A surprise!

Well, a couple actually.

Firstly, I realised that it has been over two weeks since I last posted any kind of update, that won't do as there is still work to be done to make all the hard work reach fruition. So, here is an update.

As it is school holidays, not much progress being made with sorting out the screening days with the colleges, and a couple of bits of paperwork just being sorted out as well on our side, but should look to get this up and moving in September. This will see us offer screenings for up to 200 people aged between 14 and 35 at Varndean and Sussex Downs Colleges in Brighton and Lewes. Statistics have shown that 1 in 300 people have a problem that they do not know about, so there is a strong chance that someone will be found with a need for a follow up and that hopefully all ends well for them.

At the same time, I want to start working with the colleges and parents of those being screened from the colleges to try and get them to contribute to the ring fenced fund so that we can look at repeating the screenming again in the future. What better way to show gratitude for the free screening that hopefully shows your child is not at risk than by helping others to be screened.

The second surprise was that apparently I was nominated and won a 'Community Hero' award run by the Sussex Express. This means that there will be a follow up story in the paper and that gives more opportunity for publicity for the screenings that are to be set up. I dont know who nominated me for this award, it came out of the blue, but I will happily accept this on behalf of all those who helped me achieve the LEJOG, as I couldn't have done it without them.

Looking at some of the other people who have been awarded this honour in the past, there are some pretty amazig people in there, think I may need to carry on working at this

for some time to really measure up to them.

Finally, the bike over the last week has started to sound as if I am riding a bag of nuts and bolts, so I think the LEJOG has finally caught up with it and it will get some Bike Shop TLC tomorrow! Yesterdays 82 mile ride probably didn't help it. I have done a couple of good long rides since coming back, and it still feels fine. That will all change when I have to go back to work and cannot ride every day. Think I will really miss it.....well, at least in the good weather.