Manchester to Paris - Pas de problème!

Well, this is different!

Unlike my usual posts where I’m talking about coaching teams of people and profiling- it’s something much more important than that!

Last June my wife Kay Clough said to me in her own inimitable style that I was using my age and my beta blocker medication as an excuse to reduce my levels of exercise - ouch!

I was far too happy to make an hour having a beer ( which I love) and chat rather than using that time to get myself in better shape.

But the truth hurts but if its well-meant and correct then it has great value

So, the next day I got up at 6am and went for a bike ride. I have a few bikes, good ones at that, but they were in the shed gathering dust, so it was time to get out and pedal!

I rode for 10k, and it felt like I’d ridden to the other side of the world but after a few days the habit and enjoyment started to take hold and distances increased.

After a week I thought I needed something to keep me focussed in the months ahead when the weather would be a bit more testing and so I came back and announced much to my wife’s surprise that I was going to ride from Manchester to Paris and in doing so do a bit of good along the way and raise some money for our chosen charity, The Ace Grace Foundation.

Ive cycled ever since that day, clocking up the miles on my road bikes doing the Manchester 100 miles in September, Liverpool & back, Southport & back etc all with the goal of Paris in mind ( I'm a Francophile so the thought of riding there is no problem, the miles (KM's) may be though!!

So, what is the Ace Grace Foundation?

You can see the valuable and incredible work the Ace Grace Foundation does on behalf of the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Charity (on the link further down the page) through the inspired actions of Gracie’s Mum and Dad, Caroline Hart and John Jones and Brother Freddie as well as the many friends, family and generous organisations that have supported their charity as well as getting to know Gracie and her story more.

Every year there are a series of well attended events such as Golf days (Dad is a scratch golfer) , entertainment nights , quizzes etc all in aid of this wonderful foundation that in doing all of this brings that little bit of light into the lives of children and families that are undergoing such difficult circumstances through dealing with childhood cancers.

A little bit about Gracie and her story

Gracie was diagnosed with a rare form of soft tissue cancer, a few weeks before her third birthday. She was treated for three and a half years at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital on Ward 84. The doctors, nurses and play specialists gave us so much support through the difficult treatment Gracie had to go through.

Gracie never let her illness stop her from what she wanted to do. Always performance ready, she was famous on the ward for her Madonna renditions, particularly her favourite track “Papa Don’t Preach”!

Gracie lost her battle to cancer on June 20th, 2017. She always had a smile on her face, no matter what she went through.

Gracie’s 13th birthday was on the 2nd Feb this year so what an opportune moment to launch this event on the week of my birthday on the 16th Feb (today actually) ?– Manchester to Paris- “Blonde Ambition Tour” ?(named after the Madonna global tour in the early 90’s, Gracie’s favourite artist, and yes I will be colouring my hair blonde) which will leave Manchester on the 3rd May and hopefully arrive in 1 piece on the 9th or 10th May 1 week later.

I shall be riding with Caroline and John, Gracie's Mum and Dad but will publish the journey on here on a later post so that if you want to join in for one , two or all of the legs then please let me know and I’ll give you details of when we will be passing close by- it would be great to see you along the way.

Of course, we want to raise as much as we can and your kind and generous support would be very much appreciated and whilst Ive never sponsored anyone in the past in the hope they reciprocate , a little love back in this direction would be very warmly received.

Here is the link to check out the page for sponsorship and where you can read much more about Gracie and the great work that is done in her memory

Manchester to Paris Bike Ride (muchloved.com) *This is the link for the event to make sure any kind donations are placed correctly.

I’m also going to be seeing if companies would like to take up the opportunity to sponsor the event not through the link provided but by contacting me directly- this will get you a mention every day of the journey across social media and probably a logo on my shirt ( which is getting smaller to be fair so please be quick before I lose much more weight!) One of the things we will be looking for support with is the funding of accommodation, ferry crossings, fuel for support vehicle so one option if for your company to sponsor those things too- it all helps get me to Paris

OK- I think that should be it for now- thank you for taking the time to read this and your support from my wonderful network would be very much appreciated.

I will be positing regularly on my training regime which has already included some of the places mentioned above and soon we will ride to Blackpool and back just for the hell of it!

There, Ive said it now, no going back!

Cheers

Mark (aka Cloughie)

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