McNabb's Mexican Challenge

“If you brake…. you don’t win!!” (Mario Cipollini)

Aye right….. I’m sure if this character Mario had done any cycling in the Mournes, he’d def be using the brakes!! I know that I certainly was!!!

The Mournes = Mountains of Pain

Well, my training has started in earnest- I was off work this week and I should have 200 miles chalked up by the end of tomorrow! I’ve done a series of different circuits- mainly around the Comber Greenway, Hills of Carryduff, Mountains of Mourne and the Lagan Towpath.

Warrenpoint

Thanks to Debs for lending me her hybrid bike this week (as below)- its made a big difference and I think i’m def gonna have to swap my mountain bike for one over the next couple months.

Biking has taken priority over cooking!

All the intensive training has been carried out because I realised that my Lap round Lough Neagh is actually next Saturday!!! Aggghhhhhh. There has been talk that the Lap might actually be 113miles!! This might be a slight case of biting off more than I can chew… but sure we’ll see how it goes!

I have been in touch with Macmillan recently to see if my fundraising can be channelled back into a local project. Thanks to Laura Johnston in the Belfast office, for sorting this out. The Fundraising will go towards a new Palliative Care Unit in Antrim Area Hospital. This is a new Antrim unit which will provide specialist care to people with terminal illnesses, particularly cancer. Work has already started on this £5m unit and my fundraising will be directed towards this appeal. For more information on this appeal, please go to: http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Fundraising/Inyourarea/Northern_Ireland/Latest_News/Workstartson5mAntrimpalliativecareunit.aspx

Also- My fundraising barometer has now hit £170 so far!

And finally….. the ‘Mexican Pub Quiz’has been arranged! (Click on Poster Link Below)

It will be held upstairs in Judes Bar (Ormeau Rd) at 8pm on Thurs 12th August. Hopefully this will really kick-start the fundraising. Thanks to Judes Bar and also thanks to the local Mexican DJ- Juan Beagonio who will be providing Party tunes and Mariachi music on the night. If anyone would like to donate something towards the Ballot/Auction- please get in touch through the ‘Contact Me’ Section.

Adios!

Chris

Buenos días Amigos y Amigas!

As some of you know already, I’ve decided to do the Macmillan Cancer Support ‘Mexico Coast to Coast’ Challenge (aka ‘El Grandisimo!’) from 26th March to 7th April 2011!

The challenge is 612km of cycling- starting on the east at the Gulf of Mexico, through dense jungle and tropical farmland, up over mountain ranges - including a 3,000m climb – and down to the ultimate goal, the beautiful beaches of Acapulco on the Pacific Coast!

Due to the colour of my hair/complexion, I think an XXXL Sombrero may need to be purchased before it! and probably a few barrels of Factor 40!!

When I hit Acapulco.. I will park the bike up and the image below is what I will be doing to celebrate/Cool-off!!

Cliff Diving in Acapulco!

There will be about 60 of us taking part in the challenge and we’ll be camping out in tents along the way. Between now and then I have to raise £3,500 in fundraising. At least 64% will be treated as a donation to Macmillan and the rest covers the cost of the flights, use of bikes, support crew etc for the challenge. 100% of anything over £3,500 will go straight to Macmillan.

To help raise these funds, I have a series of events in mind, but I would also welcome any donations http://www.justgiving.com/Chris-McNabb0 or any support that you can offer.

My first event will be a cycling lap of Lough Neagh- upto 100miles on Sat 24th July. There will be a few of us doing this and if you want to take part- please let me know.

The next event will be a Mexican Pub Quiz- upstairs in Judes Bar on the Ormeau Road on Thurs August 12th at 8pm.

If your interested in attending either of the above- please get in touch on the ‘Contact Me’ section.

More events will follow later this year and early next year!

If you’re interested in corporate sponsorship or buying one of my photos- please click on the relevant links on the right hand side.

Well, I better knuckle down to a bit of training- that’s the easy bit!!!!!!

Thanks very much for taking the time to visit the site and any donations or support will be greatly received!

Hasta la vista!

Chris

Arrrriiiibbbaaaa!