Virtual Bike Trip To Rome, NHS and Marriage Care
Donation protected
After I completed a cycle ride from Carlisle to Edinburgh for Marriage Care and SANDS in 2018, I DID say I would take up another challenge.
Well now I'm in "lock down" and have been feeling pretty useless in the middle of this crisis just because I joined the ranks of the over 70s in February.
On Easter Sunday I was watching first Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury and then Pope Francis give their Easter addresses and I suddenly had my "Road to Damascus " moment. It just hit me. I need to escape lockdown, jump on the bike and get going on my pilgimage to Rome via Canterbury and raise funds along the way for two very worthy causes - the NHS and Marriage Care.
Why the NHS? For the simple reason that NHS staff are trying to save our lives while risking losing theirs. It's all very well for people like me to stay at home safely - they are true heros and heroines and we'll never be able to repay them for their dedication skill and commitment.
Why Marriage Care? Because I'm a volunteer, Head of the Carlisle Centre and Chair of the Finance Committee for the National Trustee Board. Like all charities, our funding has dried up virtually overnight, and yet we know that when this crisis is finally over there will be a massive demand for couples counselling, it will be similar to what happens after the Christmas and summer holidays but I suspect on a much greater scale.
So off I go - the virtual cycle trip of a lifetime - from Carlisle to Rome. It's more than 1,000 miles but like the Government during the C-virus pandemic, I too will be following the science. All my miles will be done on my trainer in the kitchen or in the garden, and famous cyclists have told me that 1 mile on the trainer is worth 2 miles outdoors as there's no freewheeling and downhills in the kitchen.
My route to Calais takes me past family's and friend's homes, Marriage Care's office in Nottingham, Westminster Cathedral and Canterbury Cathedral. The route from Calais to Rome will go by the Euro Velo 5 and probably the Via Francigena, but more of that when I get nearer.
I will update daily and will share my photos of virtual meetings along the way.
Please please support me with a much or as little as you can and share with friends and family.
Well now I'm in "lock down" and have been feeling pretty useless in the middle of this crisis just because I joined the ranks of the over 70s in February.
On Easter Sunday I was watching first Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury and then Pope Francis give their Easter addresses and I suddenly had my "Road to Damascus " moment. It just hit me. I need to escape lockdown, jump on the bike and get going on my pilgimage to Rome via Canterbury and raise funds along the way for two very worthy causes - the NHS and Marriage Care.
Why the NHS? For the simple reason that NHS staff are trying to save our lives while risking losing theirs. It's all very well for people like me to stay at home safely - they are true heros and heroines and we'll never be able to repay them for their dedication skill and commitment.
Why Marriage Care? Because I'm a volunteer, Head of the Carlisle Centre and Chair of the Finance Committee for the National Trustee Board. Like all charities, our funding has dried up virtually overnight, and yet we know that when this crisis is finally over there will be a massive demand for couples counselling, it will be similar to what happens after the Christmas and summer holidays but I suspect on a much greater scale.
So off I go - the virtual cycle trip of a lifetime - from Carlisle to Rome. It's more than 1,000 miles but like the Government during the C-virus pandemic, I too will be following the science. All my miles will be done on my trainer in the kitchen or in the garden, and famous cyclists have told me that 1 mile on the trainer is worth 2 miles outdoors as there's no freewheeling and downhills in the kitchen.
My route to Calais takes me past family's and friend's homes, Marriage Care's office in Nottingham, Westminster Cathedral and Canterbury Cathedral. The route from Calais to Rome will go by the Euro Velo 5 and probably the Via Francigena, but more of that when I get nearer.
I will update daily and will share my photos of virtual meetings along the way.
Please please support me with a much or as little as you can and share with friends and family.
Organizer
Sheila Don
Organizer