Okay, picture this. A guy returns from a charity cycle across Cuba, where it was 80-degrees and the challenge included cycling on roads of err ..... variable quality. A total of 220 miles in 5 days.
He starts to look for what could excite him next and he sees the 'one', but it couldn't be any more different than Cuba. He starts to think about it and the twin peaks of 'Oh wow' and 'Oh sh*t' are clearly visible so is this a reason TO do it or NOT to do it?
The organisers website says there are life-threatening dangers and I'm required to learn a brand new skill; something I last tried to do on honeymoon back in 1987 (oh please, behave. This is a family-friendly blog if you don't mind).
Well that 'guy' is me.
I've now got to wait until February 2011 to hear if the organisers are doing another one of these in April 2012 which is about the right amount of time given I'm going to set the ridiculously optimistic task of raising £100 000 (cumulative) for 4 charities. Yes it's THAT much of a once-in-a-lifetime challenge that probably less than 100 people a year across the world attempt. Note the key word is 'attempt'.
Do I aim for some big sponsors or try to get 1000 companies to sponsor me with just £100 each (plus friends and family sponsoring again with whatever is practical and possible financially of course)?
I have to restrain my desire to launch into fundraising and en masse PR until I know it's definitely in the organisers plans for 2012, but once we're into January 2011 the serious training begins. So serious that I'm paying to do either the London-to-Paris charity cycle ride in July 2011 (220 miles in just 3 days) or a client colleague has suggested he's willing to row from Inverness to Fort William (60 miles in 3 days) simply so I can use it as training milestone for my endurance and stamina.
The more I think about this the more I realise how immense the challenge will be. Thing is I think that's good because I need to take this one VERY seriously.
He starts to look for what could excite him next and he sees the 'one', but it couldn't be any more different than Cuba. He starts to think about it and the twin peaks of 'Oh wow' and 'Oh sh*t' are clearly visible so is this a reason TO do it or NOT to do it?
The organisers website says there are life-threatening dangers and I'm required to learn a brand new skill; something I last tried to do on honeymoon back in 1987 (oh please, behave. This is a family-friendly blog if you don't mind).
Well that 'guy' is me.
I've now got to wait until February 2011 to hear if the organisers are doing another one of these in April 2012 which is about the right amount of time given I'm going to set the ridiculously optimistic task of raising £100 000 (cumulative) for 4 charities. Yes it's THAT much of a once-in-a-lifetime challenge that probably less than 100 people a year across the world attempt. Note the key word is 'attempt'.
Do I aim for some big sponsors or try to get 1000 companies to sponsor me with just £100 each (plus friends and family sponsoring again with whatever is practical and possible financially of course)?
I have to restrain my desire to launch into fundraising and en masse PR until I know it's definitely in the organisers plans for 2012, but once we're into January 2011 the serious training begins. So serious that I'm paying to do either the London-to-Paris charity cycle ride in July 2011 (220 miles in just 3 days) or a client colleague has suggested he's willing to row from Inverness to Fort William (60 miles in 3 days) simply so I can use it as training milestone for my endurance and stamina.
The more I think about this the more I realise how immense the challenge will be. Thing is I think that's good because I need to take this one VERY seriously.
