Barrie Wade's Australian bike ride
Mission Accomplished!
Well, George W Bush has gone home with his three Jumbos, transport planes, SWAT vans, entourage (including personal chef and four cooks) and 250 Secret Service Agents. It has stopped raining, Sydney is sunnier and now contemplating the APEC cost of $330 million. I decided my last photograph would be neither the Opera House nor Bondi Beach – both places made inaccessible by fences, dogs and security teams. Instead I cycled to the waterfront and Ann photographed me with the Harbour Bridge in the background.
Thus my journey from Indian to Pacific Oceans is complete. It has been unique, enjoyable and fulfilling. On behalf of the Alexandra Hospital and Mencap I am immensely grateful to all of you, my sponsors, for your generosity and for your faith that I would complete my challenge. Special thanks go to Ann for her back-up and to Maggie and Ian who have enabled you to follow my progress.
2007 is a wonderful year of celebration. The Alexandra hospital, in Redditch celebrates its 20th anniversary and Mencap, the charity that supports people with a learning disability, celebrates its 60th year.
To mark these milestones, Barrie Wade will attempt to cycle solo across Australia from Perth to Sydney. This will involve more than four and a half thousand kilometres of unsupported cycling, rugged terrain, intense heat in the Nullarbor desert and long distances between water availability. Barrie will pay all of his own expenses on this challenge, so that all money raised in support can be equally divided between the Alexandra Hospital and Mencap.
Barries' personal connection with these charities is that the Alex Accident and Emergency and Cardiac Care Units gave him lifesaving support after a heart attack just before he retired. He is also a govenor of Mencap National College, which prepares young people with a learning disability for the next stage of their lives.
The Alex needs funds to buy modern equipment for its new staff Education Centre. Teaching tool such as the Sim Man, a simulated human being, are vital but expensive. Mencap continually need money to help support thousands of people to do the things most of us take for granted - through their services in housing, education, employment and leisure.
Barrie wiill start his cycle marathon on July 26th, 2007. The aim is to raise well over £30,000 through sponsorship and during the trip he will be posting diary entries on this website
Please give as generously as you can to these two worthwhile causes. Donations may be made online or by post, details can be found on the sponsorship page.