The Bikeathon 2002 took place on Sunday 8th September
£30,487 Sponsorship has been collected.
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Anyone involved in the Bikeathon may copy these photographs.
All of these photographs have been optimised to allow them to open faster on the internet.
ABOUT THE DAY
After many months of planning the day had arrived.
We arrived at Waitrose with rain pouring down, it was
7am. George Reeves (Checkpoint Manager), David Nicholls (Chairman), Alan Meredith, Pauline Woods, Maurice Sarazin, Rosemary Worsley, Jackie Hardy, Ernie Pendrey(Safety Officer), Martin Mumford, Alan Darley, Terry Joyce (that's me) and friends and family whose names I do not know. Put up tables, chairs, gazebo's, set out cones, put up signs and more. Holly Wheeler from The Leukaemia Research Fund Head Office arrives, to help and observe.
I must mention our other members that man the checkpoints and marshal the road in between.
Jackie Hardy, Toni Worsley and team at Cecil Jones.
Jacqueline and Rob James and team at The Red Lion.
John and Gina Enfield and team at Sutton Hall.
08.40am the gates are open for the riders, not many, the rain has put them off. The Marshals directed them to the right check in. The riders collected their T shirts, pinned on their numbers and queued ready for the start. The Mayor (Dr Alan Crystall) cut the tape and they were off. Some in fancy dress, a dog sitting behind it's owner in a box, children, family groups, corporate teams, individuals. The rain has stopped, more riders check in.
I completed my duties so it's my turn to ride. I started fairly slowly, not had much time to ride this year. Heading towards the seafront, saying hello to other riders and marshals as I pass. The tide is out, hardly any wind, not like last year, the rain is just drizzling. Riding towards Shoebury now, feeling good, chatting with other riders as I go along. I'm well on the way to Wakering now, see a man pushing his bike. I stopped to offer my assistance. He has a puncture, I give him my pump, he is able to get enough air in the tyre to ride and I follow him to the Red Lion. He goes to see the repair man to see if the puncture can be repaired. I check in say hello to the members running the checkpoint, Jacqui, Rob, Christine and team, have a drink.
I head off into the countryside, feeling good, it's warming up. I see a lady pushing her bike, so I stopped to ask if she needed help. "no my knee is sore, but I'll be alright". I'm off again, what a lovely ride, hardly a sound to be heard. Approaching Sutton Hall, looking forward to a break. Check in, have a drink and chat to John the checkpoint manager, apparently you appreciated the sweets we supplied as well as the biscuits(let me know what you think).
The sun's out, what a lovely day it is now. Riding up Sutton road, traffic's busy. Waitrose is in sight, say hello to the marshals as I past, arrive at Cecil Jones. Check in and chat to Jackie the checkpoint manager. I'm off again, the sun's shining, it's a joy to be able to ride the course. I'll cut it short now, as it was a wonderful second time round, legs felt good, it is a lovely way to make money for a good cause.
Finally a big thank you to all my Sponsors.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU
To Waitrose, for continuing to support the event, providing a start and finish area and refreshments.
To Southend-on-Sea Borough Council for their support and assistance
To Cecil Jones School for allowing us to use its grounds as a check point.
To The Red Lion in Great Wakering for allowing us the use of its car park and facilities as another check point.
To Tabor Farms for allowing us the use of the barn and grounds of Sutton Hall as our final check point.
Many Thanks to St.John Ambulance for providing First Aid cover for the event.
Green Wheels Cycles (at Waitrose) and Andrew Glover(at The Red Lion) for providing cycle safety checks and repairs
And last but not least the many volunteers that stood in often desolate places to guide and encourage the riders, ensuring their safety.
As you can see it takes many people to organise and run a Bikeathon, all unpaid volunteers.
We always need more people than we get. Can YOU spend a few hours helping us?
If you have any suggestions or comments about the Bikeathon please let me know and I will pass them on to the Committee.
SEE YOU NEXT YEAR
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