London-Edinburgh-London Cycle

By Jamie Smith

I'm fundraising for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

On Sunday 7th August I set off to participate in  London- Edinburgh- London, a 1540km self-supported cycle event in memory of my brother in law Alan, who sadly passed away from pancreatic cancer a year ago.

Alan loved life with his family-  working the garden, cooking his favourite recipes and walking his dogs.  Keeping fit and healthy was so important to Alan. He loved outdoor life-  kayaking, hillwalking, staying overnight in bothies and lunchtime swimming with "the Dookers". It’s still so hard to comprehend how someone in their prime, who endeavoured to keep themselves so healthy, could be taken so prematurely. 

Alan’s journey emphasised all the difficulties patients and their families face when dealing with pancreatic cancer.

Survival for most cancers has improved over the past 40 years, but not for pancreatic cancer. 

Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of any of the 22 common cancers. Currently, only around 10-20% of pancreatic cancer patients are diagnosed at an early stage and in time for potentially life-saving surgery.

It is the seventh highest cause of cancer death in the world. Despite this, it has been chronically underfunded, receiving less than 2 percent of the overall cancer research funding. 

Alan and his family felt helpless after his diagnosis with very little hope at every corner they turned. As well as vital funding into research into early diagnosis and treatments, Pancreatic Cancer UK charity helps support patients and families throughout their illness.

Alan was always the optimist and would want us to support the work of Pancreatic cancer UK to try and make real changes and transform the future for this terrible disease.

My donations could fund...

278 hours with a nurse on our Support Line

or

124 hours of early diagnosis research

My Achievements

Reached 100% of goal

Reached 50% of goal

Shared page

Self donated

My Updates

Finished !!!

Dear all, I am sorry I have taken a wee while to send a blog on my finish. After having a very fast run up to Edinburgh my challenges changed in a way I could not have envisaged. I initially developed Achilles problems, but with duct tape this settled quickly and enabled me to continue. However, at around the same time my neck muscles failed completely, making it very difficult to keep my head up!
I had never heard of this cycling injury before but is well recognised in any long distance multi day event.
This made my return leg a much more demanding and soul searching experience but a far more rewarding and emotional end.
Battling through the last day was helped by all the support that all of you have given.
One of Alan's passions was his music and we all have memories of him blasting out his favourite tunes whilst cooking or relaxing. Listening to my favourite tunes doing what I loved enriched my last day, flooding back many happy memories.
Alan would have been so proud and grateful for all the support you have shown towards Pancreatic Cancer UK and knowing that this will help try and beat this terrible disease.

Best Wishes to all

Jamie

End is insight

Again thank-you so much for all your generous donations.  It is a year today sine we said our goodbyes  to Alan at the wonderful Baldarroch crematorium.  Having so much time on the bike has been generous in allowing me to remember such beautiful memories of a great man.
A few injuries which I am trying to nurse and hopefully will get through the last stages.
Again thanks for all your support for such a great cause.

Night before

Hi everyone, I am really overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of all of you. I had never expected to get anywhere near what we have already achieved. Thank you so much.

I have had busy day travelling, registering and just finished getting bike already. Hopefully get a good rest.
A large amount of cyclists and from all corners of the globe. Bizarrely, the first person I spoke to was from Inverness!

You can follow my progress by looking at the link 

My number for the event is X29 in the first box and this will tell you what control I have reached.
The small box on the map, if you type in my name or my tracking number 427 you will see my live position.
I will try and update blog on my travels but may not be in a fit state. 
BW
Jamie

Thank you to my Sponsors

£20.80

Eddie Bryce

£60.32

Alistair Mckenzie

Great work Jamie! Sorry bit late to the party there. Best Wishes - Alistair

£20.80

Nicki Brown

Fantastic achievement for a very worthy cause....huge well done Jamie! 😊

£20.80

Cassandra Watson

What a distance to cycle Jamie. A great tribute to your brother in law. All the best on the journey!

£20.80

Alice

£100

Sonja & Simon Perry

Jamie, what an achievement and what a fantastic cause! Thank you for taking this challenge on, completing it successfully and in the process, raising the profile of this awful and cruel disease. What you’ve done will be of benefit to so many people.

£20.80

Sean Kane

Well done Jamie! What a great cause!

£20.80

Laura Beattie

Well done Jamie! Such a worthy cause! x

£60.32

Craig Buchan

Fantastic Effort.

£30

Ryan Smith

Fantastic effort and for such a worthwhile cause. I know Al would have wholeheartedly approved of both the achievement and the charity. Over a year on and he is still sorely missed. Such an incredible character, I know he would have been so proud of this.

£20.80

Ruth Beaton

Well done 👍🏻

£31.20

Mikaela Mackenzie

Fantastic achievement for such an amazing cause. I’m sure your brother in law would be very proud! Well done Jamie!

£50

Anna Cook

Congratulations on completing the cycle Anna, Alison & Anne

£10.40

Marie Rennie

I'm one of Robyn's teacher colleagues. This is such a worthy cause and an amazing challenge! Well done for completing.

£31.20

Jessica Munn

Well done and what a good cause.

£515

Jonathan Affolter

£104

Andrew Stewart

Well done big man

£52

Peter Lewis

Hi Jamie. It’s been a long time. What a fantastic effort. Hope it went well. Best wishes

£30.16

Sandy Roger

Well done Jamie, amazing ride!

£13

Aileen Maclean

Well done Jamie

£41.60

Mairi Macinnes

Well done Jamie 👏🏻 Great cause. Hope your not too sore when you get back!!

£52

Rhona Nixon

All the best Jamie, an amazing challenge for such a great cause.

£52

Nicola Joss

Looking forward to hearing about it Nicola and Jason

£26

Lindsay Threadgold

£52

Paul Beech

good luck Jamie. top man. Beechy x

£10.40

Isobel Emslie

Good on you. Used to work with Alan many years ago.

£15

Anne Marie Pollock

Awesome to consider doing it and even more awesome to actually do it :)

£30.16

Jim Watts

Good luck ! Can't believe it is a year already; he's sadly missed around the office.

£20.80

Bev Young-smith

That's absolutely amazing, and such a good cause. Best of luck!!!!

£41.60

Alison Fitzgerald

Good luck Jamie and be careful! A very worthy cause in memory of a lovely man.

£30

Anonymous

£20.80

Sheryl Innes

Well Done Jamie, that’s some mileage! Great effort, hope you raise loads! X

£20.80

The Bell Family

Well done!

£104

Andrea Smith

An incredible (mad!) cycle for a very important cause. We are all very proud of you Jamie and thinking lots about Alan as you cycle your 1500km.

£13.52

Amy Low

Well Done!!

£30.16

Murray Dewar

Great cause and best of luck. I worked with Alan for almost 20 years, great guy taken far too soon.

£10.40

Christine Sumner

Incredible challenge Jamie! Great cause. Good luck!

£20

Suzi Maclennan

What a crazy idea of a challenge. Well done for doing it 🚲

£13

Anonymous

Good luck 👍

£13.52

Margaret-anne

£20.80

Fiona Dunbar

Wow, what a mission. Best of luck Jamie. All for a very worth while cause.

£25

Kara Callum

Good Luck Jamie!

£41.60

Chiala And Sandy Crawford

£20.80

Jenny Stoner

Have a wonderful ride and in aid of such a good cause.

£20.80

Anonymous

Best of luck Jamie.

£154

Peter & Kirstin

£20.80

Anonymous

Here’s to you and a great cause! 😎

£52

Duncan Riddoch

That's some undertaking Jamie, best of luck with the ride, it's an amazing tribute to Alan! Best wishes from Duncan & the boys

£26

Garry And Pam Nicoll

Bon courage Jamie All the best Allez allez allez

£52

Lorraine Duff

Good luck Jamie, such a worthy cause x

£104

David Johnston

Good Luck for the start tomorrow, we’re all thinking of you xx

£13.52

Rebecca Murdoch

Best of Luck!!

£52

Miriam

A very worthwhile cause Jamie. Best of luck - may the wind be always at your back!

£30

Heather Czarnecki

Hoping for a tailwind down and up, good luck, fantastic cause.

£52

Hamish & Family

Good luck with your mammoth cycle for a very worthy cause!

£20.80

Nicole Macdonald

A very worthy cause, good luck Jamie!

£8.32

Rachel Fraser - Ccu

Goodluck Jamie!!

£20.80

Anonymous

£25

Anne & Alec Smith

Well done Jamie!

£52

Alan And Irene Tiffany

Proud of you Jamie. We wish you all the best. Take care, love Alan and Irene x

£104

Caroline Smith

£60.32

Lesley Cook

Good on you Jamie! Great cause x

£20.80

Amanda Chapman

£52

Rod

You are a legend Jamie, hope you are somehow able to enjoy the journey

£15.60

Julia Szewczyk

A worthy cause Jamie . I lost my Granny to this awful disease 😞 Good luck 👍

£52

Ruth J

Best of luck with this crazy challenge.

£20.80

Marie Rosie

Best of luck Jamie!

£40

Elizabeth And Ian Beaton

Amazing tribute ❤️

£52

Steve Leslie

£15.60

Ethmay Dunbar

£15.60

Abigail Macmillan

Great cause Jamie. I know as I've been there having cancer myself .Pancreatic cancer is the worst ever cancer . Well done

£52

Kenneth Mcdonald

£8.32

Anonymous

£41.60

Anonymous

£60.32

Ailsa Wayman

Good luck!

£52

Claire Lee

Wow. What a challenge. Wishing you all the best and hoping you also manage to enjoy it. With love from Graham, Claire, Erin & Brodie x

£20

Amanda Lintott

Very best of luck. We will be thinking of you. Amanda, Peter, livvy and GeorgIe

£15

Karin Middleton

Good luck 👍

£20

Dawn Hayes

Now all those long Strava rides you’ve been doing make sense! 😄 What a great cause, all the best for the week ahead.

£15.60

Carina Chisholm

Good Luck Jamie! :-)

£20.80

Lindsay Parsonage

Lost a very close family member to pancreatic cancer. Great cause and Goodluck!

£20.80

Lynsey Macpherson

Enjoy the ride.

£30.16

Elizabeth Bowman

Well done. I have a friend with pancreatic cancer. Every penny to research is worthwhile. Good Luck from Elizabeth, Paul and Shevaun.

£30.16

Lynn Kelly

Good luck Jamie! Great cause.

£20.80

Lynn Hall

£31.20

Kathryn Rusk

Good Luck Jamie!

£104

The Padmos Family

Good luck! An incredible adventure in aid of a very worthy cause.

£20.80

Anonymous

Fantastic effort, well done!

£104

Charlie Bloe

I lost both of my parents to this hideous disease so can’t than you enough for what you are doing to help address it Jamie

£100

The Paterson Family

Good luck Jamie!

£52

Louise Cowie

All the best Jamie - great effort for a great cause, from Steven, Louise, Jacob & Daniel

£20.80

Elaine Brailsford

Good Luck Jamie, great cause.

£20

Liz Barr

Good luck and remember to enjoy it!

£104

Pauline And Alan Campbell

Such a great cause Best of luck!

£104

Dawn And Alasdair

Well done Jamie for doing this.What a worthy cause.Stay safe.x

£104

Anonymous

Great effort Jamie - Alan was a top bloke and it’s unbelievably sad that he’s gone. My mum (your aunt Pat) also died of pancreatic cancer.

£20

Gillian Farrell

£41.60

Fraser Family

Good luck on your ride for such a great cause.

£52

Foddy, Jenny & Rory

Amazing Jamie - good luck!

£208

Eric Smith

Good Luck, cycle safely xx

£30.16

Sandy Roger

Good luck Jamie!

£104

Dave Johnston

Go for it Jamie!

£50

Gladys Barcley

This a great cause Jamie in memory of Alan who meant a lot to me. Gook luck.

£174.72

Martin Watson

Good luck Jamie, a worthy cause and done in the name of a lifelong pal. Here's to the big Al.

£20.80

Karen Yule-walker

Best of luck.

£30

Graeme & Lyndsey

Happy cycling and hope you’ve got plenty snacks! Love The Bells

£31.20

Karen Macleod

Good luck Jamie and well done for fund raising in memory of Al

£20.80

Isabelle Paterson

Well done and Good luck!

£100

Scott And Kerry

Best of luck Jamie, will be cheering you on!

£20.80

Joyce Good

Safe cycling

£52

Libby Walker

Well done Uncle Jamie for doing this. X

£52

Max Walker

Good luck Jamie, don’t forget to shave those legs and listen to some good tunes!

£10.40

Kieran Lennox

Good luck! And well done!

£52

John Harvie

Good Luck Jamie Pop in for a cuppa when passing 😄!! Karen and John

£104

Peter And Emma Vernon

Well done mate good job.

£70

Sheila & Dave

Well done Jamie, much appreciated , Sheila & Dave

£52

Sean Brown

This is an amazing challenge and one that Al would have been right behind. All our best wishes in memory of Al and all those fighting this disease Sean, Darren + William

£104

Robyn Walker

Proud of you Jamie- safe travels, love Robyn, Max and Libbyxxx

£13

Keir Harvie

£208

Sheila And James

Sheila anI wish you luck you are a brave man Love Sheila andJames xx

£104

Don Hancock

Good luck mate.

£60.32

Gairn And Katrina

Best of Luck Jamie

£30.16

Kathryn Michie

£52

Jonathan Ball

Go for it Jamie!! An enormous challenge but ‘you’re the man!!’

£20.80

Kate Atkins

Good luck Jamie. Kx

£50

Jill Stevenson

Go Jamie - you will smash it!x

£52

Findlay, Claire, Rory And Lucy

Phenomenal! Very best wishes from the Boyds x

£60.32

Kirsten Storey

Good luck Jamie. What a well deserving cause.

£60.32

Andrew Storey

Well done Jamie, good luck!

£52

Fiona Littlejohn

Rather you than me!

£100

Heather Erickson

Go for it Jamie! Lots of love The Ericksons xx

£20

Krzysztof Pater

A great cause. Zone 2 all the way!

£52

Steve, Jane, Iona & Rachael

Good luck Jamie, I hope there are tail winds and pelotons 🚴

£60.32

Charles Knoery

Great effort and great cause. Let me know if there is anything to do to help

£30.16

Joanne

Such a good cause Jamie, good luck with your cycle 👍

£104

Anonymous

We’ll Done Big Man

£58

Mehran Asgari

What a cause, what a mission! 👏 👏

£52

Kevin Johnston

Good luck Jamie, under 100 hours !!

£15.40

Debbie Du Preez

Good luck Jamie!

£29

Hamish

Hope you enjoy the journey & all for a such great cause! 👍 Have a good one, all 1540km?! 👊

£100

Anonymous

Phenomenal effort in an excellent cause, Jamie. Chapeau!

£29

Will Rutherford

Have a great cycle, what a great cause, We will all be rooting for you👍👍👍

£50

Jonny Watt

Totally great to support fundraising for pancreatic cancer. Fantastic cause for crazy mission!

£100

Jamie Smith