Thanks to ‘blogs’ and GPS (global positioning systems) you can be a part of a 9-day dash from Land's End to John O'Groats. Just sit and watch and be pleased it's not your knees going round and round, or contribute at www.simonberry.net
Starting on 29 May, Simon Berry, the Chief Executive of ruralnet|uk, will attempt a 9-day bike-athon from Land's End to John O'Groats to raise money for the charity's Participation Fund.
The Participation Fund will provide free support to people involved in rural voluntary action. It will give volunteers free access to ruralnet|uk's online services (Experts Online, xPRESS Digest and many others) and enable more community activists to participate in ruralnet|uk's annual conference.
So what could you contribute? The bike-athon is divided into 16 stages - of around 60 miles each. You might know one of these like the back of your hand and be willing to give advice. It couldn't be simpler: just visit www.simonberry.net, click on the 'comment' link, and type your views. You might want to get some exercise and join the 'Participation Ride' for one or more stages. You might be able to put Simon up for a night or know someone who can. You might be inclined to sponsor Simon, or a friend who joins the ride: make a pledge by email or text, or click on the 'Make A Donation' button or send a cheque.
Simon is keeping a blog (an online diary) of the whole experience. The tortuous preparation can be followed at www.simonberry.net with full details of the 16 stages of the route and the hills on the way. The plan is to maintain the blog during the ride so that supporters can share the experiences of a long distant cyclist through the video clips, full GPS data and photos he takes along the route.
Over 9 days Simon and any companions up to the challenge will cover around 950 miles and pass through 96 towns from Bridestow through Bromyard to Brora. Simon plans to cruise into John O'Groats on his 50th birthday on 6 June. It will then take two days to get back to his home town of Rugby (by train) where the celebrations will start.
Be a part of the Participation Ride - visit www.simonberry.net
Editors notes
1. ruralnet|uk is a rural regeneration charity (no 1089238) pioneering innovative uses of ICT for the benefit of rural communities. See: www.ruralnetuk.org/index.htm
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