MEXICO COAST TO COAST Cycle Challenge
Every other year I undertake a cycle challenge for a charity. I have cycled for Mencap and Guide Gogs for the Blind in Australia, Egypt and New Zealand. In February 2004 I am going to ride for Macmillan Cancer Relief with a group starting at Alvarado on the Atlantic coast, over the Sierra Madre to Puerto Escondido on the Pacific, a total of over 600 kilometres and the toughest ride yet. By far the hardest part for me was raising the minimum of £2,700 required by Macmillan.
At least 64% of your donation will benefit the charity directly Macmillan provides immediate and practical support, which changes the lives of people affected by cancer.
I offered a Prize Draw, the prizes being animals that would be found in Mexico. 1st prize was a startled armadillo worth over £400. 2nd prize, a lizard and 3rd prize, a snake.

I have always enjoyed the efficiency of cycling especially living in London where traffic moves relatively slowly most of the time. It's the best form of transport if you don't have much to carry and if it's not raining! In recent years. I have become interested in more ambitious rides with the trips organised by various charities. The hardest part is raising the sponsorship money which for these far flung destinations is usually in the £2000/£3000 region.

I have always enjoyed the efficiency of cycling especially living in London where traffic moves relatively slowly most of the time. It's the best form of transport if you don't have much to carry and if it's not raining! In recent years. I have become interested in more ambitious rides with the trips organised by various charities. The hardest part is raising the sponsorship money which for these far flung destinations is usually in the £2000/£3000 region. In 1999 I rode from Canberra to Sydney in the Great Australia ride with Mencap. It was an really interesting ride mostly on bush tracks, well organised camping , catering and facilities. In 2000 also with Mencap I took part in the Nile Ride, this was less enjoyable because we all got sick but I managed to ride all the way!
cyclist On the most recent in February 2002 along with 40 other cyclists I rode from Christchurch to Queenstown in New Zealand. It was a sponsored ride to raise funds for Guide Dogs for the blind. It was the last of three NZ trips organised by them and in total raised around £250,000 . sunset at Punakaiki beach
I managed to raise £2756.50 by offering some of my work in a Prize Draw. The first prize of a seal was won by J.M.Game of Balham who was really thrilled, she said she had never won any thing before. The second prize, a speckled rocking chicken went to Lisa Gee from Worksop, and third prize, an articulated fish was won by Nichola Noakes from London..

The ride itself was a fantastic experience. There was a head wind on the first day which I found really difficult but the rest of the trip was really enjoyable, nothing too arduous except perhaps the Lindis Pass. The organisers in particular, Sebastian and Lyneke were great, really nice people and I made some friends amongst the riders in particular Paul Mettam and Sara Eddy. A warm welcome from Sylvia who lives in Geraldine, the first stop on the ride
Evening at Lake Tekapo Sylvia Parsloe who is a fellow toymaker and trained under John Gould at the London College of Furniture, lives in Geraldine, the destination of the first days riding. She gave me a warm NZ welcome and showed me round the area.and her lovely home.