MPN-MATE ~ SYDNEY TO COFFS HARBOUR FUNDRAISER RIDE ~ COMPLETED! 8-)

[MPN-MATE Admin]

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Good evening all...

Firstly, I do hope that all who were interested in this effort, will forgive my tardiness in finally Posting a conclusion to this event...

I am as they say, rather expended by the whole journey, and especially now that the adrenaline and euphoria of my/our RIDE has now concluded...

Please use this Link, to see the Mapping of the Strava recorded courses for Stages 1-5:

https://www.mpn-mate.com/cycling-traini ... -research/

It was tougher at times than I expected, and easier at others, which was / is really odd in itself. I was never completely sure about my own abilities, nor my general health's disposition to see me through... A year or so ago, I was a much faster Rider than I am now, and although I did not find myself Riding around Australia, (20,000km in 200 Days), I have now actually ridden in excess of 23,500km from 327 Rides which includes over 19,000m in elevation... No bloody wonder I am a tad sore... I suppose...

Anyways, although I managed to complete the RIDE part, I failed miserably at raising much in the way of the 25k Target I set for us... We are in fact just shy of even achieving 20% of that effort, (& that's before expenses sadly...)

Nevertheless, my non-celebrity butt did manage to spread some much needed MPN Awareness here in the antipodes, even if not much was raised for research, this time around... Naturally, I will just keep trying & chipping away in any event...

Thank you to everyone who wished me / us well, or supported us financially or otherwise with this first event, (that has taken over 18 months to see come to fruition, & that in itself took something extraordinary, in my view...)

Hopefully, I will try to come up with something better again for my next attempt... *Watch this space...

Thank you all...

Best wishes from Steve & MPN-MATE RF

PS. Anyone wishing to Donate any amount please use this Link to find our Banking details below:

https://www.mpn-mate.com/giving-for-mpns/

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[Merry]

Well done Steve! Sterling effort from you and awareness raising is half the battle. Congratulations on completing this ride. I know you have worked so hard on making it happen and it’s a great achievement Best regards, Merry 🥳

[KatieB]

Well done Steve! All that effort and hard slog. Sorry you didn’t achieve the funds you had hoped but at least you spread the word on MPN’’s. We are all very proud of your efforts, Thank you for caring about those of us who have NPN’s enough to take on this feat.
Have a good rest and heal those aching muscles!

Love,
Katie

[MPN-MATE Admin]

Hey Katie & Merry...

Thanks for your Posts...

I am rather thankful that the RIDING part is over for the moment, and yes Katie... a good massage probably would not go astray, (once I stop aching that is

Anyways, onwards and upwards... NEXT! (?)

I will get around to catching up w/ everything in due course, (my mother is a full-time exploitation of my time too please remember).

But I am getting there slowly... Next is thanking the Sponsors appropriately w/ a few pics and letters of gratitude etc...

The follow-up Newspaper article & Radio I was promised. (more Awareness at least...)

And now just shorter Rides for a while as I regain my full use of all my limbs etc... )

Thanks also for all of your support and encouragement throughout, for w/out all of that... I might have tossed in the towel some time ago... (?)

I shall also Post a Notice Shortly for our next Zoom CatchUp... I was thinking this Sunday fortnight, (SUNDAY MAY 9 ~ say 6:30PM),
if that works for everyone else(?)

Please do let me know guys... ALL are welcome of course...

Best wishes

Steve
ox

[Lady in Red 01]

Hi Steven,
As you know we have followed your progress from several years back to this particular Conclusion....

You have done so wonderfully well in achieving this very Forum which was simply an idea in your head back then..

Next the “Ride” never forgetting Mum and the wonderful care you provide..
The Accident which rather did some mischief to your Arm, I saw the damage, and yet you doggedly continued to train to achieve this goal and raise the much needed awareness
of Our Battle with MPN’s...

You my friend may not have raised the sum of money that you hoped for, but you got out there and raised more awareness!

Not forgetting the hours you stand at various locations taking MPN’s to the Wider Community....

This latest challenge is a Definite Win, Win regardless of how much Cash was Raised..

In truth if every member of MPN Voice donated £1 Stirling, that would be a considerable sum of cash..

There are those that ‘Do’ and those that
‘Take‘ in Life..
You give so freely of your knowledge to All that needs your Advice or Opinion etc, etc.

Steve you have Absolutely Nothing to make you feel that, this ride was anything other than a Success...

I also know the next adventure will undoubtedly be just a glint in your head, until you suddenly announce your next challenge you will have set yourself....

Mates was a huge Challenge in Creating, the months you burned the midnight oil creating Mates..
The hours you spent designing the Logo & the Appropriate Clothing were endless...

The Ride is just another piece in the Jigsaw and you my friend have done the MPN Community Proud both in the Antipodes & UK...
Congratulations 🥳🥳

Your Derrière deserves a Rest, go cycle up to the trees that frame Sydney, have Coffee with the Scottish Couple, do something just for yourself until the next extravaganza pops up.

Love & Hugs to You & Mum as Always..
Maria xo , Sarah sends her Congrats too..

[Alkemist]

Hi Steve
I'll add my congratulations and admiration for your achievement. As I mentioned to you before, I was concerned at one stage that you had run into serious difficulties and hadn't made it. Considering your MPN symptoms, I think it is remarkable what you have achieved. I know you have a lot to get on with but take time to put your feet up for a while and let your body recover. All the best. Allan

[MPN-MATE Admin]

Evening Maria & Allan...

Thank you so much both... For your kind words of praise and encouragement for the RIDE. They are real treasures to me personally... thank you!

Yes, I had hoped for a much bigger POT & outcome, however, considering the past two years, and all that has transpired both in a local & a global sense... (Trying to arrange anything was extraordinarily challenging in itself). Hence, I suppose we didn't do too badly really... We managed to make some noise, raise a little Awareness, and support many others with their newly diagnosed MPNs...

So... all in all, I am not completely unhappy with our effort... (However, can't help thinking to myself, "If ONLY I was a well-known celebrity..."), or had the ear & support of one of them, that would have really helped... C'est la vie! NEXT!

Naturally, we shall just have to keep chipping away at that bigger picture, and eventually... making small gains along the way...

The building of Rome etc...

Anyways, thank you both again for your generosity & ongoing support, it is most welcome & greatly appreciated guys...

Best wishes

Steve

[Kinsale]

Congratulations Steve on a brilliant effort. As someone who can barely ride 20kms, you riding 100+kms per day is an outstanding achievement, one that you should be rightly proud of. Whilst the fundraising may not have achieved the desired level, promoting information about MPN’s is gold! Well done Steve. Mark

[MPN-MATE Admin]

Hey Mark...

Thanks buddy... I really appreciate everyone's support & acknowledgements, however, I still had hoped to have achieved somewhat more than I did... C'est la vie!

Nevertheless, the support I have received via our own little MPN group has been a superb effort by all, and I am most impressed and grateful to everyone... So nice to have the support of my peers...

Thank you Mark...

Best wishes

Steve

PS. Hoping to do another Zoom Cafe Catchup shortly, perhaps Sunday May 9, from 6:30PM...? Will send out info shortly of course... S