It's been some time now between posts and many of you must be wondering what's been happening now that it's early May.
After much thought and discussion, we have decided to postpone The Long Road Tour until April 2012. We are both disappointed that we have to wait a little longer before our Tour can begin but know that it is the best thing for us to do, for a few reasons.
Unfortunately earlier in the year Jason suffered sprained ligaments in his ankle, an injury which put restrictions on preparations and training for the task ahead, and the risk of further injury during the ride was far to high if it hadn't been left to heal properly.
Also the extra time allows us to get more businesses involved in supporting us and more time to raise extra money for our chosen charities. Putting a 10,000+ km ride together takes a large amount of preparation so with the extra time now available to us, we have decided make our tour bigger and better than originally planned, with some major changes in the works.
These include a slightly longer and modified tour route and itinerary that hope will help to reach a greater audience to which we can promote our worthy causes. Some exciting news regarding sponsorship: We have been in discussions with a major Australian business who is interested in sponsoring our journey, pushing the tour back to 2012 has enabled greater opportunities to obtain further support from this organisation. So really our disappointing decision has a silver lining. Unfortunately at this present time we are unable to publicly release many more details but stay tuned.
While we were at it we also decided to add a pre-tour ride to our new itinerary. A short tour from Adelaide to Melbourne here in Australia, which we have started to plan and aim for early 2012. The intention of this additional ride is to help promote the main ride and push the message further. It is also a fantastic opportunity for us to gauge where we are at with our preparation, as well as test the gear we will be using while on the main tour.
So to our followers and fans we would like to thank you for your support to date, don't lose heart, we are pushing ahead with our plans and hope to make the journey even better than what we originally thought.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Time to say goodbye
On the 2nd of April 2011, Melva Florence Derham, grandmother to Garry, lost her battle with cancer after a courages fight. A fight that went on for over 6 years and at one stage was looking to be won.
Below is a tribute by Garry for his Grandmother:
Melva (Nan), was born in 1924 at Murrumburrah, NSW and was the 4th child out of seven. In 1938, Nan and her family moved to Cootamundra after my Great Grandfather was transferred. It was here that Nan would remain for the rest of her life, working as a nurse during the war, meeting my grandfather Stan (pop) not long after war was declared, marrying, having 5 children, 11 grand children, and 16 great grand children (with one on the way to make it 17).
I don't have many memories of Nan and Pop before Pop passed away, as i was only very young, apart from Nan's "no non-sense" face, her voice and cooking snails out the front of the farm on the outskirts of Coota(mundra). That voice didn't change even after she sold the farm and moved into Coota. I commented to many people that even while she was sick and becoming frail, if you spoke to her on the phone you could hear the same voice. It was that voice that made me forget what she was going through and remember Nan as she was before. Sitting on the veranda out the back of Thompson St, Coota, knitting needles in hand, working on something. She always had her knitting needles. Even when her knuckles where riddled with arthritis, Nan's hands would still be a blur as she made a jumper for someone in record time. Introducing my young family to Nan and the relatives, and the family Christmas parties at one of my Uncles/Aunties place are also memories I will have with me forever.
As a lot of people would say, growing up during the World War period was tough and made you tough. Nan was no exception. She lived by herself (not alone, as Nan had many family and friends nearby) since she lost her mate in 1982, she travelled, mostly by herself, but more importantly she fought. Fought the disease that wanted nothing more than to stop her. I can still remember Nan a couple of months before she past away saying to me, as she did many others, "... they are going to find a cure for me". It was this spirit to fight, to never give up till the last breath that inspired the journey I'm going to take.
See ya Nan. Going to miss you lots. Say hello to Pop for me.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Parkinson's NSW
The Charites Part 2.
WHO WE ARE:
We work in partnership with a network of support groups throughout the State.
We encourage research into Parkinson’s disease and co-operate with those undertaking it.
We advocate on behalf of the Parkinson’s community and strive to increase community awareness of the disease.
We look towards taking a leadership role in representing the Parkinson’s community in New South Wales and Australia-wide.
OUR VISION: A community free of Parkinson’s disease.
OUR MISSION: To enhance the quality of life to all people living with Parkinson’s disease.
PARKINSON’S DISEASE IN BRIEF:
• A chronic progressive, incurable, complex, disabling neurological condition.
• The four key symptoms are tremor, rigidity, akinesia/ bradykinesia and postural instability, with many secondary symptoms.
• Over 80,000 Australian’s have been diagnosed with Parkinson ’s disease.
• 10% of those diagnosed will be under the age of 40.
• Parkinson’s disease is more prevalent than prostate, ovarian or cervical cancer or leukemia
• 1 in 5 people with Parkinson’s disease are working age (15-64)
• Prevalence increasing at around 2-3% pa
To donate, visit "The Long Road" donation page or email us at donate@thelongroadtour.com
We work in partnership with a network of support groups throughout the State.
We encourage research into Parkinson’s disease and co-operate with those undertaking it.
We advocate on behalf of the Parkinson’s community and strive to increase community awareness of the disease.
We look towards taking a leadership role in representing the Parkinson’s community in New South Wales and Australia-wide.
OUR VISION: A community free of Parkinson’s disease.
OUR MISSION: To enhance the quality of life to all people living with Parkinson’s disease.
PARKINSON’S DISEASE IN BRIEF:
• A chronic progressive, incurable, complex, disabling neurological condition.
• The four key symptoms are tremor, rigidity, akinesia/ bradykinesia and postural instability, with many secondary symptoms.
• Over 80,000 Australian’s have been diagnosed with Parkinson ’s disease.
• 10% of those diagnosed will be under the age of 40.
• Parkinson’s disease is more prevalent than prostate, ovarian or cervical cancer or leukemia
• 1 in 5 people with Parkinson’s disease are working age (15-64)
• Prevalence increasing at around 2-3% pa
For more information about Parkinson’s disease and the support services offered by Parkinson’s NSW, ring toll-free 1800 644 189 or visit http://www.parkinsonsnsw.org.au/
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Jason and myself (Garry) would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Hopefully yours and your family's wishes all came true over the festive season. Now it's time to party into the New Year.
But before I / we go, a quick recap of the year that's about to pass and some thank you's. Bring on the visual blur and music as we reminisce of times past. If you have some of those funky incense sticks now's the time to light them:
2010 was an interesting year to say the least for The Long Road. Jason went and hit me up with this grand scheme of travelling the world and it all began (ok, he didn't need to ask, I actually put my hand up).
The name we chose for this trip, The Long Road, has certainly lived up to itself. What was thought to be easy has been a real hard slog with setting things up, hunting down what we will need, trying to spread the word of what we are doing and attempting to get sponsors on board. But we have progressed through with the simple thought of why we are doing this and, as I'm sure, all Parkinsons and Cancer sufferes have done it tougher. We remain positive that this will be a success.
By the way we are still looking for sponsors and equipment suppliers so if you know anyone that can help out please pass on the good word and our details or let us know and we will send through our sponsor pack.
Now to the "Thank You's":
To everyone that has helped us so far, a big thank you. Cycle City Ballarat who jumped on board from the start, Sam from Tour De Cure who helped at the beginning in guiding us to and through places we had never been to previously or even thought about. To those charities we are supporting, Parkinsons Australia (NSW), Cure Cancer Australia, Livestrong (The Lance Armstrong Foundation), and Team Fox (The M J Fox Foundation), thankyou for your time and patience. We are slowly but surely getting to our goal start date. To all our followers on this site, Face Book and Twitter, thank you for simply being there and watching as we bumble our way through.
Last but not least, thank you to our families. You have supported both Jason and I through this hairbrained idea and pushed when we needed to be pushed, even if you think we are stupid to be doing it. We've not left yet so the stupidity hasn't even started.
In closing I hope everone has a great New Years. Stay safe but most of all have fun. 2011 here we come.
But before I / we go, a quick recap of the year that's about to pass and some thank you's. Bring on the visual blur and music as we reminisce of times past. If you have some of those funky incense sticks now's the time to light them:
2010 was an interesting year to say the least for The Long Road. Jason went and hit me up with this grand scheme of travelling the world and it all began (ok, he didn't need to ask, I actually put my hand up).
The name we chose for this trip, The Long Road, has certainly lived up to itself. What was thought to be easy has been a real hard slog with setting things up, hunting down what we will need, trying to spread the word of what we are doing and attempting to get sponsors on board. But we have progressed through with the simple thought of why we are doing this and, as I'm sure, all Parkinsons and Cancer sufferes have done it tougher. We remain positive that this will be a success.
By the way we are still looking for sponsors and equipment suppliers so if you know anyone that can help out please pass on the good word and our details or let us know and we will send through our sponsor pack.
Now to the "Thank You's":
To everyone that has helped us so far, a big thank you. Cycle City Ballarat who jumped on board from the start, Sam from Tour De Cure who helped at the beginning in guiding us to and through places we had never been to previously or even thought about. To those charities we are supporting, Parkinsons Australia (NSW), Cure Cancer Australia, Livestrong (The Lance Armstrong Foundation), and Team Fox (The M J Fox Foundation), thankyou for your time and patience. We are slowly but surely getting to our goal start date. To all our followers on this site, Face Book and Twitter, thank you for simply being there and watching as we bumble our way through.
Last but not least, thank you to our families. You have supported both Jason and I through this hairbrained idea and pushed when we needed to be pushed, even if you think we are stupid to be doing it. We've not left yet so the stupidity hasn't even started.
In closing I hope everone has a great New Years. Stay safe but most of all have fun. 2011 here we come.
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