Tuesday, 8 June 2010
Five brave staff members from Hearing Dogs for Deaf People are about to set off on a 196 mile bike ride from the northern centre in Yorkshire to the southern centern centre in Buckinghamshire. The race (sorry...the sponsored ride...we're not at all competitive) will kick off at 9.30am on 11th June. As this is also the birthday of one of the riders it will be essential that all involved eat cake at every opportunity throughout the day.
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Good luck to everyone! I'll be providing tea and cake in the support van.
ReplyDeleteHearing Dogs Staff Embark on North to South Bike Ride
ReplyDeleteOn Friday 11 June, staff from national charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People will be undertaking a 195 mile ‘North to South’ bike ride between the Beatrice Wright Training Centre in Bielby, Yorkshire to The Grange, the charity’s Saunderton headquarters in Buckinghamshire. The ‘North to South’ bike ride is intended to raise awareness of the charity and its work, as well as to raise much needed funds, as Ian Ford, CEO of Hearing Dogs explains:
‘Staff from Hearing Dogs are taking part in this bike ride to raise funds and awareness of the work we do. There are nearly seven million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK and hearing loss can affect people in a variety of ways. Hearing Dogs trains dogs to alert deaf people to specific sounds, whether in the home, workplace or public buildings and the dogs we train provide a vital lifeline for them’.
The bike ride rounds off Hearing Dogs Week which launched on 6 June at the charity’s Summer Fair. Taking part in the ride are various staff from Hearing Dogs including one couple on a tandem. Ian goes on to say:
‘‘We are all looking forward to the ride and hope that while on route we will be able to raise the profile of the charity. We’re hoping for good weather too!’‘
The bike ride starts on Friday 11 June from the Beatrice Wright Training Centre in Yorkshire and goes through Howden, Goole, Retford, Markham Moor, Southwell, Melton Mowbray, Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough, Milton Keynes, Bletchley, Aylesbury and finishes at the Hearing Dogs HQ in Saunderton on Sunday 13 June.
If you would like to support the staff taking part, please donate via www.justgiving.com/HDBikeRide. Alternatively, if you would be interested in taking on a challenge on behalf of Hearing Dogs, please email events@hearingdogs.org.uk for your personalised support pack
10:30 and the team are all here at Bielby.
ReplyDeleteKirstin and family last to arrive, which was a pity as the rest of us have eaten her birthday cake! Only a day and a bit early.
Grey and cloudy start to the day, but no rain, yet!
ReplyDeleteHope you all have a brilliant time! Fingers crossed for good weather for you all!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to Kirstin for tomorrow! Take care, Hannah xx
Good Luck to you all and Happy Birthday to Kirstin. I will be sending positive energy to you - use it wisely!!!
ReplyDeleteShame about the cake Kirstin - Happy Birthday anyway! Good luck everyone - keep pedalling, you can do it !
ReplyDeleteDay one done and dusted and no problems, started grey ended bright and sunny.
ReplyDeleteOff for a Chinese now and ready for a fight to get team member Max in?!
Bright start to Day Two, so more sunburned noses!
ReplyDeletePS. Max enjoyed his Chinese, after a few questions getting him in at the start - thought he'd frighten the children in there?!
Day 2 finished - long (9.5 hours) hot and far hillier than we thought it was going to be. Went through some great villages, including getting caught up in a beer festival, which helped the fundraising no end!
ReplyDeleteYou are all on the homeward straits now ..keep going! David & Jackie
ReplyDeleteLast day now, keep going everyone...
ReplyDeleteMaybe there will be cake at the other end too!
No cake at the end!
ReplyDeleteBut everyone involved, riders and helpers, all very pleased with a great three days, its been a really enjoyable time, seen parts of Britain we never knew existed and will have raised the target we'd set ourselves.
Its also been a great learning experience as to how it could be modified for next year!
If we do the same route next year please note it was 212 miles not 185 as advertised...
Well done to all involved and thanks to all those who have suppported us - its still not too late to contribute!
Kirstin here...my overall impression is that it was an incredibly enjoyable experience and no where near as taxing as I had imagined. The country side was beautiful and the motorists were very considerate (assuming they were honking in support!) If you're thinking about doing it next year but have reservations...get rid of them and get on your bike. I loved every minute.
ReplyDeleteThe terrain on day one was pretty flat and easy going, day two was hilly but not too punishing (although my thighs were definately objecting at 2am), day three was a mix.
I highly recommend downing a couple if caffine injected electrolyte shot blocks before attempting the hills...it's really is quite a buzz.
We were very lucky and had great weather all the way, a few burnt noses and arms but not too hot and definately not cold. Just a light breeze to keep us refreshed.
The villages were a highlight (possible more so for me as we have nothing like them in Australia). Thanks to the lovely people in Beckingham who fed us decent coffee and donated money and the lovely people on their bikes with 4 pints under their belt, bet you had a great afternoon! And all you crazy beer festival folk sardined into old fashined buses with plastic pint cups oveflowing with beer.
Most of all thanks to the other riders and support crew, such a happy bunch of people, makes me proud to be British...well at least it would if I were British. It was a perfect three days, I loved it!