Why When Where and How...

It is nearly 20 years since my dad died and I am doing this ride for him.
I am riding from Lands End to John O Groats, about 900 miles unaided & solo over 8 days.

Monday 20th of June is the start date. FOUR WEEKS ON MONDAY !!!!!! GULP !!!!

I will be raising money for these 3 charities.

Please donate here: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RichardOwen

Hope House Children's Hospice http://www.hopehouse.org.uk/home.html

Awe inspiring work by these care professionals.

This is from their website to let you know more of the wonderful work they do.
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Hope House Children's Hospices - Hope House at Oswestry and Tŷ Gobaith at Conwy - provide care and support to life-limited children, young people and their families from Shropshire, Cheshire, North and Mid Wales.

A range of services is offered, including respite and end-of-life care at the hospices and/or within the family home, and support such as counselling, advocacy and the promotion of children, young people's and carers' rights.

Children, young people and family members are welcomed into a friendly, homely environment, with the child or young person at the centre. The support offered includes physical, psychological and spiritual care from a team including experienced doctors, nurses and other care professionals. Support is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The service offered is informal, but always professional. Staff at Hope House Children's Hospices respect the cultural and spiritual beliefs and backgrounds of all ethnic groups and take steps to ensure care is accessible and acceptable to all service users, staff and the wider community. We are fully committed to the reality of diversity and wish to support all who need us, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, class or age.

Bereavement support is offered to all children, young people, family members and others involved with the family. This is according to the family's wishes and continues for as long as needed. Bereavement support and counselling is also offered to families in the wider community who have lost a child through any illness or trauma. This support can also be given to children and young people who have experienced a death of someone close in traumatic circumstances.

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Help For Heroes http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/

We are so proud of and love our armed forces, this charity is a support for the heroes who need that bit more than others with what they have had to cope with.

This is from their website to let you know more of the wonderful work they do.
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Our mission is to deliver an enduring national network of support for our wounded and their families. We will inspire and enable those who have made sacrifices on our behalf to achieve their full potential.

In the 12 months leading up to March 2015 we have helped over 4,000 Veterans and military personnel - and their families - through our network of Recovery Centres.

The war in Afghanistan may be over, but for those who have suffered life-changing injuries, their battles are just beginning.

We've estimated that, of the 220,560 individuals deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq between 2001 and 2014, up to 75,000 servicemen and women (and their families) may need our support in the future. We will not let them fight these battles alone.

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Kenyan Schools Project http://www.kenyanschoolsproject.co.uk/

A local husband and wife team who do inspirational work for young people in Africa. They raise money and get sponsorships for schools and orphanages in Kenya. They help build, equip and restock the educational needs of children whose only wish in life is to get an education.

This is from their website to let you know more of the wonderful work they do.

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We are a husband and wife team (Bill & Lynn Morris) who travel to Kenya twice a year to help young children and babies in schools and orphanages in Kenya. Since 2004 we have raised over £80,000, donated everything from desks and scholastic equipment to electricity and new classrooms! For more information about what we have done, check out the history page or to see how to donate, watch the video.

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Please donate here: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RichardOwen

I will keep posting on this blog of stories of the training and preparation leading up to the day.

Thank you so much

Wish me luck !!!

Rich xx