Honoured, privileged, grateful; such adjectives describe my feelings along with good fortune that enabled me to become an End to Ender. Lands End to John O'Groats, or in Froglais abbreviation, Le Jog, do the return trip and it becomes Le Jogle.
Celebrating a birthday is, perhaps ashamedly, something I never seem to have done, nor ever thought very much about. (For the record, born January 1925). At this age I now see in every beautifully sculptured tree, every leaf, flower, blade of grass, animal, insect and ourselves, the Homo Sapien - all, in wonderment. For this privilege I pragmatically honour my parents.
So in this year of collected anniversaries: I skied on my birthday, cycled a hundred miles in one day and became an End to Ender.
A friend, Adam, had a deep aneurysm monitored for 10 years, knowing eventually only invasive delicate surgery could save his life.
One day it happened. The operation was carried out followed by intensive care. Before full recovery Adam was found to have lung cancer. Another major operation was not possible. Instead, a large area of lung was laser eroded. During this long period of illness a kidney atrophied and many other lesser ailments came in for treatment.
This year, the year of my collected celebrations, Adam, hardly able to breathe; determined on recovery, carried out a three week driving tour of Britains great scenery. This is courage that inspires all of us - and there are many like Adam. The Charities we support in research play a large part in revealing endless courageous stories.
My Bike Ride was for leukaemia research in children, the Village Charity this year. Friends and relations in the medical profession say that we have reached a point of cure in some leukaemias, as opposed to treating the illness.
So, not only have your donations gone to this extremely rewarding research but; at the same time I have taken every single donation as a personal encouragement with me on my ride. Le Jog is 987 miles bicycle 875 by car.
One day I said to my wife, "Marie, I shall dedicate Le Jog to you; how can I put that in cement?" Her reply, You just did - you said it."There it is, all of you, the donors and my wife made it possible. And to Dennis my back-up. Thank you all.
Cyril Pegram