Add on top of this the amounts from Northern Rock staff for the Cairngorm Challenge (13/07/2007) and the Pennine Challenge (22/07/2007) and the total handed over to St Benedict's Hospice this year is £34,108.
There are so many people to thank, but I'd like to single out the following for special praise:
Katy and Jack Allison, Niall and Biffa at nufc.com, The Northern Rock Foundation,
Anne Oliver, Steven "The mackem challenger" Moore,
"Burnley" Keith Riley aka "Jeeves", Owen "Rab C" McMahon,
John Brettell, Jimmy Bell, Ian "The Coach" Glasgow, Mike Lewis,
Aunty Joyce*, Aunty Ada*, Aunty Carol* and their family, Harry and Val Lewis
The Pennine Challenge Team, Newcastle United Football Club, The BBC Tyne website
....finally thanks to all of my sponsors, old and new. It's you lot that keep me motivated and it's your money that goes to such a worthwhile cause.
*not my real aunties, but the best there is!
I'm not one to rest on my laurels so next year promises to be a very busy year! I'm planning on finishing the book during the first half of next year and a very very exciting and unique event is in the planning stages for June 2007. Watch this space! All funds raised next year will go to The Children's Foundation. I've also started to assess the feasibility of running across the USA in 2011. My geography of that huge country is getting better every week as a result!
Finally, I'll draw the blog to a close for this most amazing year by wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year. And speaking of Christmas, I do hope that Father Christmas brings me a new pair of trainers!
