local community. The upkeep of the church costs many thousands of pounds anually (with no government grants). I know any fund raising is much appreciated and they would welcome any donation (no matter how small) to help keep this church both open and well maintained. |
Alex Lattimore (aka Hincapie)
"I am raising funds for the Watershed Riding for the Disabled Group based at Coates near to Cirencester. The group are hoping to go away from the 22nd to the 28th September 2007 to a youth hostel in Pembrokeshire. They will be riding at a well known trekking stable at Nolton Haven and apart from the chance to ride on the beach they will also have the opportunity to do some walking and climbing. The group will consist of 7 disabled adults who wouldn't otherwise have a holiday and 7 helpers. The cost will be between £2000 and £3000 as the helpers will be funding themselves.
Having helped the Watershed RDA with rides in the local area I've seen how much benefit the disabled riders take from these type of activities".
James Gresswell (aka Miguel)
Mark says ' Fancy doing Le-Jog in June mate?" ....i say....."Yeah Cool why not...it will be fun...over how many weeks??" .......Mark Says......" 9 Days. Dude"......i say...."DOHHHH!!!".
So here i am about two weeks short of the off and i im aching all over from the training for Le-Jog .....and im not doing half as much as i should be. I know im going die!!! So why do this.....
September 2nd 2006 was an extremely tragic day for RAF Kinloss. I came off the golf course that sunny saturday afternoon to see a dozen missed calls on my mobile and that just as many voicemail messages had been left. On hearing the voicemails it became apparent that 14 of my colleagues had lost their lives in the loss of the 'Nimrod MR2 XV230' that went down near Kandahar, Afghanistan. I myself am aircrew and also fly aboard the Nimrod MR2 based at RAF Kinloss and have done so since 1999. It therefore came as huge loss to myself and many others when we realised the loss of the guys from 'Crew 3 120 Squadron'. My effort will therefore be dedicated to the lost souls of 'Nimrod MR2 XV230' and all proceeds I raise will go towards the RAF Widows Association. This charity was established after Gulf War 1 , in 1994, an aims to provide support, friendship and practical advice to those that have lost there husbands who died whilst serving the Royal Air Force.
Also, Mark AKA Lance (he wishes!!!) and I have been best buddies since the young and tender age of 7 but despite joining the RAF and moving to the North of Scotland he still wont take the hint, so im resigned to the fact that he's going to be a life long pal. We covered many a mile on the bikes when we were younger but what with the coming of age and the discovery girls and beer (IE: Sat nights) our promising cycling glory days ceased. So to just to be able to ride the bike alongside my best pal for the first time in nigh on 15 years, to once more climb the absolute beast of hills that we used to do with such regularity, to do this with a pal thats been with me through thick and thin, a pal thats as good as they come.............will make all the pain all worthwhile.......almost!!!!!!!
Support Crew
Steve Dempsey (aka Geezer)
Hello my name is Geezer. I don’t know what this bunch is up to but a nice drive up the country will do me fine. I fancy trying some of that whisky stuff and some haggis and bits. So the best way of getting there is to watch four blokes trying to kill themselves riding up some of the steepest hills they can find. Hopefully nothing will go wrong and we’ll make in about 9 days. Any more than that and it’s interrupting my drinking time so they’ll be playing catch up. Wish them all well and make sure you sponsor them loads of cash ‘cos it’s all for a good cause…. Wouldn’t catch me dead on a bike…..bloody idiots……see ya when I get back…..
Dan Hawes (aka Neo)
Quietly wishing I was riding rather than supporting this ride probably seems a little odd, so why not ride? For health reasons I am currently unable to, so I will be supporting. To be able to help the guys achieve what is, and will no doubt prove to be, a massive challenge, is, going to be a challenge in itself knowing this lot. I will also discover the true nature of the madness I am putting myself up for when eventually I do get to ride; if I've not gone and changed my mind having done all this. Besides which, leaving them on their own to sort out a website is just complete madness.