From the Left: Chris,  Pam Cocksedge OBE and Lucas at Carl Hester’s box in Sark

3,000 miles, 111 Gold Post Boxes, 27 days, 2 cyclists, 3 charities –
Two intrepid cyclists have completed day 3 of a 3,000 mile 27 day trip to visit all 111 Gold Post Boxes from London 2012’s Olympic & Paralympic Games as well as over 20 venues used. Chris Britton of Bristol and Lucas Meagor of Kingston upon Hull will be supporting three charities – ParalympicsGB, Tree of Hope and Sport Relief.

The trek commenced with Helen Glover’s post box in Penzance (for a gold in the Women’s pairs rowing) and concludes at around 5:30pm on Thursday 26 June at the post box on Hessle Road in Kingston upon Hull commemorating Luke Campbell’s Gold medal in Men’s Boxing Bantem weight. In between the route takes the pair to Sark in the Channel islands (courtesy of Condor Ferries), through the Olympic Park, to the Isle of Man (compliments of the Isle of Man Steam Packet) and includes the three Northern Irish boxes (ferry back to Scotland courtesy of P&O). It is believed to be the first man powered continuous trip to all 111 Gold Post Boxes.

Day 3 has taken the due to Weymouth bay and Portland harbour – where the Olympic & Paralympic sailing took place, before taking the ferry to Guernsey courtesy of Condor Ferries, and a specially commissioned sped boat to Sark, thanks to the Rev Mark Street, a Methodist minister on the former island. Mark had arranged for John Downing, accompanied by Alan Hill, to transport the bikes and riders to Carl Hester’s gold box on Sark. Carl won gold in Equestrian Dressage Team and his grandma, Pam Cocksedge, was at the box to greet the duo, who had permission to ride up and down the hill. After the photographs it was a quick cuppa from Caroline in the Post Office while Winnie from www.sarkscribe.com (Facebook www.facebook.com/SarkScribe ) and Old Station Gift Shop made them souvenir magnets of themselves by the postbox. John, who drove the boat, used to swim at National Level and has cerebral Palsy, child sufferers of which can be supported through Tree of Hope.

The duo are no strangers to long distance cycling having completed Land’s End to John O’Groats over 9 days in 2011 and over 600 miles in the West to East challenge across the UK in 2012. The cyclists will have support vehicles each day, including six days provided by Morphed Landscapes and will transport snacks provided by Sainsbury’s. Chris, 36 from Brislington, Bristol, has been granted four weeks leave from his employment with the MOD in Bristol and meets Lucas on the train to Cornwall on Friday. Lucas, 38, of Kingston upon Hull, was a Games Maker at the Olympic Stadium for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 and now studies Events Management full time at Leeds Metropolitan University. The pair met when working in Bristol. Lucas is from Frome, Somerset originally. Lucas has planned the route with mapping by Philips provided courtesy of Waterstones, Kingston upon Hull.

The 27 days represents the number of days competitions during the two games combined. Chris selected the charity Tree of Hope to support a friend’s child, Jaye, from Bristol, who has cerebral Palsy and funds raised will go towards key operations to help him walk and develop. Lucas wanted to support ParalympicsGB after having his eyes opened at London 2012’s Paralympic Games and seeing the pride in the success of the country’s paralympians. He recently attended a sports fest where the legacy lives on in engaging with those with disabilities in the range of sports under their programme and even had the opportunity to meet 4 time gold medallist, Dame Sarah Storey along with Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympic Gold medallist, Kelly Gallagher.

Sport Relief encompassed the link to a range of supports and using sport to raise funds to support a range of causes throughout the UK and Africa. Both Chris and Lucas were inspired throughout London 2012 and will be visiting each venue used for the games on route (including all the football stadia) in the hope the trip will also promote the legacy of sport and the opportunities it brings.

The pair in distinctive specially designed T-shirts, thanks to ARCO and the route will be traceable online each day and a blog will be posted each night at www.lucaskeepsrunning.co.uk. They will have a pop up banner (thanks to David Richards UK Ltd & Magic Spoon Corporate Identity Design) to promote the fund raising on route too – and welcome anyone wishing to join them or cheer them on. The route plan is also online and they very much would like a convoy of bikes to complete the journey with them from Barton upon Humber to Hessle Road, Kingston upon Hull on 26 June at 4:30pm.

Online
You can also follow progress on,
Facebook (lucaskeepsrunning)
twitter (@lucaskeepsrun) #goldpostboxcycle

Donate
To donate please go to,

www.viriginmoneygiving.com/team/goldpostboxes  or to donate by text to your chosen charity; ParalympicsGB: PARA83 £(amount) to 70070; Tree of Hope: TREE54 £(amount) to 70070; Sport Relief: POST63 £(amount) to 70070 .