Between 21st and 30th April this year five Petersfield RFC Veterans, with a support team of two aged drivers and a minibus, will attempt to cycle nearly 1,000 miles between Land’s End and John O’Groats. The objective of this exercise, apart from simply staying alive, is to raise money for the Club and a number of local and national charities.

What started as an idle conversation over a few pre-season pints in The Black Sheep, soon turned into a plan and although early interest from one or two less hardened riders waned, a hard core team of Dave Holden, Dave Cosway, Mike Garner, Mark Hipsey and Ian Maginnis remains. They can currently be seen most Sunday mornings setting off from the Square for their 7:30am training ride, sudocrem applied and pockets bulging with energy bars. A couple of tea or coffee shops, and 5 hours later, and you might find them in the Queen’s Head at Sheet downing a refreshing “Slimline” G&T.

The team is very fortunate that Hadyn Smith has agreed to drive the support vehicle. Not only is he Mr Health & Safety, he’s a very competent bike mechanic and 100% reliable. Riding shotgun with Hadyn is Jim “School teacher” Scoular, another old PRFC lag. His dry sense of humour will, no doubt, help everyone through the trickier moments.

Their 10-day route will take them through Cornwall and North Devon, over the old Severn Bridge and into Wales for a short stretch before heading north through the Wye Valley and into Herefordshire, Shropshire and Cheshire. They then proceed through Greater Manchester, Lancashire and the Forest of Bowland, and on into Yorkshire and Cumbria’s Eden Valley before crossing Hadrian’s Wall into the Scottish Borders. Staying a night at a Tibetan Centre in Eskdalemuir (which is going to be interesting, without alcohol) they then travel on to Peebles and Edinburgh before crossing the Forth Road Bridge and heading ever north towards Perth, Blairgowrie, the Grampians and through the Cairngorms National Park. A quick visit to Culloden Battlefield to summon up the blood and it’s on through Inverness to the Moray and Cromarty Firth Crossings and up the A9 coast road to Helmsdale, Lybster and Wick before reaching their goal, where they promise to pose naked in front of the John O’Groats signpost.

The guys are funding the trip themselves so that all proceeds raised can be split between the Club and their chosen charities. As members of PRFC Vets, they’re all supporting the Club and are delighted to do so. Don’t be embarrassed to dig deep and sponsor them. They know where you live!

As part of their promotion for the trip they’ll be holding a “turbo-training” session at the Club on Sunday morning, 26th February.
You can make your donations through the Charities Trust Website and the following links:

Dave Holden: www.sponsor-me.org/daveholdenlejog2012
Dave Cosway: www.sponsor-me.org/cozzerlejog
Mike Garner: www.sponsor-me.org/petersfield-rfc-lejog-2012
Mark Hipsey: www.sponsor-me.org/hipseylandsendjohnogroats
Ian Maginnis: www.sponsor-me.org/magdoeslejog

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/166727270103938/createdoc/#!/groups/166727270103938/

Twitter: @prfcvetslejog

David Holden is cycling for:
Naomi House children's hospice at Winchester - www.naomihouse.org.uk - Offers respite care to sick children and their families.
The charity has two specialist units, Naomi House for children, and jacksplace for young adults. Each unit is purpose built and offers an appropriate environment for each age group.
It costs around £5million a year to run the two units. The charity receives around 10% of its funding from the Department of Health. The remaining £4.5million is raised by people and businesses across region.
David has raised money for Naomi House on several occasions in the past.

Wessex Children’s Cancer Fund (part of Wessex Cancer Trust) - www.wessexcancer.org - Supports children suffering with cancer.
The Wessex Cancer Trust is an independent charity which has raised approximately £17 million to help support and improve cancer services in the Wessex region. Established in 1981, this unique Trust supports many aspects of cancer care, including leading edge research, the improvement of patient facilities, purchase of much needed equipment, patient grants, complementary therapy and counselling services.
David was introduced to the charity by a friend whose child benefited from its support.

Dave Cosway is cycling for:
NSPCC - www.nspcc.org.uk - The national charity whose aim is to end cruelty to children in the UK.
The NSPCC achieves this through campaigning to change the law, providing “ChildLine” and the NSPCC Helpline, offering advice for adults, and much more.
ChildLine is the UK’s free, confidential helpline dedicated to children and young people. Whenever and wherever children need it, ChildLine is there for them.
Every year the NSPCC relies on public donations for around 85 per cent of its funds. That means almost all of their children's services, consultancy, campaigning and advice is funded by fundraising and donations. Dave ran the Great North Run in aid of the NSPCC in September 2011.

The Matt Hampson Foundation - www.matthampsonfoundation.org – Provides advice, support, relief and/or treatment for anyone suffering serious injury or disability which has arisen from any cause, but in particular from participation in/ or training for any sport, sporting activity or other form of physical education or recreation.
The foundation was established in 2011 by Matt Hampson who in 2005, as an emerging talent in the world of rugby, sustained a serious spinal injury while training with England Under-21s. Paralysed from the neck down and unable to breath unaided, Matt drew on the passion, grit and steely determination that defined him as a player and saw his accident not as an end, but as a new beginning.
Through the Matt Hampson Foundation, Matt now offers hope and inspiration to young people with similar injuries, sharing his experiences and devoting his life to raising vital funds for those in need of support.
Dave had heard of Matt Hampson from reports in the press but didn’t understand the full story until reading his biography “Engage: The Fall and Rise of Matt Hampson” by Paul Kimmage. According to Dave, if you read only one book this year, this should be it… “One of the most moving books I’ve ever read, inspirational and hilarious”.

Mike Garner is cycling for:
The Iris Trust - www.theiristrust.org.uk - The Iris Trust is committed to helping women who suffer from the effects of domestic violence by providing meditation/relaxation courses.
The Trust’s knowledge and understanding of the dynamics of abusive relationships and the effects this has on one's emotional and mental state of a person, as well as the difficulties encountered living in a refuge and starting a new life, are reflected in the course content.
The Iris Trust relies entirely on donations to fund its very worthwhile activities and Mike’s wife Carla is a Trustee, so he has all the more reason to support this cause.

The Royal Military Police Benevolent Fund - www.army.mod.uk/agc/provost/1892.aspx - Provides support to those serving, or who have served, in the Royal Military Police, their dependants, wives and widows who may, from time to time, be in need of Charitable assistance.
Mike got to know some of the Close Protection Unit – Royal Military Police (CPU-RMP) guys last year when they approached him for sponsorship for their LEJOG attempt. According to Mike they’re an extremely professional outfit and although their work is not publicised, they serve in all the world’s hot spots.

Mark Hipsey is cycling for:
Cancer Reserch – www.cancerresearchuk.org – the world's leading charity dedicated to beating cancer through research.
Every year Cancer Research UK spends hundreds of millions of pounds on research into diagnosing, preventing and treating cancer. They are the biggest single independent funder of cancer research in Europe, supporting the work of more than 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses across the UK.
Thanks to Cancer Research’s groundbreaking work more people are beating cancer than ever before.
After losing his mother to cancer last year, Mark wanted raise funds in her memory.

Ian Maginnis is cycling for:
The Ben Herring Trust – www.thebenherringtrust.co.uk – Ben Herring died of a brain tumour in 2008. He was only 18 years old. Following his death, the Ben Herring trust was set up with two aims: to advance the treatment and cure of brain tumours through research and to support the children and families affected by this disease.
Ian is raising money for the Ben Herring Trust because, as a close personal friend of the family, he saw the devastating effects of the disease on Ben and his family.
Help for Heroes – www.helpforhereos.org.uk – Help for Heroes provides practical, direct support for the wounded in our armed forces. The charity funds projects and initiatives that make a real difference to their lives, working closely with the Army, Navy and RAF to provide support where it is most needed.
Ian is raising money for Help for Heroes because he believes that people who put their lives on the line for this country should have the best possible support when they are injured.