Legs Eleven
the Dirty Dozen
So, the first question was generally
along the lines of, “what on earth made
you want to do this?”, or alternatively,
“on what planet is cycling a vertical
mile up the side of a windy mountain in
Provence a good idea?”
Then I got into a conversation with some
mates, as you do, about taking on a bit of
a challenge. I am not sure if it is better or
worse to record that no alcohol whatsoever
was involved in these discussions – but that
is nevertheless the case.
Well, when you put it like that it is
quite a difficult question to answer. But
when you factor in the other details it is
actually really simple.
Anyway, to summarise, a group of us who
are all old enough to know better decided
that our common interest in cycling
meant that it might be fun to do an event
on bikes. Plus, if we were going to take
something on we reasoned it might as
well be a real challenge to work at. A few
ideas were thrown around and someone
said why not take on one of the iconic
Tour de France climbs? Great idea we
agreed. Let’s add the logistical challenge
of setting the thing up in the south of
France as well as doing a physical
challenge that none of us really knew for
sure that we could actually complete.
As Chairman of Mayo Wynne Baxter I
have the privilege of representing the firm
at a number of charity events. Many of
those events have been ones which we
have sponsored for Chestnut Tree House.
I am proud to say that those events have
raised many hundreds of thousands of
pounds. I am also very conscious of the
fact that the need for funds continues the
next day, and the next and so on, and
that the need for the brilliant services they
provide not only continues but is greater
even than they can meet. So fundraising
continues to be not just necessary but
essential.
Whilst I am proud to represent a firm that
has done so much for the charity I also
felt that it was about time that I personally
stood up to be counted, or rather in my
case sat down to be so.
Added to this mixture was an approaching
milestone birthday. Generally I am not too
fussed about these numbers, but the half
century seemed to be calling out as an
excuse for something special.
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To make it worthwhile we should get
some sponsorship for charity for doing
it, someone said, and then to make it
interesting someone added, we should set
a target of raising £10,000 between us.
With what became a true feature of the
enterprise all of this was easily agreed,
as was the choice of charities – Help
for Heroes as a national charity, and
Chestnut Tree House as a loc