Lots and lots going on, but firstly news of a memorial event for a dearly departed friend…..
Paul Skelly – three year anniversary ride
The three-year anniversary of Paul’s death will be marked with a memorial ride on Sunday 19th May (this coming Sunday), starting at Beckenham Rugby Football Club on Balmoral Avenue.
The Longer ride (40 miles) will set off at 9am and the shorter ride (25 miles) at 10am. All welcome: Paul was well known for the warmth of his welcome, his encouragement to others and his inclusive nature, so rest assured you will be riding amongst friends.
Paul was a wonderful support in setting up O2e in 2006 and, before this, he was a valued friend and colleague at Beckenham RUFC for many years to many people. Father to three much loved daughters and Chairman of the rugby club in his time, he had latterly thrown himself enthusiastically into road bike cycling and was a regular down at Beckenham Rugby Cyclists, an amateur club he helped to set up.
Skelly’s death three years ago was a shock to all who knew him and a great shock in particular to his large, close family. This ride is a celebration of his life, for everyone who knew him and anyone who wishes they had known him more.
The riders will come together at Skelly’s grave at approximately 12.30pm to pay respects and then afterwards at the Fethr restaurant on Croydon Road in Elmers End.
There will also be an evening meet at Patricks in Beckenham from 7pm. Very much a part of the O2e family and always in our hearts.
Beckenham RFC 2019 Hills Challenge for O2e
Skelly wasn’t built for hills but he loved this event.
The Beckenham RFC Hills Challenge 2019 takes place on Sunday 7th July. There are two routes to choose from, both taking in some of the iconic (ie big) Kent hills. EPIC (120km) starts from 7.30am and the CLASSIC (65km) from 8.30am.
There will be beers, burgers and general family jolliness back at the Club afterwards.
Sign up at www.hillschallenge.com by 19th May (£25); after 19 May (£30) and on the day (£35). A cracking couple of rides to challenge experienced and novice riders alike. All surplus and any donations will go to O2e, so please sign up and get training for those hills.
Florries sponsored walk for O2e
Florries is one of O2e’s chosen beneficiaries for 2019. They are a wonderful team, providing home-based hospice support to children with life-limiting conditions and their families.
On Sunday 19th May Jo and the rest of the Florries peeps, along with our very own Committee member Caroline Kiely Smith (and probably partner Michael too) will be walking the historic Aylesbury Ring (see map); a brutal 32-miler around the county town of Aylesbury for O2e. Let’s hope it stays dry for them. Caroline is low on sponsorship so if you have a few sheckles down the back of the sofa then kindly donate here
Sue Smith Thames Path Challenge
Just 11 days to go before this year’s Thames Path Challenge.
50 people will be setting off from Putney Bridge on Saturday 25th May to attempt one of three distances, each one pushing themselves beyond the call of duty for O2e. Scenic, circular routes to Kew, Richmond and Teddington will all finish back at Putney for a well-earned beer or two with new walking buddies. It’s not too late to join the walk; email Sue Smith at sue48smith@icloud.com for more details.
Cath Brazier Rough Runner
Cath’s O2e event challenge this month is a 5k “Rough runner” in the Oxfordshire countryside on Saturday 18th May.
Rough Runner is similar to the obstacle course on Gladiators (for those who remember it) – there is even the dreaded Travellator at the end!
April saw Cath complete the first of the proper ‘filthy’ mud runs with the Spring Wolf Run at Royal Leamington Spa, where she was joined by friends Tiff Broome, Nick Jackson, Hannah King and Charlotte Lacey. Then there’s the Urban Tough Mudder at Franklin Gardens, Northampton on June 1st, the Colour Run at Aintree in July and the Full Tough Mudder Classic in August at Badminton.
Fancy any of these O2e-ers? Sponsorship is going brilliantly; Cath is almost up to £1,000, but always grateful for a few sheckles more if you find any down the car seat. Click here for Cath’s JG page.
Dawn Aldridge May Challenge
More details to follow, but word on the street is she’s doing really well. Keep it up Dawn!!
David Plews Sort-of-Ironman
Plewsy is still bashing out the triathlon disciplines; his totals in April were 4 miles of swimming, 138 miles of cycling and 24 miles of running, which is fantastic for a man of his age 🙂 Well done Plewsy, keep it up!
Let’s help David with a few squid, whatever you can afford will give him a boost up those hills…. Click here to donate
Beardy Al
Another busy man is Beardy Al Green, who is doing a marathon a month for O2e.
He completed his May marathon last weekend in a great time of 4:07 and loved every minute. Not only that, but he was a guest speaker at his old school to talk to the children about running marathons and raising money for great causes. Al writes: “It was such an honour to have been given the chance to talk at Rougemont School yesterday about my marathon challenge. I was able to tell 100 children all about my events, how I train, what I eat and even a little history lesson on how this crazy event began! Most of all, I was able to tell them about the fantastic charity O2e that this challenge is all in aid of. Hearing that some of the children take part in park runs was brilliant and I hope I was able to encourage a few more to whack on their trainers and go for a jog, a run or even a sprint round the block”.
Brilliant work Al. Click here if you think this merits a couple of sheckles sponsorship?
Mallorca
Here’s a recipe for happiness.
Go along to the O2e gala dinner (this year it’s on Nov 16th and tickets are going to be snapped up). Get very drunk, bid for an auction item, forget all about it. Six months later pack your bags and enjoy a fabulous week in the Mallorcan sun. Bloody lovely it was to. Thanks to Granty and Elaine Beadle for putting their apartment up for auction and for making us feel so welcome. Bosh!!