"Petrofac and Thistle" Say it again, it rolls off the tongue like sweet nectar!!

That's us off the ground. We now have to step up and earn the £300 donated by this multi national engineering company. One Mr P Stephenson has worked some magic and secured us our first major donation and will officially ride his little bike all the way to the bank to deposit this sum when he returns from his most recent exotic off shore adventure.

Crikey! This means it's real! No more procrastinating about nutrition plans, routes, conditioning and training . . .we've actually got to do the lot!

Joking aside. I am under no illusion as to the enormity of what we are planning, but I have ultimate faith in the team of lads to step up to the plate and do amazing things in the name of 'The Butterwick Hospice'. This is one thing I am excited about; my mates achieve more than they thought possible and immensely more than others think they are capable of.

It all starts now Hartlepool endurance Team . . . good luck and once again, massive thanks to Petrofac and Thistle!