It was a rather nippy evening back in March 2010. The fire was crackling away and I was just slumping back into a trusty old armchair and pondering life, cars and whether to have a snifter of Caol Isla or the Talisker single malt. Rather rashly, I glanced at my iPhone and flicked onto twitter to check that all was well with the world. Oh my…
Before I go any further down that road, I need to pause, hit the rewind button and whisk you back about six or so months. On the recommendation of Duncan Bannatyne, the well-known businessman, I had started following on twitter an inspiring chap by the name of Callum Fairhurst a.k.a. @blackpigsweets .
Callum had tragically lost his 14-year-old brother Liam (www.liamfairhurst) to cancer. I will still never to this day fully know how awful that must have been for him and his family. Their bravery and courage and determination to carry on has spoken more to me about humankind than any other and I have been privileged and honoured to get to know them a little these past months.
There is an old saying that I adore and it kind of sums up Callum and I suspect his brother Liam too – “It’s better to live one day as a tiger…than a thousand as a sheep!”. In his short lifetime, Liam raised the staggering sum of £320,000 for Clic Sargent, the children’s cancer charity.
I’ll say that again – £320,000!! That’s a serious shed load of cash and I am in utter awe at what he achieved. Callum has taken up the fund-raising challenge and is one the most creative and entrepreneurial people I’ve ever met.
I’ll say that again – £320,000!! That’s a serious shed load of cash and I am in utter awe at what he achieved. Callum has taken up the fund-raising challenge and is one the most creative and entrepreneurial people I’ve ever met.So, back to crackling fires and nippy evenings in March. Callum and I were randomly tweeting away about new fundraising ideas, as one does. I recall Callum saying that if he got to 500 followers on twitter by the end of the evening, then he would cycle from John O’Groats to Lands End. Well, of course, within an hour Callum had passed 500 followers and the rest is history… twyclebritain was born.
Within 24 hours of that evening, all kinds of offers flooded in from people neither of us had met or heard of even. Creative help, website design, logo creations, support cars, riders, PR & project managers… It was decided it would be great to use the ride to raise much-needed funds for Clic Sargent and carry on Liam’s tremendous work that he’d started. The brilliant Sam Cise on twitter suggested the name and so within 24 hours – twyclebritain.co.uk was not only born but had raced through the baby, toddler and teenage stage all in one day!
Through it, I personally have been simply staggered at human kindness. Until recently, none of the participants or team had even met each other. None was even that mad on cycling – they were simply united by a common desire to make a difference. To help make lives better. With your help, they are achieving that.
I have also been gobsmacked at people’s astonishing kindness and generosity. Strangers and friends alike have given to this event – be it helping with tweeting, publicity and promotion – every single action has been of enormous and vital help. We have received amazing donations of money, auction prizes and creative expertise. Staggering gifts were donated to the auction we held – ranging from rides on buses and trains right through to yummy cupcakes and holidays in beautiful homes.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. You have all been tolerant with constant tweeting and emails and I have really been blow away by EVERYONES kindness, generosity and help. Thank you. I mean it – thank you. With so many different good things to get behind and support, we have all been so touched and moved by your kindness. Thank you.
An event like twyclebritain.co.uk does not simply happen by itself and there are simply hoards of amazing people who have made it become a reality. Thank you to each and every one of you. Each of the riders have been stars and when they set of this coming Sunday, they will ready for a break from all the work they have done! I really want to take this opportunity to publicly thank the astonishing Jo Eveleigh from DealDrivers in Cirencester. From day one, she has bravely taken up the mantle of making twycle happen and without her, none of this would be happening. Tirelessly and ceaselessly, she has worked and pushed, supported, driven and led the organisation of this event – most of it unknown to the world and without seeking thanks or glory. On behalf of everyone involved in twycle – thank you Jo. She’s driven me mad – but made a good friend for life!
Please do have a look this week sometime at the twyclebritain.co.uk website and follow the progress of the riders. You can follow on twitter too if you click here – www.twitter.com/twyclebritain . Well worth following – especially if you’re into lycra, if nothing else!
You can still very much donate – remember every penny goes to Clic Sargent. The direct link to the website is found click here –www.justgiving.com/twycle
The riders assemble this Friday, travel to Scotland over the weekend and set off on their adventurous and intrepid journey on Sunday morning and arrive in Cornwall the following Friday/ Saturday. God bless them and bon voyage!
So, if you’ve been wondering what all these tweets about twycle have been – there you have it. The exclusive story. It’s a story about one young mans courage and grit to really make a difference and lives better. Callum – you are a star and its an honour to know you and your family. Well done 
Monty.
