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Welcome to the Wit2S website, you’re probably wondering ...
What was it all about?
40,075 kms, all uphill, no gears …
I was a 50 year old married, father of 3 with a full-time job plus the typical husband, home owner and dad duties who thought it would be a good idea to cycle the circumference of the world in my free time.
What Fundraising Helps Achieve …
The need for research funding
1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. In the 1970s 3 in 4 people diagnosed didn’t survive 10 years after their diagnosis. Today, thanks to CRUK’s efforts >50% of people survive more than 15 years and their goal is to get that to 75% in the next 20 years.
How the challenge was completed
4 Years and 4 Months ... then the pedalling stopped
In the end the challenge was completed virtually 20% ahead of target, the day before my 55th birthday. Over the duration of the challenge the patterns of what I would cycle and when I would do it changed a number of times as I worked to fit it around my home, work and family life. Throw in 3 operations, a bout of gout developed from eating too much fruit and drinking fruit cordial (thinking I was being healthy), the challenge took its toll on me physically.
As I understand it, the challenge is the longest single, exercise based, endurance fundraiser anyone has undertaken for Cancer Research UK.
Take a look at the Challenge Milestones to see how long it took me to pedal to each of the significant milestone cities, landmarks and countries over the 56 days of constant pedalling it took to get around the world virtually.
The journey in stages
See how long it took to reach each milestone destination; the kms travelled, the hours pedalling and the altitude climbed on my way to conquering a hill 802 kms high (equivalent to 91x Mt Everest stacked on top of each other).
Things you should know about my challenge
How Far is it to Travel The Circumference of the World?
Most round the world cycling challenges use land mass as the basis of distance covered and so you can cycle it in as few as 29,000kms. I cycled completely the circumference, including where oceans are and so my challenge was 40,075kms (24,301 miles).
Why Did I Do it on an Exercise Bike?
I work full time and am a married father of 3. I had to fit the challenge around my job and husband/father chores and responsibilities.
How Often Did I Cycle and How Many kms Did I Cycle per Session?
I cycled between 3 and 4 nights per week (usually after 8pm) and on weekends, aiming to complete a minimum of 50kms (just under 2hrs) per time at every opportunity.
Did I use a Special Exercise Bike?
No - my wife bought me the bike around 10yrs before the challenge when I set out to lose weight. It has a belt resistance which I set at 75% which is like continuously pedalling uphill, meaning I had to pedal every metre, there were no free metres, no easy bouts to recover and no let up! There are also no gears, meaning there was no way to generate high speeds as you can with a road bike. This is to reflect the uphill struggle cancer sufferers face, the arduous and testing situations the people who care for them have to endure and the battle the scientists are fighting in working to find cures, treatments and ways to prevent it occurring in the first place.
How Can You Support the Challenge?
if you’re an individual simply donate via my JustGiving page and donate what you want to and can afford. Everything and anything is appreciated.
If you are representing a company then you can donate as above and sponsor a flag of the world. I’ll add your logo and a link to your website on the flags of the world page which will be live for the duration of my challenge. Even though the challenge has been completed here is still an opportunity to donate and support Cancer Research UK.
Why Did I Compile The Honours List?
When I started the challenge and people learned it was to raise funds for cancer, many told me stories of loved ones they were donating to support, celebrate or remember. Those stories help keep me motivated on days when I didn’t necessarily feel like cycling. I wanted to honour both the people they relate to and thank the donors who are helping Cancer Research UK continue to make a difference.
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Wit2S blog
Whenever you're looking to achieve more success, the chances are that you will face rejection & obstacles. To help keep you motivated (& keep your sanity) these blog posts can help you as they have me, through tips, disciplines & stories relating to business & life skills, sales, management & success in general.
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