USA 2011 - Time to start saving!

For the past month I've been thinking of ways of how I can fund the up and coming big run across the USA.  As per usual, every penny of sponsorship will be passed on to the charities.  So the "Tour Fund" will come out of my own pocket once again. 

My missus, Katy, got the Tour Fund underway with a generous contribution but that still leaves me with the prospect of finding a few more quid between now and 2011!  At this moment in time, I'm uncertain as to how much the Tour Fund needs to be.  I'm aiming for £15,000 though.  If, I can subsequently raise £50,000 for charity by doing the actual run it will be money well spent.  If I don't manage to raise anywhere near that amount but successfully complete the 3100 mile trip then it will still be money well spent.

In June, I started cycling to and from work on various days.   It's a 17 mile trip and is an ideal opportunity to not only boost my fitness but to bank the saved petrol money (£5 per journey).  This plan has got off to a great start, as for the 3 weeks I cycled in June, I put £55 towards the Tour Fund.  Although it's uncertain where I'll be working over the next 3 years, I'm aiming to raise £3,000 of the Tour Fund by replacing car journeys with bike rides.  The Tour Fund wins, my fitness wins, the environment wins, everyone wins!

I'll be getting my thinking cap on over the coming weeks with some more ideas to boost the Tour Fund.  Watch this space!

50 thousand not out!

People's generosity never ceases to amaze me!  The Pennine Challenge fund has nudged the all time total raised to just short of £50,000!  Upon seeing this, one of the running team, Carlton Fletcher (pictured), put his hand in his pocket for The Children's Foundation and promptly got the all time total raised to £50,000!!!!  What an unbelievable milestone!  

As I said yesterday, there are so many people to thank for helping get the amount to £50,000.   Of course, the latest set of folk are the Pennine Challenge Team and all of this year's sponsors.  Here's to the next £50,000!

Those kind folk at the BBC Tyne website have posted an updated article about the Pennine Challenge.  It can be viewed here.

Another fund update!

This year's total for The Children's Foundation currently stands at £1110!  We are aiming to present the cheque in August.  It's nice to say that we have exceeded the original target of £1,000. 

I have taken the liberty of updating the "Amounts raised over the years" total on the right hand side of this page.  It is just a little bit short of £50,000!!!  When I think back, there have been so many generous people involved in contributing to that total.  And just like the Pennine Challange Team this year, there are so many people responsible for getting sponsored and helping to raise that amount.   I couldn't have done it on my own!  

Steven - He WILL be back!!!

Young Steven Moore (left) was seen hobbling and limping around work today. With a boozing holiday abroad to look forward to next week, it seems that he won't be able to put on much of a show on the dance floor.

Steven will see a physio and have an MRI scan as soon as possible to fully assess the damage and plan his rehabilitation.

Steven commented earlier today "I should be in a lot more pain than I am given last night's diagnosis".   I think the fact that he was injured "in the line of duty" and "for a good cause" is making his immediate lack of mobility easier for him to accept.

Just like fellow charity hero Michael Dunn (right) last year, there'll be a long road to recovery but I suspect we haven't seen the last of Steven on the fundraising circuit.  As regular readers know, Michael sustained a similar injury 12 months ago on the same route. Knee surgery was performed only 6 weeks ago and against all odds he was able to join the 2008 Pennine Challenge team and do his bit for the cause.

Once all funds have been collected, I'll be hoping to arrange a cheque presentation to the Children's Foundation. I can think of no better personnel to do the honours than young Steven representing the runners and Michael representing the cyclists.

FUND UPDATE!!!!

It's not all bad news this evening as the fund has exceeded £1000!!!  An application will be made to the Northern Rock Foundation to have this matched.  Hopefully, that will mean that over £2000 will be on it's way to The Children's Foundation.  Thanks go to all sponsors for their pledges and in particular Jimmy Bell who, today, made a very generous donation indeed.

INJURY UPDATE!!!!!

It looks like this unforgiving 22 mile route has claimed it's second victim in as many years! News from Steven Moore's medical team is not good! "Torn cruciate, torn meniscus and subluxation of the kneecap" was the verdict on Steven's well being! More news tomorrow as I get it.

What did you make of that Alan?

This year's Pennine Challenge was not just a tale of ordinary people doing extraordinary things in extremely difficult conditions all for a local good cause and against all the odds. What I was honoured to be part of was so much more than that. You just had to be part of it to appreciate the amazing journey that this merry band of runners and cyclists made over 2 days.

I make no apologies for sounding sensational and over the top. Absolutely no way! For what I witnessed over 2 days deserves this kind of banter.

While we're on, let's chuck a few more superlatives in there and so deservedly get away with it. Let's say, for instance, if Alan Hansen were to give his opinions about the gruelling challenge on Match of The Day he would throw about words such as "Courage", "Heart", "Power", "Pace", "Resilience", "Strength" and "Dedication". It would be at this point that Alan Shearer would quip at "How the lads never gave in" and "deserved every accolade".

That wily old Scot, Hansen, would retort by saying how well organised we were at the back, how good our engine was in midfield and how lethal we were up front. That would just about sum up the 2008 Pennine Challenge Team of Michael Dunn, Ian Glasgow, Jim Patterson,  Steven Moore, Jonathan Dixon, Mark Cass, Carlton Fletcher and yours truly, Mark Allison.

Like any good team, we dug in when we had to! And when we dug in, we did it together as one unit.

For the most part, we never underestimated the opposition. For you underestimate this particular route in the North Pennines at your absolute peril. Sure enough, we had our low points. We had our injuries and setbacks. The team that was ultimately put out there to get a result didn't resemble the one in the lead up to the big weekend. For one reason or another the team chopped and changed.

But the team just went out there, played to a game plan and got the required result. We played a blinder really!

Of course, I should mention that every good team needs good support. And boy did we have good support. They were there just when we needed them, almost every step of the way. They fetched, carried, cheered, fed, watered, encouraged and provided for our every need. The support team were our ultimate reassurance. We knew that in difficult times they were just around the corner. (albeit that the corner was sometimes at the top of a steep hill!). We knew that we would be able to go out there and perform at our highest levels, safe in the knowledge that they would back us all the way, no questions asked! Ladies and Gentlemen, I pay tribute to the roadside supporters - Mandy Baker, Katy Allison and the legend that is John Brettell. Although, as legendary as John is, he can't work a camera all that well! Which is why the shots came out in black and white! And you thought we were just being artistic!!

Tune in soon for the remainder of the Pennine Challenge 2008 review!

The Pennine Challenge in pictures (Part 8)

Me (Mark Allison) at the finish line in Middleton-in-Teesdale

The Pennine Challenge in pictures (Part 7)

Carlton Fletcher and Mark Cass reach the finish line in Middleton-in-Teesdale.

The Pennine Challenge in pictures (Part 6)

Carlton Fletcher and Mark Cass at the 19 mile point.