RONDJE NOORDZEE
Echo
22 maart 2007
My ticket to ride
By Bernie Friend
My mum, Marylyn, was a fit woman of 56, full of zest and should have been looking forward to the best years of her life.
Then she began to mix-up her words. Within eight weeks of being diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour she died - on February 17, 2006.
She missed my wedding by a few months and her chance of ever holding her future grandchildren.
But it gets worse.
My mother-in-law Marion West, even younger at 52, died of the same disease a few months ago.
You couldn't make it up if you tried. I always believed this sort of thing only happens to other people, but I learnt the hard way that's just not true.
So to do something for charity, I have decided to attempt to cycle 6,000km along the North Sea Cycle route and raise money for Cancer Research UK.
It is the longest signposted coastal path in the world.
Crossing from Harwich, I will pedal through the flat polders of the Netherlands, climb up through sausage hungry Germany, pass the blonde bombshells of Denmark, Sweden and Norway, before crossing back to mainland Great Britain via the stepping stones of Shetland and Orkney.
My perfect circle ends where it started in Harwich and hopefully having legs the size of tree trunks on my return will be as big a bonus as the thousands of pounds, euros and kroner I hope to raise for the charity.
Don't worry if you're out of breath just reading about my plans, the second leg of the trip, John O'Groats back to Harwich, is easy as it's all downhill on the map - freewheeling heaven, believe me!
So now you know why it is important to me to get out there and do something to help ensure that in the years ahead the loved ones of other families may have a better fighting chance than my nearest and dearest.
It is going to be difficult doing this, especially as I am the most homesick person in the puniverse, and my mates have already started a sweepstake plotted around my premature bailing out.
But not this time lads!
The only inspiration I will need on this three month expedition is the bravery those two women demonstrated throughout the greatest fight of their lives.
Never moaning, always smiling - if they could be that rock solid then I can get a sore bumper in their memory.
I set off on April 10 and aim to write a book about my adventure - Cycling Back to Happiness - which will be another ambition fulfilled.
Published through Pen Press, this is a royalty based arrangement, so I am having to finance the whole expedition myself.
Inspired by an episode of Dawson's Creek - Pacey Witter scrambled around town trying to get donations from shops so the teen soap's main man Dawson could make a film and get a shot at Hollywood - I wrote begging letters asking for aid to fulfil my writing dream.
I'm pleased to say I have been successful on the kit front with Leigh businesses Richardsons Cycles and Top Gear clothing both coming up trumps, along with Hadleigh estate agents Brown & Brand and cycling clothing firm Altura also doing their bit.
Erik Richardson has also been a great help on the technical side, making sure I know which parts of the bike to oil and just where to rub the Vaseline when the going gets tough.
But I could still do with some extra cash to help me pay for vital items on the road, like food (although I could come back a trendy size zero) and any kindly benefactors can call me on 07719 646479.
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