Team Member's Contribution

As the self-styled 'expedition leader' says, lift off is now fast approaching, and the preparations are far from complete... it's a funny mixture of emotions: excitement at the adventure that lies before us and dread at having to spend the next three months sleeping under tarpaulin with a sweaty fat lad. Dan's regular 'weight updates' over the preceding months have kept me amused - as well he knows, only 'large' people celebrate losing fractions of pounds - but my big-boned companion keeps his spirits high (they are known for being jolly, of course) by bellowing sprightly renditions of 'Les Mis' classics down the phone during his daily commute with staggering gusto. Such aural treats became less frequent towards the end of his period of employment, as Dan took to the streets of London on 'The Beast' to do some much needed training. For my own part, training has been steady if not spectacular. Above is a photo of me taking my first tentative pedals on any bike in close to a decade, and whilst the miles since then have improved my cycling proficiency, there is still a long way to go. Like Dan, the journey to work seemed to provide the perfect opportunity to build the fitness, and for several weeks I took to the toe-paths of Birmingham's canals twice daily... My distaste for early mornings curbed the enthusiasm after a few days, and a gaggle of rather vicious looking geese on the grass verge put the final nail in the coffin of my cycling commute, but I have been circling Bartley Green reservoir regularly since then, and the odometer fitted to my bike is now displaying a much healthier number. Thank you to everyone for your kind donations so far - I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the support, and I know that Hannah is delighted with the response. Please keep reading the blog, any words of encouragement along the way will be gratefully received.