2012-05-13 - Oxford town and gown race

What is it about charities and fundraising that causes such strong emotions?

Is it that supporters are so insistent of the merit of their cause, or that the claims on our money are becoming ever more constant. Surely, supporting the fight against disease and injustice, is something that we should leave to governments, and our elected officials.

But then again, maybe the humility demanded of asking someone for money, and support, in these self obsessed times, has its own merit. A bit of servitude, the risk of rejection, the act of doing something for others, where we have nothing to gain, may add to the richness and validity of our lives.

These may have been the motives for the Town and Gown ride in May, but it must be said that the chance to ride, at dawn, to Oxford, with the chill nip of the morning adding to the trepidation, in the most delightful of company, was a major advantage. The day was glorious, from the sunrise at our backs as we headed out on the A40, the welcoming committee at Watlington with much needed food and drink, to Fat Old Bloke's bike parking bay, hard up against Keeble College, to the amazing welcome and interest on the run itself.

And who can forget Hat's bottle of port at the finish? The perfect isotonic drink, at the most opportune of moments.

If that was not enough, we also won an award from the charity, for most innovative fundraising team of the year. Here is a picture of me receiving the award from the President of the MD Campaign, the delightful, witty and charming Sue Barker.

Thanks, one and all, for being there, for supporting the fundraising effort, and reaffirming my belief in the inherant goodness of people, and our ability to find a cure and overcome the terrible misfortune of muscular dystrophy.