News travels fast when you’re on Facebook. I was on a high speed train to London when my phone rang. It was a radio presenter friend asking if I would be willing in principle to live report into his show from the C2C.
Of course. Good publicity for the two charities I am supporting – Riding Lights Theatre Company and the Funzi and Bodo Trust.
More news once the radio slots are confirmed.
Give to Riding Lights
Give to The Funzi and Bodo Trust
I know it will rain and I will toil up a steep drenched track against a head wind wondering why I’m doing it. But I love the feeling of just me and a bike pitched against the elements in some remote corner of Britain. This year it’s a route from Sea to Sea – Whitehaven to Sunderland. On the way it winds 140 miles through The Lake District and over the Pennines.
I’ve set myself three days to complete it so that there’s time to enjoy the ride and stop at the odd tea room or two on the way. I leave Cumbria on June 23rd and arrive at the North Sea June 25th 2010.
But the real reason for the challenge is to raise money for two good causes.
I am a trustee of Riding Lights Theatre Company in York. A professional company that depends largely on the donations of its many members. To donate to them click this link C2CforRLTC
In the remote villages of Funzi and Bodo in Kenya people are threatened by a serious outbreak of cholera. Some have already died. The Funzi and Bodo Trust, which is run by Ashley Peatfield – an old colleague from the BBC, has been active in the area for some time. They have already provided a school and medical centre. Recently they have expanded the medical centre and increased the staff to combat the cholera outbreak and treat the people living there. Your sponsorship of my ride will provide funds for that charity. To donate click here C2CFunziBodo
I will be updating these pages as I train and during the ride so keep checking back.
delicious thoughts for May 18th from 14:16 to 14:16:
delicious thoughts for May 17th from 09:36 to 09:36:
Gordon Brown has done more than a good job. He guided not only the UK but also large parts of the economic world at a time when financial structures of our society were undermined by unscrupulous bankers and money dealers. He was a man who genuinely believed he could make things better for everyone through justice, fairness and good judgement. Sadly he was unable to convince enough of the British electorate that he should remain in office and at the election he failed to secure enough seats to stay at No. 10.
So tonight Gordon went to Buckingham Palace and offered The Queen his resignation, followed with almost indecent haste by David Cameron, summoned to take his place.
We don’t yet know if David Cameron can command a working majority to form a government. The Liberal Democrats have yet to ratify the deal that their leaders are believed to have brokered with the Conservatives. We will have to wait and see if Mr Cameron, the new Prime Minister, can keep the first promise he has just made to The Queen.
I’m not comfortable with the future but I am comfortable about the past 13 years of Labour rule. There have been mistakes – some significant ones – but there has also been progress. Many of our public services are in much better shape than they were when Tony Blair first stepped into Downing Street in 1997. This seems like a good place to thank Tony and Gordon for enduring the years of pressure in leadership as they stood on the bridge of the good ship UK.