Request For Sponsorship

[yellowduke]

Not exactly diving related in any way but I know there are many members here who, like me, are serving or former serving members of the armed forces and hold service related charities close to our hearts. In three weeks (over 20 and 21 June) I am taking part in the Iron Butt Rally raising funds for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. The rally is a 1000 mile motorbike ride conducted within a 24 hour period for which I will be riding my 2004 RSVR1000. I don't know if anyone has tried something like this before on an RSV but I fully expect to have pains in places you shouldn't get them after spending so long in the saddle!

I invite you all to sponsor me in this through my Just Giving page. I am hoping to raise £250. Many thanks in advance for your support.

http://www.justgiving.com/jamesflynn1

[yellowduke]

Over the weekend I completed the Iron Butt Rally in support of the Poppy Appeal completing the 1000 miles in 23 hours and 58 minutes. It isn't too late to make a donation through www.justgiving.com/jamesflynn1. Needless to say I have many sore areas not least my poor arse!

[yellowduke]

A little more information regarding the rally for anyone interested.

I took part in the Royal British Legion 1000 Mile Iron Butt Motorcycle rally over the weekend. I am pleased to say that I completed the 1000 miles within the 24 hours and am one of the 166 people that make up the European Record for this event. The original aim was to break the world record but the yanks got wind of what we were doing and set a new one last month with about 400 riders taking part. Plans are in motion for us to go for 500 riders next year and bring the record to the UK.

The fastest time was 17 hours and 10 minutes; how he managed that I don’t know. The slowest qualifying time was probably mine at 23 hours and 58 minutes. My excuse was the M25 and a couple of ill advised detours. My route went from Leeds, to Dover, To Southampton, to Redruth, to Telford, to Manchester and back to Leeds. It proved to be much harder than I expected particularly when it got dark and started to get cold. Fog on the roads in Cornwall forced the pace to drop off as well. The run down to Dover was spoiled by heavy traffic on the M25 and my failed attempt to circumvent Dartford wasted quite a bit of time and added miles. Heading to Southampton meant heading back to the M25 and then dropping down the A3 before heading West again. It was a long slog down to Redruth in the dark before turning around and doing it again in reverse as far as the M5 where I headed North for Telford as the sun was coming up. The obvious route to Telford proved to be the wrong choice as it was full of reduced speed areas, small towns and villages. This wasted more time. The push to Manchester wasn’t so bad but I was flagging. A short stop at Manchester left me with a little over an hour to get to the finish near Leeds. A wrong turn on the way to the finish cost valuable minutes but some ‘spirited’ riding got me to the gate with only 2 minutes remaining.

Anyone who feels they might like to make a donation can do so through www.justgiving.com/jamesflynn1 where they can see a nice picture of me looking suitably tired. Don’t forget to put in your details for the Gift Aid tax rebate.