subject: John Chick 10000k Challenge [print this page] The 10,000k challenge is the first ever attempt to cycle the 10,000 kilometres from the Welsh capital, Cardiff, to the Turkish capital, Istanbul (and back!) and in so doing raise 10,000 for two Welsh charities.
Friday, 20 Apr 2012, From Cardiff to Istanbul and back
Le Grand Depart is scheduled for Friday April 20th from The National Assembly office in Cardiff Bay. It would be great to arrange a press call for this set off on an incredible adventure.
In Johns own words
Good news is that weve over 300 Facebook followers, 100+ Twitter followers and weve raised almost 5,000! Bad news is I havent exactly started training yet! Eddie Izzard in running around the UK though built up to a marathon every day after hed started actually doing the run. I think Im going to follow that approach and build up slowly to 100km a day.
Weve had great sponsorship recently from local and not so local companies Hapus Ice Cream from Machen, Spontaneous Webdesign from Bridgend, Axis Leasing from Llandeilo, The Preservation Society from Chepstow, and further afield from Bike2power in the States and Brittany ferries from, err, Brittany. Big thanks to the great people at these companies whove helped us out.
Cycling from Cardiff to Istanbul and back may not be something that most sane people would consider, Ill admit. however, after a succession of relatives and friends fell prey to cancer, I decided that the only thing I could do to help was to raise money for charities that fight the disease. Being the build that I am, cycling or running a long way seemed the obvious thing to do. Running to Istanbul seemed excessive and so from April next year I will be taking a five month career break, to raise money for Velindre Cancer Centre and also Ty Hafan Childrens Hospice (as I wanted to raise money for a childrens charity as well). I chose Istanbul simply because it was as far across Europe as I could get (and no, it wasnt supposed to be Ynysybwl, as someone asked).
After hows the training going? the question that Ive been asked most often so far has been what was your wifes reaction? Well, after Id casually thrown the idea into a conversation in the pub (and subsequently picked her up off the floor through the shock, not the drink) I gradually wore her down so that she agreed that yes, me a setting off for a 6 month holiday the week after our twenty fifth wedding anniversary was in fact a really good idea
The initiative is marketed (and thats a very loose interpretation of the word), under the name of the 10,000k challenge around 10,000 kilometres being the distance I would have to cycle. This then led me to decide on the basis of nothing whatsoever other than that the figure was the same that I would try and raise 10,000.
I am already wondering whether Ive rather over reached myself in terms of the target as I really dont know how Im going to raise that amount. That said, the response from work colleagues at the National Assembly has been superb, everyone has been completely positive giving words of encouragement or offering practical support. Weve spent August raising awareness by getting our social media sites up and running (see below), and planning a succession of fund raising events for the rest of the year, from public speaking events, to bag packing at supermarkets, stands at village fares, street collections, CD sales, selling merchandise etc.
Peacock Media Group are supporting John via social media and press in order to support this challenge that is very close to their hearts.
We were amazed at Johns sheer will and determination with this monumental challenge he is to take on. When we asked John if he had ever ridden professionally his answer was no. So with a raised eyebrow we moved onto Hows the training going?. To which John answered I havent really started training. With that we stopped writing and he quickly explained (with the most laid back approach) that he had been riding his bike to and from work every day which is 25 miles. He aims to do 75 miles a day and he has the whole day to do that, which he viewed was quite a simple task.
John has been adamant from the moment he set his mind to do the 10,000K Challenge that not a single penny from sponsorship would go to his expenditure or time off work and has self funded this.
With celebrities like Nathan Cleverly and Sam Warburton backing John he clearly has inspired some incredible Welsh sports stars already with his integrity and drive.
John is one man starting an epic challenge on the 20th April 2012 - below two sports superstars take on a challenge with the support of huge corporate sponsors only 3 days after John sets off:
Mon, 23 Apr 2012, From Olympia in Greece to the Olympic Park in East London
On St George's day next year, April 23rd, Freddie will join Lawrence Dallaglio and embark on an epic charity cycle raising vital funds for the AF Foundation.
The full ride is 3,120 Km's with an average of 137km cycled per day., starting in Greece, through the Chianti wine regions of Western Italy, across the Dolomites towards St. Moritz before arriving into France and crossing the Channel to head for the Olympic Park Stadium, some 28 days later on 19th May.
