Newsletter 9
The highlights keep coming; more of these in the next Newsletter, which is coming soon. For now, however, and in response to popular demand and threats of violence – Chris Ensom (name changed) – please find below a list of THIRTY confirmed events for 2019. There are still another EIGHT events to come pending final details so watch this space.
The observant amongst you will notice that some of the very early events have been completed, with huge O2e thank you’s to all the participants. However there are still a wide range of O2e activities and events lined up throughout the remainder of the year. Take a look at the list; many of the events cater for all abilities and are truly open to all. Let me know if you fancy taking part and I will forward your details to the organisers.
THE HARDEST PART IS MAKING THAT INITIAL COMMITMENT!
O2e confirmed events so far, summary
| EVENT | DETAILS | DATE |
| Filthy at 40 | Cath Brazier celebrating 40th year with messy, muddy, endurance events every month! Emphasis on messy | Event every month of the year |
| Marathon a month | Alex Green (aka Beardy Al) running a marathon every month of the year and raising funds for O2e in the process. Long term O2e supporter, but a marathon a month is right up there with endurance challenges! | Marathon every month of the year |
| Triathlon of sorts per month | Completing a “triathlon of sorts” (limited by Drs orders), shortened distances of running/swimming/cycling for every month of the year. Fantastic effort! | Event every month of the year |
| Fintans 100 x 100 Park Runs | Fin is a seasoned marathon runner but even so his commitment to run a park run at 100 different locations is a huge challenge which has already seen him run all over the world | January to August |
| Skelly 400 | A total of 400 miles cycled in January through the Gran Fondo and Epic cycling events. Some 18 intrepid riders braved snow, ice, rain and cold in memory of our dear departed friend Paul Skelly. Entries already open for 2020. | January |
| Celeb darts night | Darts extravaganza at The Paris Grill, London organised by Granty and a massive success raising £10k for O2e and a whole bunch of fun had by all. Wooden Spoon went to one of my team with a score of two (2) from three darts. No really. John Price (name changed) | 26 March |
| Brian and Gareth Hooters walk-to-work-athon | Brian De’ath and Gareth Morgan, walking from Bishops Stortford to Canary Wharfe; 36 miles, 65,000 steps, 9.5 hours! Smashed it! | 5 April |
| Jackie Slattery & friends walkathon event | Walking from Winchester to Pyecombe, just shy of 70 miles in 3 days! Jackie Slattery, Maria Singleton and Angela Isidoro; best of luck ladies! | 12, 13, 14 April |
| London marathon | Three participants running the London marathon for O2e; Chloe Gibbs, Nol Mara and Chris Simon; fantastic efforts all round, go and give them a cheer on 28th | 28 April |
| Dawn Aldridge running 200km in May | Dawn will be running the streets, byways and countryside of Essex come rain or shine to clock up 200 km during May. Fabulous | Month of May |
| Florries O2e walk | 32 mile sponsored walk organised by Florries in a loop around Stoke Mandeville Hospital | 18 May |
| Welsh Posse bike ride | Chunky, lumpy 140 miler weekend cycling in Wales taking in the beauty of Monmouthshire and including the highest road in Wales | 18/19 May |
| Sue’s Thames Path walk | Sue Smith Rouse leading out two walks – a shorter 16 miler and a longer 26 miler – along the delightful Thames embankment, over some iconic London Bridges and through some lovely parks | 26 May |
| Anthony P’s Circle line steps walk | Anthony and friends walking up and down all the steps at all the 36 stations on the tube circle line. Estimated 10,000,000,000,000 steps. You’ll need half decent knees for this one, for sure | June TBC |
| Ollie’s O2e golf day extravaganza | Ollie “the swing” Rastall organising the O2e golf day at North Hants Golf Club, Fleet. Already fully subscribed, but still some sponsoring opportunities | 4 June |
| Hadham Hooters 200 miles bike ride | Granty and the rest of the Hadham Hooters cycling 200 miles within 24 hours around the Cambridgeshire/ Essex borders. Another monster event for this group of nut cases. Starting at 4am on 15 June, there are also shorter loops of 80, 60, 40 and 20 miles for the less experienced cyclists. All welcome to join up for a great day of fun with party afterwards | 15 June |
| Big Kev and Cazzer 50km bike ride | 50km bike ride in Northern France with Kev Tuohy and cousin Caroline | 29 June |
| Classic National Three Peak Challenge with Lee McGinley and pals | Lee McGinley plus peeps climbing Ben Nevis, Snowden and Scafell Pike in 24 hours, including 23 miles walking, 10,000m ascent, 462 miles driving. Not for the faint hearted. There may be a Guinness or three at the end | 12 July |
| Bev and DD’s Leeds to Liverpool Choppertastic adventure | 127m ride following the Leeds/Liverpool canal over two days on Raleigh Choppers. Yes, Raleigh Choppers | 20-21 July |
| Birdman of Bognor event – can a human fly? See note 2 below | Bognor Pier – jump off the pier (full training given) and “fly” for as far as poss. Man-powered flight only. Fully supported from a safety perspective. Looking for volunteers for this one….. | 10-11 August |
| Brest to Paris Audax | Iconic long-distance cycle event dating back to 1891 and which takes place every 4 years. Legendary challenge for the bravest of the brave. Estimated to take between 80 and 90 hours. Who else but John Milne taking this one on | 18-22 Aug |
| World Bog Snorkelling Championships (see note 1 below) | Have you ever wanted to compete in a WORLD CHAMPIOSHIP?! An event described by Lonely Planet as one of the Top 50 “must do” things from around the world? So scary that not even James Cracknell has done it! DD leading a team of intrepid and brave O2e loons to swim / paddle along a 50m ditch full of water. Taking place at Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys and there is a beer festival on site for survivors. | 25 August |
| Jack Goss | Jack is cycling the iconic and hugely challenging Lands End to John O Groats, some 900+ miles of endurance cycling | End Aug or end Sept. Or was that end Aug to end Sept? |
| Surrey Source Bike Ride massive | 150 mile very lumpy cycle ride over two days between Source offices in Dorset to Source Offices in Surrey. Ryan and Adam definitely IN, any more takers? | September TBC |
| Tim Green’s Thai bike ride adventure | Tim will be cycling the infamous Mae-Hong-Son Loop, covering a total of 410 miles in 6 days and climbing over 15,000m, including climbing to the highest point in all of Thailand, and at temperatures of 35-40oC. Alone (unless anyone else fancies joining Tim) and unsupported, this is a massive challenge. | Postponed due to injury. Likely September |
| Mollie Pearse will be competing for Team GB in a 70.3 world triathlon ironman event, Nice, France | Mollie, one of the O2e Ambassadors, will be competing in this, one of the most demanding of all endurance events (right up there with Bog Snorkelling). Athletes will swim 1.9km in the Med, followed by 90km on the bike and finishing with a 21 km run along the Promenade des Anglais. Book your flights peeps, this one’s a belter | 7 September |
| Big Kevs Bike Ride “Les Gilets Extraordinaire” | London to Paris thrash of some 200 miles in 2 days, all abilities catered for, but you need to be able to peddle for a few hours at a time and have a bum of steel! | 12-15 September |
| Sue Smith Art Festival | Details to be confirmed. The cultural antidote for those not doing the London to Paris ride. Promises to be much prettier than cycling behind Slatts | 13-14 September |
| Slatts Karaoke night | Karaoke evening with awful singing and a few beers perhaps. End of year O2e Christmas get-together-cum-celebration. Not to be missed. | December, TBC |
| O2e quiz night extravaganza | Quiz night recently hosted with aplomb by the very funny Sean and organised by the incomparable Nira “Bermuda Triangle” Fulton. | TBC |
Notes
1 The World Bog Snorkelling Championships in Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys, on 25 August 2019. A world-renowned battle of endurance in smelly boggy water and one of Lonely Planet’s top 50 “must do” events around the entire world (in 2014). Wet suits optional, fancy dress encouraged, photographs compulsory, glory guaranteed
2 The world famous Birdman Bognor event on 10/11 August 2019. Brave contestants are challenged to jump off Bognor pier and travel as far as possible under their own power before hitting the water. The winner is the person getting the furthest; needless to say everyone gets wet, some quicker than others. Full safety support. Fancy dress encouraged, photographs compulsory, glory guaranteed.
Let me or any of the Committee know if you fancy joining any of the above events or indeed nominating a new event altogether
Thank you for all your support
Best wishes
DDxx
dbd60@hotmail.com
07764682332