Fundraising Curry Night at Mariners Park

On Friday 27 June 2008 I am hosting a charity fundraising event at Mariners Park in aid of my Enduro Africa charity motorcycle ride in South Africa in October 2008. The money raised will go towards my target of raising £20,000 for charitable causes including NUMAST Welfare Funds. You are all cordially invited to attend (see below for details of how to get tickets) or if would like to donate any prizes for the raffle or auction then please let me know.

The evening will consist of a curry buffet and entertainment plus a raffle, auction and other fundraising (and fun) activities. Tickets will cost £12.50, which includes a donation to the charities, and are available on a first come first served basis from Jackie Wylde in the Wallasey Office (Jwylde@nautilusuk.org). The evening will start at 1930 hours and end at 2300 hours. The drinks will be on a BYO basis but I am also hoping to pick up a few cases of cheap plonk on a planned trip to France in early June so I might also be able to donate a couple of bottles for each table.

Nautilus UK members who live within a 25 mile radius of Nautilus House have also been invited to attend and with assistance from the Industrial Teams I am hoping that there will also be a good turnout from local shipping companies. I am therefore hoping that the evening will also offer an opportunity for company representatives to visit Mariners Park and see what an excellent job the Union does for needy seafarers and their dependents.

Marvellous Marlow Navigation

More good news in today's post bag. Marlow have made a donation to my Enduro Africa fundraising. With everal other pledges in the pipeline I am confident of hitting my target but dont let that stop you giving your support!

Fundraising Update

Döhle in the Isle of Man (God's Country) have come up trumps with a pledge of support. Thanks to Becky and Cliff for that. This takes my total to over £16,000.

Results for the Nautilus UK runners

Mike Jess position 17888, time 4.47:06
Garry Elliott position 20017, time 5.05:39
Mark Dickinson position 21397, time 5.25:21
Steve Doran position 22126, time 5.40:32

Well its over. We did it and despite swearing yesterday in front of witnesses that I'd never run again, today I even said to my wife that I might do it again. Reason? Although I don't know my official time (and hourly checks of the FLM website have not yet yielded the required information) I am pretty sure that I missed my target of under 5 hours. Out of the four Nautilus UK runners Mike Jess and Garry "I am injured" Elliott both put in fantastic runs to come in well under the 5 hour limit and Steve Doran and I soldiered on through the freezing rain to come home sometime later. All of us of have achieved something spectacular but that fades into insignificance set against some of the heroes & heroines that we had the honour to run with.

Its hard to put into words the experience - extremely humbling and emotional an event its most surely is. Seeing family and friends out on the course cheering you on and complete strangers extending their support is truly a wonderful experience. Memories of the pain (yes my ankle started grumbling from about 5 miles in and then growling by Tower Bridge) are starting to fade and in our small way the Nautilus UK team has hopefully made a significant contribution to the work of Seafarers UK.

London Marathon

I still can't quite get my head round the fact that 11 months ago in a red wine fuelled bout of stupidity I agreed to undertake the London Marathon to raise funds for Seafarers UK. Today, 300 miles and 50 hours of stumbling/jogging/running later I can't say I feel any fitter and I have certainly not lost much weight (about half a stone) which seems a tad unfair given the effort put in!

With a mere 38 hours to go its water/pasta/water/pasta pretty much all the way until sunday morning when I will have a bowl of Quakers porridge oast (with salt!) and a banana for breakfast about 2 hours before the race starts at 0945. The plan is to run at a constant 11 minute pace (I have averaged about 10 minutes/mile in training but I want to take it easy) with the aim of getting home in under 5 hours.

Now the excuses. I have had a relatively injury free training period compared to my running mates. The odd blister and, when I started to get beyond 10 miles, also my right ankle became very sore. I am hoping it holds out and will deploy the Iburefen gel liberally to hopefully stave off a reoccurence. Wish me luck!

Videtotel International

This mornings posting has brought a very pleasant surprise with Stephen Bond of Videotel International making a £1000 donation to my Ride for Life fundraising. Very much appreciated Stephen and this brings the total pledged and donated to £15,762!