Driving a Power Wheelchair from Lands End to John O'Groats

Olympic Game 2012

2011-11-05T10:19:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone

It has been a long time since i last wrote to you, the E2E is now becoming a distant dream. Alex still has pride of place in my sitting room and my wall holds the GWR certificate that my team made possible, so why write now? I once again need your help.

Last year, along with 25000 other hopefuls, i applied to be a Games Maker at the 2012 Olympic Games, we made it to the interview and yes we made it the selection and have been offered a place as one of the 70000 Games Maker and will be posted to the transport section at the athletics village, I have my support team, we have all the camping equipment we need but we do not have a grass to put them upon Can you help us.

What we are looking for is accommodation for myself and my team very near to the Olympic Villiage..

This could be two rooms, someones garden to put up or tents, infact we would consider most places that we could hang our hats. A church room, a hall. ect Remember i am in a wheelchair so we need washing facilities on the ground floor along with two beds.

Dates
17th July –Games are 27th July to 12th
Aug 20 th – 17th Aug

If you think you can help then please email me mary.laver.e2e@gmail.com

Thank you

Mary

Great North Run

2011-09-12T06:46:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone

I seek your help.

This year i am been pushed in my 15th Great North Run and i am not doing for a well known charity but our local wildlife hedgehog sanctuary who desperately need our help.

You can find out more by going to https://sites.goole.com/site/pricklepad they need all the help they can get.

thanks

mary

2011-03-10T08:52:00.000-08:00

10th March 2011

Just come across this i hope you find it a good read.

“You have got to do the miles!”

I can remember looking at the weather map on the BBC and thinking “am I really going to drive ‘Alex’ my power chair, all the way from one end of this wonderful country of ours to the other, namely Lands End 2 John O’Groats?”

The reality of the task that I had set myself, did not really hit me until I had secured a team of people together, managed to raise the money against all the odds, got all the equipment together including hiring a second van, and with my team assembled, we slipped away from my home at 0630 on Friday 17th July 09.

The Journey to Lands End was an adventure in itself as we realised when we packed the hire van, I had hired a van that was too small, and had to be changed ASAP. The guys in our team pushed boxes and stuff bags into every corner, just managing to get the side door closed. We could not wait for the hire company to open to see if they had a larger van as we need time to get to Lands End and as the hire company was a national company, we decide to press on and deal with the situation on the road putting Addy, one of my care team, on the case. Using her female power of persuasion Addie did resolve our problem but the new larger van could not be picked up until the Monday.

We arrived at out first campsite at midnight feel very cold, tied and in need of a good hot drink. Just a couple more things to tell you, it was raining and the guys had never put the tens up before! The campsite owners at the Bone Valley Holiday Park could not have been any more helpful. They held a strip light to help the guys see while putting up the tents as it was pitch black and drizzly and went step further by bringing out the brews all round! Me, I just sat in my van dry and warm.

I could tell you of more wonderful stories like this of campsite owners just going that extra mile to accommodate us. Of church halls, Boys Brigade Halls and village halls that stepped in to help us when we had problems with staying on a campsite due to the appalling weather. To you all, thank you.

The journey that we were to undertake was to start at Lands End on Saturday 18th July 09 at 1400 hours. I had been in contact with the Royal British Legion and they promised a standard-bearer and a few other people to send us off. This they did and more. The official photographs were taken at the signpost and we made our way to the start line. Philip, my cyclist for the journey and I got kitted up, crash hat, flag on the back of Alex, and crossed the official starting line at 1430. The journey had started.

The first day was only 10 miles back to our campsite. Distance enough to get use to Alex on the open road; I had only had Alex 2 days before we set off. That evening the team, with Alex, went out to dinner and we had an early night.

Putting me to bed is not any easy task due to the extent of my disability, and usually took up to 1/2 an hour and the morning get up always took 3 hrs no matter how had we tried to cut it back. Revally was always at 0600…I started the day with two cups off good Fairtrade coffee and Organic rice milk. Just one big point I have not told you. The whole team were feed on Organic and Fairtrade food. Well for 80% of the time.

The first full days ride was to me be the tester. I was sure I could drive 40 miles, but had only put this to the test once. The riding team consisted of Graham our team leader. Philip our cyclist. One person from my care team and myself. The first day and a few more to follow, were to be the hardest. I had to get use to the way that Philip would give out his instructions while we are on the road. I soon realise that while Philip was not too polite while we are on the road. He would not say while approaching a junction, “Mary when we get to the line I want you to stop and I will tell you when to go”. No Philip would say, “Go to the line and stop at the line, pointing to the ground. When I say go, go”. I knew that when Philip said go no matter where we were, I was safe to go, and seeing I am blind in my right eye, I would not see the traffic on my right without moving Alex, I trusted Philip enough and went on his command. Philip was the sort of guy who would say, “Stop” for whatever reason, and I stopped dead. There could be many reasons for this command, but one stood out to me above all others, location I am not too sure as one place blurred into an other. Any way Philip said his usual stop, turn 45 degree to the right and I stopped. I said to him we are either going the wrong way, which did happen on many occasions, or there is a beautiful view I had missed due to my blind right eye. I turned 45 degrees to the right and was meet by a breathtaking view. Why people have to go abroad for holidays when we have such a beautiful countryside I will never know.

The idea behind accommodation was we would stay on campsite and use YHAs; we had three YHAs booked for the whole trip. This worked well for the first few days due to the weather not being too bad. We stayed on our second campsite for just one night, “Treyarnon Caravan and Camping Park”. this was a real tester for all the team, as we had not had a trial run before.

By the time we, the power chair party arrived at “Treyarnon” if I remember rightly the campsite took some finding but was well worth it, the advance party had to put up four tents... Addie was in charge of the kitchen and the mess tent and as well as doing the cooking in this tent, she was to be sharing we also had to charge Alex’s batteries. Besides a lot of the cooking equipment and food in various boxes and cool boxes, we had only two gas rings and a small oven; from this tent hot, tasty food for eight people would emerge. Being organic of course, it tasted superior, and the team admitted that. At the end of a days long run for wheelchair team and the forward team, Adie would put on the table, and so would other team members during our 4 weeks on the road, meals that were hot, very tasty, and tasted as if they had been cooked at home, not in a tent in the middle of a field with rain pouring down. We drank good Fairtrade coffee and the odd bottle of organic wine. I took along some organic bear for the guys. We were all drawn to the mess tent like families to the kitchen. The person who had been with me during the day had the job of feeding me my evening meal…Thanks to all the cooks, and I think everyone had a hand at some part of the challenge at producing a meal. Graham is a dab hand at putting full English breakfasts on the table. I kepted to my diet so only got my full English towards the end of the challenge. Well worth waiting for.

So how did it all work, putting a roof over the heads for eight tied and hungry people for 4 weeks? Feeding them, making sure they had adequate personal washing and cooking facilities as well as looking after me. Looking after my care needs is no easy no mater where we were, in a tent, a church hall, YHA or a hotel…

Our tent consisted of a tent for the guys, a tent for the girls, my tent, which I shared with who ever was dong, the sleepover, the mess tent and Alan our driver of the support van, took his one man tent. We discovered that my tent was too small for the hoist and we had to buy a new one, this had to be exchanged due to the zip breaking...

Due to the extreme bad weather, many of the campsites we hoped to stay at were a bit too wet underfoot so we made a few phone calls to people that Graham knew. I did not know how many people he knew until I found myself, and the team, staying in a selection of church halls, churches, Boys Brigade halls and a Black Watch Community Centre.

Some of the halls did not have different rooms, so we all bunked in together in one large hall. I was sheltered at one end by various means, as I had to have my personal needs seen to including toileting and washing. This did not mean that a good hot meal would not appear O no. Who ever was duty cook for the night produced meals to feed us all. Jason, one of our team and who plays a guitar, got us all singing after the meal. So has the rain poured down outside, we were warm and dry inside.

Not all our accommodation was in village halls and campsites. We did stay in Premier Lodges, which I am very disappointed to say, did not have suitable accommodation for wheelchair chair users. I think that for any hotel to get starts they must have a portion of 1% of their rooms suitable for wheelchair users with a walk in shower.

While I am on my soapbox about accommodation, in this the 21 century, all accommodation should cater for disabled people. Why they do not, to me is just pure discrimination.

We booked into three YHAs along the route. The first one I arrived at at midnight, we found that even though it had a ramp up to the door, there were still two steps we could not negotiate with the power chair. Sleeping in the dudgeons was out that night and we moved onto a hotel that said it had a lift. The lift was so small, to get in, I had to be transferred onto my commode to get up to my room. The next YHA though it had a shower I could not get into it and our last YHA I knew I could not sleep in so a tent was put up for me and Jenny, she had the short straw that night and was on sleeping duty in my tent..
Let us talk about the route
The route we took, as I have said, was the CTC YHA route and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to do the E2E. I was to be taken; using this route, on mainly minor A & B roads thought some f the most stunning countryside of the UK. We went down country lanes, along some major roads, but only for a short distance, we went over beautiful more lands and saw rivers, lakes and beautiful causeways. Along the route, we tented to eat from a packed lunch eaten at the side of the road and were usually at a battery change stop. People passing us were quite surprised to see me hanging in my hoist while the two guys were busily changing Alex’s batteries. They got battery changes down to six mins.

The appalling road surfaces were a big slowing down factor. If you want to see the real state of our roads do by cycle or power chair the E2E. Alex was reduced to about 4/5 miles per hour a lot of the time when he could have been going flat out at 7 mph.

Try this link

2011-02-26T10:15:00.000-08:00

26th February 2011

Try this link, you will be glad you did.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/ACROSS-to-Lourdes-by-Jumbulance/328384686623?ref=ts&v=wall

I Have Made it onto a Chinese Web Site

2011-02-10T01:15:00.000-08:00

10th Frbruary 2011

I have made it onto a Chinese web site

That is right, i have made it onto a Chinese web site that is helping the Chinese read English.

Go to http://wenku.baidu.com/view/94cdcafa770bf78a652954ef.html then page 5.

The Mary has arrived!

Organic Meat

2011-02-08T06:27:00.000-08:00

8th February 2011

Organic Meat.

I have included a link to "Organic Meat " http://www.riverford.co.uk/homefarm/shop/meat/

I, and a few of my friends have tried the meat, both red and white, and besides knowing that the animals have had a good life i can tell you that it is delious. Try it and see.

Now i only have two days to write 1000 words for my OU essay "Mongering volunteer's in fundraising activities"

Mary

2011-02-02T07:22:00.000-08:00

23rd January 2011

Congratulations to Haidar Talib

I have just read on the GWR site that Haidar Talib has just set a GWR buy driving his power chair 88.05 miles in 24 hrs see below.

The current record for "Greatest distance covered in 24 hours by motorized wheelchair " is:
The greatest distance covered in 24 hours by a motorized wheelchair is 141.70 km (88.05 miles) in 14 hours 28 seconds and was achieved by Haidar Talib, from Masdar City to Sharjah Al Thiqa Club for Handicapped, UAE, on 11 November 2010.

http://community.guinnessworldrecords.com/_The-greatest-distance-covered-in-24-hours-by-motorised-wheelchair/blog/3023522/7691.html

Vegy Box

2011-02-01T11:52:00.000-08:00

1st February 2011

Vegy Box

To those of you who have read my blog way back you will know i am a great advocate of organic veg, see link to Riverford on left.

This evening i recieved in my email box from such a reader who has tried the organic veg from Riverford. This is what she wrote.

Hi Mary,

I just want to thank you for recommending Riverford to me. I received my first veg box with a bag of fruit today and also some eggs. I am so pleased with them as they seem to be extra fresh, not like in the shops. I made a leek and potato soup with blue cheese for tonight, and it was delicious (even if I do say it myself) I will certainly buy from them again, it is well worth it for the bit extra it costs. I have initially ordered for a delivery once a fortnight, but depending on how long it lasts, I may change to once a week. The girl who delivered them asked me how I had heard of Riverford and I told her your name, and she said she knows you. I don't know if you will get a freebie for getting more business for them, but I think you should . There is some beetroot in the box, not something I usually buy, so I am wondering if you have any nice recipes for beetroot. I can only think to boil it and have it plain. Have you tried juicing it, I wonder if it is meant to be juiced raw, or should it be cooked first?

£1.1m house

2011-02-01T00:58:00.000-08:00

1st February 2011

£1.1m house

Today i am going to share with you my plans for my day. I hope that you will find it interesting.

After coffee and walking my two Jack Russel's Jack and Molly my PA and I are off to the Baltic in Newcastle City to meet up with Laura from Coco, http://www.coco.org.uk/home my chosen charity for my next Guinness World Records attempt. The furthest distance covered in 24 hrs in a power chair. The present record 84 miles in 14 hours. I think we might just beat it.

My next project today is to start to plan to raise £1.1m to buy a house here in Newcastle http://www.sandersonyoung.co.uk/buy/view.aspx?pr=10364&area=benton&styles=2%3b&region=0&coastal=0&minprice=0&maxprice=0&bedrooms=0&daysold=-1&dv=0&pg=1

The aim is to take 6 ex-forces disabled, like minded people of any age and disability, to live in this beautiful house which is about 1 mile from my present home, pool our care while living independly in a house that any of use could only dream about. Click on the above to find out more details. If any of you are interested in the project then please contact me on email mary.laver.e2e@gmail.com

I have also got to get a add put in my local paper for a replacement PA, have all my personal care done and getting on with my OU course which is about fundraising.

By 22.30 i will be more than ready for my bed.

Have a great day.

Mary

I haven't time to be abled bodied

2011-02-01T00:52:00.000-08:00

1st February 2011

I haven't time to be abled bodied

Hi to all of you.

Now that i have got your attension i would like to tell you about my plans for today.

Jacky my carer for to0day, arrives at 0900. Then it is coffe and walk my dogs.

At 11.00 i am off to the Baltic in Newcastle to meet up with

Twelve Months Ago

2010-07-19T00:47:00.000-07:00

19th July 2010

Twelve months ago to day.

It is hard to believe that 12 months ago today my team and I set out on an End 2 End challenge of the UK that ended up with us holding a world record and getting into The Guinness Book of Records. I am extremely proud of what we did and the the team, including me, that did it.

The trip was not all plane sailing and there were times, in the early stages when i wanted to give up but it was my team that keepted me going. The longer we were into the challenge the fitter i became and with the knock on effect that getting into Alex every day just got a lot easier.

At the 500 mile point i just cried. I could not believe what we had done, i remember me saying, i have now got to do that all over again. This was very daunting at the time.

I and the team have so many memories and i know when i am on my own I sometimes go back in my mind to any day on the journey and i will smile or i will shed a tear.

At the heart of this journey was a power chair 'Alex'. Handicare h ave let me keep Alex and tomorrow i will know if i can have use of a stadium to got for my next record. "Furthest distance covered in a mechanical electric vehicle". I will keep you posted.

Can i just share with you some magic moments..

24 August 2009

Magic Moments

I would like to share with you some magic moments. I hope the team will add to them. They are not in any particular order.

Reaching 100 miles will quite a milestone and every 100 miles after that.

Seeing the sign that said you are leaving Cornwall.

Philip saying stop, turn 45o and seeing before me a view of outstanding beauty and I had missed it due to been blind in my right eye.

Driving in the pouring rain wrapped up warm in my leg bag and waterproof jacket.

Looking at the stars with Yasmine

Feeling so happy that I could burst!

People hooting their horns when they passed I hope as a sign of encouragement.

Been stopped by strangers who wanted to put money in the poppy tin

Been part of a very special team.

Talking to my close friend as I turned down to John o'Groats

Lying in my tent with the rain pouring down snuggled up in my sleeping bag.

Crossing the Yorkshire Moors. The views are just stunning.

Listening to Philip tell his little story as we crossed the railway line.

Girly talks with Jenny and Yasmine!

Never knowing where I was going to sleep that night until I got there.

Phone calls from friends.

Addie and Eileen turning up for the last 5 miles, they drove 8 hrs to get there.

Seeing friend Dee, Arthur and their two dogs at the finishing line.

Sharing a few words to camera with a friend while sitting looking at a lock.

Emmanuelle leaning out of the van window shouting.

This is just a fraction of the magic moments that none can take away from me or the team who will have their own.

I was told that if I did another 30 miles I should have 1000 miles in the bag. I did not think that was important, spending some quality time with the team was. I have no regrets. Who knows, we may have done a 1000 miles and Graham may be 30 miles out in his calculations.

If we have a world record on our hands that would be the icing on the cake but what is more important is the team, been part of that and being ‘End to Enders.’

You may like to know we raised over £1000 for the RBL Poppy Appeal.

Training Yesterday

2010-06-15T00:43:00.000-07:00

Training Yesterday

15th June 2010

Yesterday 'Alex' and I started training for my next world record, but instead of going around my village her in Newcastle upon Tyne, I took to my local running track. That was quite an eye opener as I soon discovered that i had lost most, if not all of the fitness i had gained on my E2E 2019.

Most, if not all of you, will know that a running track is 400 meters long all the way around. Alex takes 2 mins, we put the stop watch on him. Easy i thought, just do one hours training said me. Body said no. After three laps my arm was aching and i found an excuse to stop...

Today i go back to basics to get fit again. An elastic band on my arm rest of my Balder, this means i can sit in my conservatory, watching the birds on my well stocked bird table, which by the way, as from yesterday, includes a pair, yes a pair, of woodpeckers. Took the advice of Spring-watch and put a log out with large holes bored in and filled with fat. The also like the very long peanut holder. Try and see for yourself. Now where was I? Back to basics. I will now have to get back to training around the village. The orange flag will be on the back of my power chair, my crash hat will be on and I shall be wearing a lime green jacket.

Next years challenge will be the quest time to cover a 1000 miles in a power chair, Where and when i know not, but If you wish to join me, then please send me an email. All i know is it will not be in the UK, possible Europe, Holland seems a good bet. Now back tom my Woodpeckers and strengthening my left arm with the large rubber band.

Speak again soon.

Mary

Setting Next World Record

2010-05-31T01:29:00.000-07:00

31st May 2010

Setting Next World Record

Having made it into the Guiness Book of Records with my End 2 End plans are now going ahead for Alex, the team and myself to set the next world record. Please watch this space for further detail.

I can tell you that this next world record will be taking place this year and possible in September.

Remember i have a brandnew Alex for sale donated by Handicare. Price £6700, th at is a saving of over £4000. See entry below for details...

Thanks for visiting this blog

Mary

My Next Challenge

2010-03-11T02:06:00.000-08:00

11th March 2010

Extreme Challenge.

I am looking for my next challenge for Alex and my team but we desperately need sponsors, not very easy to find.

I would like to take Alex up into the mountains say to the base of Everest, Cross a desert, Go to some remote part of this beautiful world of ours. Say one of the tracks the that Glen Gobble has done. The harder the challenge the better.

If you feel you can help in anyway, either as a team member, nice to have another Alex power chair with us, a sponsor, then please email me at mary.laver.e2e@gmail.com

Next World Record Attempt For Me and Alex

2010-02-17T07:17:00.000-08:00

17th February 2010

What next world record for me and Alex

I am now looking for my next GWR attempt in my Alex, have you got any ideas what that might be?

Please leave you suggestions in my comments box. Thanks

Mary Laver

Face Book

2010-02-05T11:14:00.000-08:00

5th February 2010

Face Book

I have put over 100 photographs on Face Book. I do not know how you can get to them but i hope you find them.

Mary

My Teams E2E GWR Certificate

2010-02-03T13:15:00.000-08:00

It Is Now Official I Am a Guinness World Record Holder

2010-01-24T10:12:00.000-08:00

This is my certificate

The Email We Have Waited For

2010-01-07T06:03:00.000-08:00

7th January 2010

The email we have waited so long for

I have just had confirmation the The Guiness Book of Records have accepted my Lands End 2 John O'Groats in a Power Chair.

Thank you 'Alex' for getting there and thank you team for your support.

Love

Mary

To the team that made this journey happen

2009-12-15T09:20:00.000-08:00

15th December 09

Message to my team

Guys and Girls

To you all i want to wish you a happy and peaceful Christmas and all that you wish yourself for 2010. I hope we can get together to End 2 End Holland at Easter.

Love to you all

Mary

I give you my team

The Finishing Line

2009-11-12T11:57:00.001-08:00

WE, THAT IS THE TEAM, MADE IT

26 DAYS

APPROX 965 MILES

I AM SO PROUD OF US ALL

THANKS GUYS AND GIRLS

THAT IS ONE I OWE YOU

Petal Back Clothing

2009-11-08T01:25:00.000-08:00

8th November 09

Petal Back Clothing

During my challenge their was a tee-shirt that i wore which was manufacture by Petel Back Clothing, see picture on the right. I was hoping to show you more pictures in

of me wearing this tee shirt, but as i lost over 200

photographs i am sory to say i cannot.

My care team did find this tea shirt very was to put on, which was essential in the confined spaces we often worked in.

As regards washing. Being Cotton they were very easy to was and as you can see, as we did not have an iron, they still looked good.

As regards wearing on the trip. It was essential that all the clothing i wore was comfortable and did not cause any friction. In this area this particular tee-shirt scored very well.

I would like to thank Petal Back Clothing for supplying a number of tee-shits in variuos clothes and i would like to fully endorse them.

Thank you Petal Back Clothing

2009-10-06T09:33:00.000-07:00

5th October 09

Join me on my next two challenges

If you think you would like to have a challenge like you have just read then you are in luck.

In 2010 i am planing to take up to three other power chair users to do the E2E Ireland and E2E Holland. Both about 400 miles and taking approx 10 days.

Interested then go to.

http://powerchairusersholiayschallenges.blogspot.com/

We Are On You Tube

2009-09-25T09:46:00.000-07:00

9th September 09

We are on YouTube

To see the team and me in my power chair in action you can now find us on You Tube One link try Power Chair or try these links. I am planing on doing Irelands and Holland E2E in 2010 If you would like to join any of these teams then please email me.

Because due to my RA I constantly have a dry mouth so the ability for drinking while in bed and on the road is essentual.

To drink while in bed without having to call my carer I used and still use at home, Drinkup Hands Free Drinking System While I was on the road in Alex iI used Drinkups Travel Light.

You can find out more by visting their web site http://www.drinkup.uk.com/ or by lvisiting me on You Tub or by looking at the variuos photes on the blog.

Without either Drinkup Hands Free and Drinking System my fluid intake would have been greatly reduced and i may well not have reached our (the team and me) goal of John O'Groats due to frequent stops to take a drink. Thank you Drinkup for this product.

Now please enjoy these links. Mary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTWHHGBPP24
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LThuNvYMPQw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZaCZfqW8FY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYupxFhmHnA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWwnjnZjrfU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFI8WcDnkcI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR4998h0r0Y

I would love your feedback on what you see..

Costings

2009-09-21T00:46:00.000-07:00

21 September 2009

Costing

For those of you that are interested, I am now going to give you the estimated costing for the trip.

We are sure that this is an under estimate not an over estimate. What we have the costing for we have recipes and bills so I would say add about 1.50% to the total. We also had a Fairtrade food hamper donated to the value of £300.

When you see the grand total, you will realise why I have to sell my van and a few other items to make up the I have a shortfall of £2052.67. A price well woth paying. A debt that has is will woth paying.

Was it worth it? Would I do it again? A resounding yes, but this time a different country and if I can clear this debt and raise the cash, as you will have already read, that in 2210 that country is Ireland.

Everyone should try the E2E it is an amzing joureny and a joureny of self discovery for all who take on the E2E challenge. Try it and see, you will not reget it...

I hope you find this information of some interest and some use.

Food organic and other £1,721.74

Petro £1,667.44

Accommodation
Remember we had a few freebee halls but had to pay for two hotel and lodges £1,637.63

Miscellaneous £912.96

Travel train fares to change staff £165.90

Wages above those of my own staff £5,500

My expenses for storing boxesm extra tent and camping gear above what I already had £652

Grand total £12,257.57

Monies in £10,205

Short fall £2052.67

Please make any comments you wish..i will also try to answer and questions.

More Pictures

2009-09-18T01:13:00.000-07:00

More Pictures

So more photgraphs

2009-09-16T11:44:00.000-07:00

16th September

Some new photoes

M2M Taking Shape

2009-09-14T00:58:00.000-07:00

14th September 09

M2M is taking shape

I am now starting to put my next challenge together, the M2M in Ireland and already i have one cyclist, i have a good idea of the route as i have been in contact with a guy who has just run it, and you try to avoid hills just like Alex and I do.

The estimated date is leave the UK on Thursday 1st April thus avoiding the Easter rush, drive down to Mizenhead on the Friday and start the M2M on the Saturday. We are looking at between 35/40 miles per day, that is 10 days of wonderful driving with 2 rest days, coming home on Sunday or Monday 18th/19th April.

On this trip i am looking for one other power chair/scooter.trike user to join the team. If you are interested then please contact me, mary.laver.e2e@googlemail.com

I am still looking for a team leader who will drive my support vehicle, care support. If you are interested then please email me or for any of the above, ring or text me, my mobile number is on the right.

Speak again soon

Mizenhead to Malin Head Ireland

2009-09-08T13:14:00.000-07:00

8th August 09

Mizenhead to Malin Head Ireland

This is my next challenge Mizenhead to Malin head Irelands E2E For more details visit http://www.bikeadventures.co.uk/supportireland.html

We shall be leaving on 2nd April 10

Please watch this space for all details...

Ireland from South to North

2009-09-08T09:44:00.000-07:00

08 September 2009

Ireland from South to North

Our next challenge is to go from the South of Ireland to the North. The date will be around Easter and I am looking for one or two other power chair users to join me.

If you are interested in this challenge, do not mind camping and been feed on organic and Fairtrade food, then I would love to hear from you.

If we have two power chair users joining us, we will also be looking for two cyclist and we will have to meet their care needs so extra carers above my requirements will have to be met.

To express your interest then please email me at mary.laver.e2e@google.com
Thank you

Using Organic Food

2009-09-02T05:36:00.000-07:00

02 September 2009
Using Organic Food

I am, and have been since I was newly married when I had control over the food that my hubby and I ate, a very strong advocate of Organic Food. Why? Quite simply because it tastes better. I cannot give us any better than organic foods and is good for our planet.

Why anyone would want to eat food that has been feed chemicals to make it grow, whether that me animal, vegetable or fruit, is beyond me.

Look at it this way. You have a lovely organic, chemical free meal in front of you. Would you then take a salt pot containing all the chemicals that are in none organic foods are grown in and sprinkle it on top! I think not! Then why buy food that is none organic?

Okay you can come at me with the argument that none organic food is cheaper, but how cheaper? My organic veg box costs me just under £5 per week. Less than a packet of fags, by the way, I do not smoke... I eat the contents knowing that what I am eating is healthy, the food will taste good, and is not full of harmful chemicals. My meat is also organic. The difference in the price of an organic chicken is about £1.50. I will have to check out other meats.

Due to having Rheumatoid Arthritis, I give my body all the ammunition I can to fight my RA. That does not include drugs. I do not take any drugs, never have done. On the E2E, I only took four Paracetamals and that was because I wrenched my left shoulder, no other reason. I used Rescue Remedy in my water bottle to help fight any stress.

I throw you all a challenge. Try ‘Organic Food’ for a whole week and see if you agree with me about the taste and quality. Do you feel better for it? Send your comments to me and I will put it my blog.
Organic Food is better.

For more details visit http://www.soilassociation.org/Whatwedo/tabid/58/Default.aspx

A Message to All End 2 Enders

2009-08-29T08:27:00.000-07:00

29th August 09

My Journey

I have been asked to write a piece for the Lands End 2 John O'Groats Association magazine and this is what i wrote. I hope you all find it a good read.

Lands End to John o Groats in an Alex power chair

Mary Laver

Taken from the synopsis of a book I hope to have written

Quote “With a gentle nudge of her joystick, Mary Laver crossed the finish line. It wasn’t the most salubrious spot – in the shadow of a boarded-up hotel on Scotland’s northern coast – but she’d done it: she’d traveled from one end of Great Britain to the other in a power chair. At nearly 1,000 miles, it was a record.” Unquote

The end of a journey is always a great place to start to write about a journey. In this case my journey from Lands End to John o Groats a distance of 965 miles.

A journey that was not without its problems. Some very big some not so big.

My E2E journey really stated way back in June 2008 when I tried and failed my first attempt. You can read about it by visiting my blog at http://powerwheelchaire2e.blogspot.com/ both Donn and Jack were there when I decide to do the E2E in a power chair and have been there for me, and us all, ever since. You can all verify to that.

The one thing that I have learned is, the good thing about failure is that you get another chance to try again and this is what I did in 2009. I put another team together, got the funding and a different power chair, and at 2.00 pm on Saturday 18th July 2009 I left Lands End on my epic journey with Philip my cyclist at my helm.

You have all done the journey; you all know what a difference it has made to you as people. You all know what a wonderful country we have; as we have seen a good slice of it. So what makes this journey different?

Quite and simple my team. Taken from my synopsis “was divided into a support team, which went ahead of Mary to prepare campsites etc., and a road team that actually shadowed her mile-by-mile. The team leader was Graham, a “100% prime beef” Territorial Army sergeant and a natural commander. Philip patiently rode his bike behind Mary’s chair for the entire 965 miles and often acted as her “other eye”. Alan was the “quiet man” who drove one of the team’s two vans. Jason was the “dog’s body” who would lead sing-alongs on his guitar by night. Emmanuelle, Adie and Margaret have been part of Mary’s home care team for years. Emmanuelle, from France, was the E2E team’s housekeeper and very involved in the trip’s planning. Adie proved herself an excellent and proud cook – even in tents in the pouring rain. Margaret – who’d never even camped before – bravely came out of her comfort zone (and still put on make-up every morning!) Yasmine and Jenny, both students, were strangers before the journey and fast friends afterwards – exceptional young ladies who seldom stopped laughing.” Unquote

Been part of my team, I told all who wanted to join me, would be hard but I hope fun. I told them that they would be come end to ender in their own right, so what did my team have to do on to top of putting up tents, cooking, driving load and unloading vans? Again, quote “Mary has to overcome incredible physical challenges just to navigate everyday life. This only makes her End to End (E2E) trek all the more remarkable. “First and foremost, I cannot wash, clean my teeth, dress myself, feed, or generally use my hands and arms to any extent except to drive my power chair and use my computer,” Mary explains. On her E2E trip she had to be put to bed (which took around half an hour), got up in the morning (which could take up to 3 hours), washed, fed, watered and toileted at public campsites and in Youth Hostels.” Unquote. This I hasten to add, the ladies did for me.

We had a motto which you would here us say every day and during the day “You’ve got to do the miles” and miles we did. Between 40/55 per day, sometimes riding into the night. I loved every moment of it. The number of times I was asked how I felt and I replied, “I am so just so happy”.

You all know what it is like to see the sign you are leaving x county. The best one being “Welcome to Scotland”. The best but saddest sigh says X miles to John o Groats. The first time I saw this sign it said 47 miles. You like me may have had mixed feeling. Joy at knowing you had made it and sorrow because your journey is almost at an end.

That last ¼ mile leading down to John o Groats was very moving to me as thanks to the mobile phone I had a friend who has walked my disability walk with me, if you understand what I mean, and was too poorly to be with me, was there, in my ear, and I was able to described what was happening; she could also hear what was happening. “Bagpipes,” I shouted, “They have got bagpipes, and I don’t like bagpipes.” I also saw friends whom I had spoken to on my mobile that day, and whom I thought were in Newcastle, were there with a bottle of pink Champagne. You know the picture.

We took all the photographs and then I slipped away to find the official finishing line, you all know where it is. I went up to it, in a away I did not want to cross it because it symbled the journey had ended. Christ on the cross came into my head when he said, “it is now finished” and died. I crossed that line, as it says at the start of this piece, knowing that my journey was finished.

I raise my glass to all End to Enders. Cheers.

Opening Words

2009-08-29T00:36:00.000-07:00

29th August 09

The opening words

To thoes of you who have been foloowing my blog you will know that i am, with a guy called Paul, hoping to have a book published and the synopsis has already been writen and will be posted to my agent today.

I just love what Paul has writen and the way he is approaching the book. i am now going to share with you the first paragraph. What he has writen i can see in my minds eye, i hope from what you have read on this blog, you can see it also. i will keep you all informed of the progress, if any, of the book, which for the time being is called "The Journey".

THE JOURNEY

1,000 Miles in a Power Chair

By Mary Laver and Paul Rogers

With a gentle nudge of her joystick, Mary Laver crossed the finish line. It wasn’t the most salubrious spot – in the shadow of a boarded-up hotel on Scotland’s northern coast – but she’d done it: she’d traveled from one end of Great Britain to the other in a power chair. At nearly 1,000 miles, it was a record.

The Team at Lands End

2009-08-29T00:29:00.000-07:00

29th August 09

The Team at Lands End

From Jack Adams

2009-08-27T02:22:00.000-07:00

27th August 2009

Message from Jack Adams to Guiness Book of Records. I have his permission to put it on my blog.

Hi Ralph
I have now received Mary Laver’s full documentation for her epic end to end journey; my feelings are of a sense of awe at the courage of this frail lady and also a sense of amazement and respect for her team of carers who tended to Mary’s every need, from feeding and dressing her to her more personal needs. It is inevitable now that Mary will be awarded the Charlie Hankins trophy at our award ceremony on the weekend of 16th January 2010, this trophy is only awarded to the bravest of the brave and has in the past been awarded to two GWR champions.
Now to Mary’s journey details, she set out from Lands End on 18th July 2009 and arrived at John o’ Groats on 12th August 2009 covering 965 miles, Mary not only recorded each overnight stop but most rest stops, this was not required by the Association but Mary being Mary thought it prudent to include them.
I can only recall one other journey that displayed similar courage; this was by Charlie Hankins who completed not one but two end to end journeys in his WW11 hand propelled tricycle wheelchair, hence the Charlie Hankins trophy.
We at the LEJOG Association are extremely proud, and also feel humble, to have such a courageous lady as a member and can recommend her journey for official recognition by GWR.

If you require copies of Mary’s journey records please let me know and I will mail them to you.
Kind Regards
Jack

Extreme Challenge in a Power Chair

2009-08-27T00:35:00.000-07:00

27th August 09

Extreme Challenge in a Power Chair

I am looking to next year and getting a team together and doing an extreme challenge that is only for people who a repower chair users. This is not open to manual chair user.

The destination has not been decided, because I think we should get a team together first and the team then decided

Therefore, who can be in this extreme team?

Three to four power chair users. Everyone has a chance of been in the team regardless of their disability.

Two cyclists.

Two drivers general camp dog bodies. We shall be camping most of the time.

Care support team, a nurse.

A support team here in the UK.

If you are interested then please email me mary.laver.e2e@googlemail.com

I look forward to hearing from you.

The Sign post at John oGroats

2009-08-26T09:06:00.000-07:00

26th August 09

The End

2009-08-25T01:46:00.000-07:00

25 August 2009

Every journey has an end.

Finishing writing a blog to which over 6000 of you have visited since it was started in October 2007, will be like loosing touch with many friends. Some I know have visited many times sharing my journey with me. Some of you have visited my blog from all parts of the world. You will have spotted many spelling mistakes. Even the spell checker could not pick them all up. I hope you have enjoyed what you have read. If there is a guy called Ric, and he knows who he is, then I would love to hear how you made out.

All of you will be given the chance of obtain a free, eddied version, of my E2E journey, details of how will be published on this blog within the next four weeks, or you can email and I will tell you how you can obtain your free copy.

More photos will also be appearing on this blog in the near future, but in the mean time, with a tear in my eye, I am signing off leaving you with one last message.

Visualize if you can being at JOG. I had just done the E2E a distance for us of 965 miles, give or take. All the fuss has ended and I am spending a few moments on my own. I know, but had not seen, that there was on official fining/starting line somewhere as there is a Lands End, so I went on the search to find it.

After a few minutes I find it in front of a hotel that was boarded up and had a fence in front it, the hotel not the line. The finishing stop line was about 2 feet from the fence. I go up to the part of the line that says 'finish' I say to myself, “well done you did it, 965 miles you are and End 2 Ender,” and gave myself a verbal pat on the back, pause and then cross the line. What a moment for me. I turn around and there is the team. They had been keeping an eye on me and were right behind me waiting until I had had my private moment and saw me cross the line...They then crossed that line as well. We took photographs with the piper and just shouted “we did it...” What an ending, what a team.

Thank you to all my team and my supporters who stayed with me when others did not. I hope you consider that the team did you proud.

A special thanks goes to a lump of metal who did all the work, I found myself talking to that lump of metal on many occasions, mainly when we were facing step hill. I give you Handycare’s ‘Alex’.

2009-08-24T10:36:00.000-07:00

Press release

24 August 2009

Mary Laver

Travelling the longest path in the UK, in a ‘Alex Power Chair.’

Between 18th July and 12th August 2009, Mary drove her ‘Alex’ power chair from Lands End 2 John o’Groats, a distance of 965 miles.

Mary did not do this journey with family but a team of seven people, four of whom she had never meet before. The team was made up of four guys and three girls of different ages and backgrounds. Mary was the 8th member of the team and the power chair user.

Her dependence on the other team members was total. Mary cannot do anything for herself and had to be hoisted into her chair and onto her bed. This meant that her team bedsides putting up tents, cooking meals, driving vehicles, riding bikes, had to feed and water her, do all her personal care and a team member had to sleep in her tent as she need looking after during the night. Mary’s disability is caused by Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Mary says that the journey its self was hard. She drove her ‘Alex power chair’ between 45/55 miles per day using mainly minor A & B class roads. To be part of a team that had one goal for 26 days was to get her from Lands End 2 John o’Groats was a shear joy and honour, says Mary.

Mary has a ghostwriter now looking at writing a book about this incredible journey.

If you want to read, more about Mary’s journey then go to http://powerwheelchaire2e.blogspot.com/

Mary is now looking to next year and getting a new challenge together, if you would like to do the same and have any ideas then please write her. Her email is mary.laver.e2e@googlemail.com

2009-08-24T00:52:00.000-07:00

24 August 2009

Magic Moments

I would like to share with you some magic moments. I hope the team will add to them. They are not in any particular order.

Reaching 100 miles will quite a milestone and every 100 miles after that.

Seeing the sign that said you are leaving Cornwall.

Philip saying stop, turn 45o and seeing before me a view of outstanding beauty and I had missed it due to been blind in my right eye.

Driving in the pouring rain wrapped up warm in my leg bag and waterproof jacket.

Looking at the stars with Yasmine

Feeling so happy that I could burst!

People hooting their horns when they passed I hope as a sign of encouragement.

Been stopped by strangers who wanted to put money in the poppy tin

Been part of a very special team.

Talking to my close friend as I turned down to John oGroats

Lying in my tent with the rain pouring down snuggled up in my sleeping bag.

Crossing the Yorkshire Moors. The views are just stunning.

Listening to Philip tell his little story as we crossed the railway line.

Girly talks with Jenny and Yasmine!

Never knowing where I was going to sleep that night until I got there.

Phone calls from friends.

Addie and Eileen turning up for the last 5 miles, they drove 8 hrs to get there.

Seeing friend Dee, Athure and their two dogs at the finishing line.

Sharing a few words to camera with a friend while sitting looking at a lock.

Emmanuelle leaning out of the van window shouting.

This is just a fraction of the magic moments that none can take away from me or the team who will have their own.

I was told that if I did another 30 miles I should have 1000 miles in the bag. I did not think that was important, spending some quality time with the team was. I have no regrets. Who knows, we may have done a 1000 miles and Graham may be 30 miles out in his calculations.

If we have a world record on our hands that would be the icing on the cake but what is more important is the team, been part of that and being ‘End to Enders.’

You may like to know we raised over £500 for the RBL Poppy Appeal.

Yasmin and Jenny

2009-08-22T11:43:00.000-07:00

22 August 2009

Final two team members, Yasmine and Jenny

Yasmine and Jenny, what shall I say about two exceptional young ladies who never stopped laughing, even when the going got tough and making the team laugh, We all love them very much. Yasmine and Jenny did not know each other before this trip.

Both are students, Yasmine is studying at University and wants to be a doctor. Jenny is studying at University languages, French and Spanish. They can both speak three langue’s, English is their third language! Moreover, both enjoyed speaking to Emmanuelle, - remember I told you she is French, - in French or did I forget to tell you, never mind.

Yasmine, oh Yasmine. She is so full of life, like Jenny, that no matter what she was asked to do, whether it was looking after me, unloading the van, putting up the tents, cooking a meal, Yasmine, and I might add, so was Jenny, was up to the task.

Yasmine, out of the two girls and with them both only been 21 yrs, I can call them girls, Yasmine was the mad one. You would have to have been on this trip to understand what I mean. I will share with you one magic moment I shared with Yasmine; I just hope she does not mind. It is the second Saturday, I am bushed, we are at the campsite just outside Lockerby, we had all been feed and watered, it is night-time, around 10.30 ish, beautiful bulls in the next field, the sky was clear and I was on my stretcher. Got the picture? Yasmine took me on my stretcher to the edge of the campsite, only a couple of yards, not to see the bulls I might add, “ I thought you would like to see this she” she said and told me to look up at the sky, tipping the head of the stretcher down so I could see properly. I have very little movement in my neck…On either side of my view were small trees, which framed my picture to perfection. It was a view of a sky full of stars. We have light pollution in Newcastle, which she knew about so to see the sight of a sky full of stars is very rare… Yasmine then pointed out to me the different star clusters. A magic moment not caught on camera but ‘caught in that little box in my heart,’ see girls I did remember. Thank you Yasmine for that magic moment.

Jenny. Gentle Jenny. If anyone should be a nurse it is Jenny…Everyone tells her but that is not what she wants to do…How would you describe someone, and Jenny I hope you do not mind me saying this, who dealt with a problem I had which could have effected the time it was taking on the road, and subsequently the challenge.

I had a problem with always wanting to wee at every stop we made. I started to get a complex about it because it took up valuable time on the road. We latter on discovered that drinking coffee at each stop may have something to do with it and so I only had water and had coffee as a treat at the end of my days run.. except one day near the end, another stroy, this journey is full of stories, I also felt very nervous at the start of the days run, like any one would, so part of my routine before I got out of the van was that I would have a wee, even if I had only had one ½ hour earlier… I would want a wee nearly every time I saw the red van. Made me think, if I am not careful, every time I see a red van I will want to wee…Anyway I started to get a hang up about this, and Jenny reassured me that me wanting a wee so often was not a problem. This relaxed me. I weed less. Meant a lot to me Jenny. I am not to sure if I have explained that right. As with all the team, with all my funny ways and diet, I never felt a burden or a nuisance,

The other thing I loved about the girls was our girly talks….what is said between girls, stays between girls…Ah ladies..

Yasmine and Jenny found they had so much in common that it became uncanny to the rest of the team. They loved the same kind of music. They had been to the same rock concerts. Their love of langues and both played the piano. Both are at university. They are both well travelled. The way, as a team they looked after me was next to none, I am not down crying the other team members because they are all brilliant, but with these two, they seem to know what the other was thinking so did not need to speak to each other... Very uncanny. They also had a love they shared, Alan, remember Alan, he was one of the drivers…He would sit with them and talk to the early hours. I can remember shouting at them in a campsite to shut up; it was 2 am…Oh to be young again!

I could write more, but you will have to wait for the book if I can find a publisher. I have a ghostwriter working on the synopsis and we will then present it to a publisher…

There you have it, the team…What about me, someone else can write about me…

2009-08-20T10:27:00.000-07:00

20th August

We have talked about the guys now it is the girls turn….

Not trying to pigeon hole the girls but as much as I love guys, and our guys on this trip were and still are, very sexy, I had to have girls to do all my personal care. I think you can work out why, being 62 does not mean you have no go in me. Get my drift.

My personal care was total. In my case, as with a lot of disabled people, was not just put my in front of a sink and I could wash myself; put me in a shower and I would shower myself; give me a toothbrush and I would clean my teeth; put me on the loo, well lets stop on that one; give me my cloths and I would put them on. No, I had to be washed, showed, my teeth cleaned and my bottom cleaned. I had to be dressed. Not easy when joints will not move very easily... I also had to be feed and watered. At night I need help so had someone in my tent on sleepovers…That was the extent of my care requirements... and much more. I had to be lifted using a portable lightweight manual lift to be put into Alex or on to my stretcher. The girls did all this and much more…..

So what more did the girls do…One every day came out with me in the van doing all my personal care at the roadside or in the van. They also helped Graham read the route we were doing that day…This might be why we got lost a couple of times…When we did a battery change, remember they guys got it down to 6 minutes, they would help hoist me and stay with me as I dangled in mid air. This was a good time to eat some banners to raise my energy level…They helped with the coking back at camp and helped load and unload the van. If we were to find a hall for the night, it was one of the girls that found it for us…Hall door knocking became part of their job in the end...

So who were are these remarkable girls, ladies…

In no particular order….

Emmanuelle, Adie and Margaret. These three girls, they may prefer to be called ladies, are part of my home care team and have worked with me for many years.

Emanuel who is in her 30s, about 5’3 and petite; she I spent many evenings prior to taking on the E2E, in planning our accommodation along the route and marking the route on maps. The route I chose was, as I have said, was the CTC YHA route. The CTC route was broken down into two weeks covering 90 miles daily, but Emanuel had to break it down to approx 40 miles per day using one of these wheels you push along a map. She nearly got it right. She also looked out on the internet our campsites, which had disabled facilities; they were rare. All this Emmanuelle did before we left, and she also put all the paperwork together. Each van had its own file with maps, places we were staying, contact numbers ect.

On the actual challenges, as with the other girls, Emmanuelle was the housekeeper, making sure we had all our shopping for the day, cooking our food, paying our bills; helped with my personal care including the sleepover. I left how my personal care was to be done to my care team. Emmanuelle was in the support van for her first week and upon her return, spent some time in my van. I can see her now leaning out of the van banging on the door shouting “Come on Mary, you can do it!”
Adie. How would I would describe her? She has her 40 the year, her birthday is in November; is about 5’4, is a carer and loves cooking.

Adie was on the first week and had all the teething troubles to sort out in the mess tent and my care.

Adie, during the first week; did most of the cooking because like most cooks, even if it was in a tent in the pouring rain, she did not like anyone in her kitchen. If you scan down to 17th Adie, you will see a picture of Adie in the mess tent with the rain pouring down cooking us all dinner. Jenny, whom I shall speak about latter, is looking on while taking shelter under the umbrella. I wonder what Jenny is saying to Adie? “What is for dinner?” springs too mined? Adie is the first one to put her hands up and admit that organic tastes better, especially the meat. So now, I will crash your mental picture of this cook putting hot nursing meals on our table and tell you the other side of the coin in her tasks of looking after me.

One of the jobs of looking after me that only three team members could do, Adie been one of them, was I had a suppository every day. This I also do at home. This meant that one of her duties was to put my suppository in, and Adie had been trained to do this, as are all of my staff, this task fell upon her shoulder every day she was with us. Adie also helped, when it was her shift, with all my personal care. Adie, like all of the team, said she would not have missed this challenge for any thing. She said it was very hard work but very rewarding, an experience she is glad she did not miss and lots of fun. Adie even drove up from Newcastle to John O’Groats to be with us for the final 7 miles and the dinner that evening. More on that latter.

Margaret joined us at Gretna, swopping the third week with Emmanuelle…Margaret is in her 40s, and puts her make-up on every morning. She has been with me a long time and is the person I admire the most. The team will not mind me saying that as they agree with me.

Margaret came way out of her comfue zone for a week to be with us. Margaret has never camped before and is very much a home bird. Margaret got very home sick but as her family were right behind her on her week with us, they told her, if she wanted to, to stay which I am please to say she did.

Margret was only to sleep under canvas for 1 night as the other nights, due to bad weather; we stayed in hotels or halls. This did not stop Margaret producing our meals even if we did have the odd pizza when staying in the hotel. She also came out in the van with me twice. I gather she enjoyed doing this and saw some remarkable countryside in Scotland. She did give in on the last night. Her shifts were finished and she was due to change over with Emmanuelle the next day who was returning for the last week, Margaret asked that instead of sleeping in the tent she as going to book into a B&B, and was willing to pay for it. We could not let her do that, pay for the B&B after what we had just put her through, so we would pick up the bill…Margaret thanks for been part of the team and for coming out of your comfort zone. The whole team love you for it and thank your family for loaning you to us. You are part of this remarkable team.

2009-08-19T08:45:00.000-07:00

19th July 09

The team

Let us talk team

We have talked about the route now lets talk about my amazing team without whom none of this challenge would have happen.

The team was broken down into the support team; they went on ahead and the road team that was the team that went with me on the road.

Our team leader was Graham Harrison, a TA sergeant. Graham was only to be with us for the first two weeks but decide that he would see the challenge through to the end. The whole team know that this made a vast outcome to us getting to the end and we hope a world record...

Grahams roll as team leader was many. He drove my support van. Decided, with Philip my cyclist, the route for the next day. He was the guy who pushed me in the early days when my fitness was not too good and he realized I was not meeting my mileage target. I think he and Philip said one or two pokies saying that I still had more miles to go than I did. It worked.

Graham also sorted out problems between the team, which by the way I did not know about until I got back. We, the team, described ourselves like being on Big Brother. Eight people who did not know each other before, except Jenny and her dad Graham, being put in the Big Brother house in our case campsites, halls, YHAs and hotels, and told their tasks for the day. We had to get on or we would not complete the daily task. We all had to accept each other’s funny ways; mine was making funny notices at when receiving my personal care. I will keep the other secret!

Graham was the guy that when we stopped on the road, and he did let me stop sometimes, had a brew on. Philip noticed this and made up a flask of hot water to save some time. Some of this hot water was used to clean out my wee bottle. We had to maintain good hygiene while we were in camp and on the road.
I was once asked to describe Graham after I meet him. “100% prime beef!” Thanks Graham.

The person who was with me all along the route, mainly behind me, was Philip. Philip as I have already written was the guy whom I put 100% trust in and he never let me down once. I am blind in my right eye and so relied on his judgement without question….I will share a little story with you to illustrate Philip.

We were going up a step hill, the batteries were running very low and we needed to cross a level crossing. Now I am a 62 yr old weakling of a female and crossing that small distance, say 3 feet on low batteries was scary. Okay laugh at me, I can take it. After debating the crossing of the said line, Philip said to me what the worse that can happen is. Reasonable question. My reply,” I would tip over, the train would come along, hit the chair and kill me and you would have to take me over the finishing dead, nothing in the rules that says I have to be alive!” “No” said Philip! “The worst thing that could happen, would be you would tip over; a train would hit you; you would still be alive but then you would burst into flames; a family of weasels who are very hungry would come up from their burrows below the lines and eat part of you and we would take you across the finishing line pulling strings so you could wave at every body. That is the worst than can happen to you!” Needles to say I crossed the train line and nothing happened.

Keeping with Philip, he also asked me on a number of occations to stop in a safe place while he would check out a road junction or a cycle path. He also shared this barley sugar with me. “Philip thanks for everything you did for the team and me.” For a cyclist to ride over 965 miles, mainly behind a power chair with only the odd bit for freedom when we got to going down a steep hill on the moors, took some doing. Other cyclist will know what I mean...

I have talk about two of the male team members and there are still two more to talk about, Alan and Jason.

Alan, to quote a famous saying “a quite man” was the driver of the second van. Alan was the guy no matter was asked of him, and we did ask a lot of him he did it without a mone or a question. Alan was the guy who could see something that needed to be done and did it. Alan was the guy who when called upon would feed me, wipe my nose, give me a drink, put up tents, cook a meal, smile when you needed to see one. We all loved him very much and if I can get another challenge together, he has said he would love to be involved. He is one of the five of us that went from LE 2 JOG and is an End 2 Ender in is own right. Thanks Alan for all or your support.

The last guy was Jason. Jason was our dogs’ body and drove a third vehicle. He helped put up the tents, unload the vehicles and did some cooking. He also played his guitar at sing alongs.Jason left after three weeks to be back with his family.

18th August Paper cutting

2009-08-19T06:54:00.000-07:00

Lets talk route

2009-08-19T01:05:00.000-07:00

19th August

Let us talk about the route

The route we took, as I have said, was the CTC YHA route and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to do the E2E. I was to be taken; using this route, on mainly minor A & B roads thought some of the most stunning countryside of the UK. We went down country lanes, along some major A roads, but only for a short distance; we went over beautiful more lands and saw rivers, lakes and beautiful causeways.

Along the route, we tented to eat from a packed lunch eaten at the side of the road and were usually at a battery change stop. People passing us were quite surprised to see me hanging in my hoist while the two guys were busily changing Alex’s batteries. They got battery changes down to six mins.

The appalling road surfaces were a big slowing down factor on this challenge. If you want to see the real state of our roads do by cycle or power chair the E2E. Alex was reduced to about 4/5 miles per hour a lot of the time when he could have been going flat out at 7 mph. If the road surfaces were better then the days target would have been meet a lot soon.

Our target for the day was set by Graham. That was usually between 45/50 miles. No wonder when we got to the second Saturday i was dun in. We had to maintain a high millage in order to finish in the time limit i had set. People had to get back to their proper jobs dogs had to be got from kennels. The usual mundane things that makes life tick on.

Along the route we meet some amazing people. Some where doing the E2E on cycles and would ride with us for a few minuites. Some people would stop us and give us cash.

One person amongst many stopped us just our side Glastonbury and invited us home for tea. We had to decline as we still had many miles to go. A few yards further along the road was a trail back of traffic, a farmer was cutting his hedge. Just after passing him i got a front wheel puncture and pulled into a gateway, it was the home of the lady who had just invited us in for tea...we rang on to our other support vehicle who had the spar tire but was 2 hours away. This meant we had time for tea with our new friend!

All along the route we have marked with green pant the place we have stopped for the end of the days run and gone back to it. Prof that we had been there. This stop we also marked with the ladies permission. We then put me into the back of the van, went to a Tesco's car park and waited for the spar wheel.

After changing the tire we went back up the hill, about 2/3 miles. Said hi to the lady only to find that the paper, vital Prof we had been where we said we had been we have had signed all along the route had been left in her house. Now does that not show that honesty is the best policy. This was just one of many magic moments i can tell you...

2009-08-18T11:03:00.000-07:00

cont...

19th Aug

Due to the extreme bad weather, many of the campsites we hoped to stay at were a bit too wet underfoot so we made a few phone calls to people that Graham knew to see if he could get us some better accommodation for the night I did not know how many people he knew until I found myself, and the team, staying, over the next three weeks, as well as campsites sleeping in a selection of church halls, churches, Boys Brigade halls and a Black Watch Community Centre.

Some of the halls did not have different rooms, so we all bunked in together in one large hall. I was sheltered at one end by various means, as I had to have my personal needs seen to including toileting and washing. This did not mean that a good hot meal would not appear O no. Who ever was duty cook for the night produced meals to feed us all. Jason, one of our team and who plays a guitar, got us all singing after the meal. So has the rain poured down outside, we were warm and dry inside.

Not all our accommodation was in village halls and campsites. We did stay in Premier Lodges, which I am very disappointed to say, did not have suitable accommodation for wheelchair chair users. I think that for any hotel to get rating stars they must have a portion of 1% of their rooms suitable for wheelchair users with a walk in shower.

While I am on my soapbox about accommodation, in this the 21 century, all accommodation should cater for disabled people. Why they do not, to me is just pure discrimination.

We booked into three YHAs along the route. The first one I arrived at at midnight, we found that even though it had a ramp up to the door, there were still two steps we could not negotiate with the power chair. Sleeping in the dudgeons was out that night and we moved onto a hotel that said it had a lift. The lift was so small, to get in, I had to be transferred onto my commode to get up to my room. The next YHA though it had a shower in the room I could not get into it and our last YHA I knew I could not sleep in so a tent was put up for me and Jenny, she had the short straw that night and was on sleeping duty in my tent..

2009-08-18T02:07:00.000-07:00

cont...

18th August 09

The idea behind accommodation was we would stay on campsite and use YHAs; we had three YHAs booked for the whole trip. This worked well for the first few days due to the weather not being too bad. We stayed on our second campsite for just one night, “Treyarnon Caravan and Camping Park”. this was a real tester for all the team, as we had not had a trial run before.

By the time we, the power chair party arrived at “Treyarnon” if I remember rightly the campsite took some finding but was well worth it, the advance party had to put up four tents... Addie was in charge of the kitchen and the mess tent and as well as doing the cooking in this tent, she was to be sharing we also had to charge Alex’s batteries. Besides a lot of the cooking equipment and food in various boxes and cool boxes, we had only two gas rings and a small oven; from this tent hot, tasty food for eight people would emerge. Being organic of course, it tasted superior, and the team admitted that. At the end of a days long run for wheelchair team and the forward team, Adie would put on the table, and so would other team members during our 4 weeks on the road, meals that were hot, very tasty, and tasted as if they had been cooked at home, not in a tent in the middle of a field with rain pouring down. We drank good Fairtrade coffee and the odd bottle of organic wine. I took along some organic bear for the guys. We were all drawn to the mess tent like families to the kitchen. The person who had been with me during the day had the job of feeding me my evening meal…Thanks to all the cooks, and I think everyone had a hand at some part of the challenge at producing a meal. Graham is a dab hand at putting full English breakfasts on the table. I kepted to my diet so only got my full English towards the end of the challenge. Well worth waiting for.

So how did it all work, putting a roof over the heads for eight tied and hungry people for 4 weeks? Feeding them, making sure they had adequate personal washing and cooking facilities as well as looking after me. Looking after my care needs is no easy no mater where we were, in a tent, a church hall, YHA or a hotel…

Our tent consisted of a tent for the guys, a tent for the girls, my tent, which I shared with who ever was dong, the sleepover, the mess tent and Alan our driver of the support van, took his one man tent. We discovered that my tent was too small for the hoist and we had to buy a new one, this had to be exchanged due to the zip breaking...

More Pictures

2009-08-17T11:49:00.000-07:00

More Pictures

2009-08-17T11:01:00.000-07:00

Some more pictures for you.

2009-08-17T01:03:00.000-07:00

17th August 09

“You have got to do the miles!”

I can remember looking at the weather map on the BBC and thinking “am I really going to drive ‘Alex’ my power chair, all the way from one end of this wonderful country of ours to the other, namely Lands End 2 John O’Groats?”

The reality of the task that I had set myself, did not really hit me until I had secured a team of people together, managed to raise the money against all the odds, got all the equipment together including hiring a second van, and with my team assembled, we slipped away from my home at 0630 on Friday 17th July 09.

The Journey to Lands End was an adventure in itself as we realised when we packed the hire van, I had hired a van that was too small, and had to be changed ASAP. The guys in our team pushed boxes and stuff bags into every corner, just managing to get the side door closed. We could not wait for the hire company to open to see if they had a larger van as we need time to get to Lands End and as the hire company was a national company, we decide to press on and deal with the situation on the road putting Addie, one of my care team, on the case. Using her female power of persuasion Addie did resolve our problem, but the new larger van could not be picked up until the Monday.

We arrived at out first campsite at midnight feel very cold, tied and in need of a good hot drink. Just a couple more things to tell you, it was raining and the guys had never put the tens up before! The campsite owners at the Bone Valley Holiday Park could not have been any more helpful. They held a strip light to help the guys see while putting up the tents as it was pitch black and drizzly and went step further by bringing out the brews all round! Me, I just sat in my van dry and warm.

I could tell you of more wonderful stories like this of campsite owners just going that extra mile to accommodate us. Of church halls, Boys Brigade Halls and village halls that stepped in to help us when we had problems with staying on a campsite due to the appalling weather. To you all, thank you.

The journey that we were to undertake was to start at Lands End on Saturday 18th July 09 at 1400 hours. I had been in contact with the Royal British Legion and they promised a standard-bearer and a few other people to send us off. This they did and more. The official photographs was taken at the signpost and we made our way to the start line. Philip, my cyclist for the journey and I got kitted up, crash hat, flag on the back of Alex, and crossed the official starting line at 1430. The journey had started.

The first day was only 10 miles back to our campsite. Distance enough to get use to Alex on the open road; I had only had Alex 2 days before we set off. That evening the team, with Alex, went out to dinner and we had an early night.

Putting me to bed is not any easy task due to the extent of my disability, and usually took up to 1/2 an hour and the morning get up always took 3 hrs no matter how had we tried to cut it back. Revally was always at 0600…I started the day with two cups off good Fairtrade coffee and Organic rice milk. Just one big point I have not told you. The whole team were feed on Organic and Fairtrade food. Well for 80% of the time.

More to follow......

Some photos to go on with

2009-08-16T10:17:00.000-07:00

We Made It

2009-08-14T00:55:00.000-07:00

14th August 09

We made it.

Handicares Alex and I crossed the finishing line at 1145 after covering 965 miles. We only had one puntucre. Amazing trip. More to follow...

Update!!

2009-07-26T12:57:00.000-07:00

26th July 2009

Update

Sorry that we have been so long in updating this blog but as you will appreciate we have had to get this challenge up and running and ironing out a few problems that have arisen i.e. 1. Changing to a bigger van, 2. Buying a bigger tent, 3. Getting into a routine with my personal care and more appropriately we couldn't get onto the Internet.

A brief update:

Friday 18th / Saturday 19th July 2009

We arrived all tired and weary but full of excitement at the challenge that lay ahead (and indeed a challenge it has been so far!) in Penzance at 1am on the 19th July after a 17 hour journey from Newcastle. The delay was caused because we discovered that the van was too small to meet our needs and we tried desperately to rectify this problem however Eurovan did not have an upgraded van available until the Monday. The campsite owners at the Bone Valley Holiday Park could not have been any more helpful. They provided a strip light to help with putting up the tents as it was pitch black and drizzly and went stop further by bringing out the brews all round! All through this Mary sat in her van, sleepily over seeing it all not without the sneaky order of which of course we took no notice.

Saturday July 19th - The day it all began!

After a reasonable nights sleep and getting Mary up, which surprisingly still kept to the 3 hour routine despite being in a camping field, we all drove down to the Lands End Hotel to officially sign into the E2E route and Mary bought us all Lands end teddy bears! We were then greeted by the Cornwall RBL (Royal British Legion), standards at the ready for the official photographs at the signpost. We then went to the starting line and Phil and Mary began there awaited adventure at 2.30pm. It was decided that they would do only 12 miles that day as we had had a long drive down and Mary wanted the team to enjoy being at Land End. That evening we tucked into a Medieval meal at the Waterside Mead, an evening truly enjoyed by all despite the lack of disabled facilities. We are now signing off as it is bedtime and we have 40 miles to do tomorrow, but we can inform you that Alex is holding out well and Handycare should be very proud of him!
To be continued.........

2009-07-16T13:39:00.000-07:00

16th July

My good nights sleep

Before i go to bed, it is 2210 and i have to get up at 0300 for a 0530 start. i just want to close by telling you that my worse fear was that i would not get a good nights sleep. A stiff back was happening on while i slept on my stretcher...My best means of a bed because of the ease of moving and raising ... My bed at home is an electrical bed and i never get a stiff back or pain in my hips or lower back...Think said i, the answer maybe to raise your legs...right said i lets do a google search...I found a Harley 4028 Leg Raiser available from www.mrpillow.co.uk . It worked. A comfortable pain free and moring free night. I will report to you more on this leg raiser through this blogs

Deatils

Product Description
Manufactured to an ergonomically beneficial angle designed to support the back of the knee and heel whilst allowing the calf to relax.
Features
Takes pressure from the lower back and stimulates circulation
Eases symptoms of oedema, varicose veins, back pain and fatigue
Fitted with removable fleece cover
Spare covers available

Vans Are Packed

2009-07-16T11:01:00.000-07:00

16th July

My hired Euro Van and my van are now packed

To day in Newcastle the sun has been shining down all day. Well part of all day...

This morning we sorted out all the stuff ready to load into the Euro Van. Half of our stuff was in the garage, half was out side the garage. Must have taken the best partof 4 hours before we patted ourselves on the back, well Addy and Jackie did, i cannot....being disabled and all that..

Anyway as i was saying, just as we sat down for a well earned cup of coffee and you can guess what happened next, the heavens open up and it poured down with rain and it poured down with rain...even the wet gear we had outside has now to be dried...still, the stuff that we could not get wet was in the garage safe from storms way.

At 5 o'clock the guys arrived to fill the Euro Van. The amount we had i felt we could get into the van easy. Wrong...The guys did get most things in but our plan of only having me and the two Alex's in my van. Wrong again. Philips bike will be in my van along with one or two other bits..

So there we have it. I have now handed over to my team, this challenge and i am now on board for the ride...May God Bless them all..

I have a great team, and if any team can become a World Record team, i have them..

As the next few days, weeks unfold, i shall write on my blog about the ups and downs of a World Record Challange..

To anyone living in Newcastle, Metro Radio are following me on my World Record attempt.

I am now closing for a while. See you all when i get to Lands End..

Bye for now...

4 Days to Go

2009-07-15T01:28:00.000-07:00

14th July 09

Only 4 days to go!

We are now on the final count down to the start of this World Record Attempt.

Jack and Molly go into kennels. I am off to the town for yet one more last shop. The house looks like a tip and has to be put into order. This evening we are watching a DVD of some one who cycled the E2E. That should be very lightening!

Keep watching this blog for up dates.

The picture is of my pups.

Please do not forget to donate to my charity, Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. With what i have seen on the news of out guys coming back from Afghanistan in a coffin, the work of the RBL is needed now more than ever.

Speak again soon.

Mary

Alex Arrives Today

2009-07-13T10:52:00.001-07:00

13 July 2009

Alex arrived at 1300 hrs on the 13th July 09

Today goes down in the history of this ‘World Record Attempt’ in so much as ‘Alex’ arrived today with lots of spars and guy to instructions us on how to change batteries, re-charging batteries, changing wheels. We hope that we do not have to change the motors. If we do, then Handicare will have to be called to the rescue.

Getting into the ‘Alex’ I am using for this challenge was for me, a quite an emotional time. All the planning, fundraising, praying and been told by people who should be supporting me, they would not be supporting me. Been told from all the people who are supporting me to go for it and be come a World Champion, take no notice of the others. There is so much I could put here, including trying out different modes of beds, I am still not 100% set on what I shall sleep on. If I had my way, I would take my bed I sleep on at home. Making sure that we had all have all the equipment, we need and all the equipment we do not need. Some will slip through the net!

I still have to see my Doctor for a final check up. This I am doing tomorrow. Take ‘Alex’ for his registration and number plate, if we have time. Go and burn some rubber in Alex. I think you get the picture.

Today I also received the tee shirts from Petal Back Clothing, see link on left. The ones I am to wear are easy to put on; they have my E2E logo on. Petal Black also had made especially for the team, tee shirts with a large mouse on wearing clogs. The wording escapes me at the moment. Thank you Petal Back Clothing.

So there you have it. Final count down to Saturday 18th July 2009 at 1400 hrs has now begun…

Speak again soon…

7 Days to Go

2009-07-10T10:26:00.001-07:00

10 July 2009

7 Day to go

With only 7 days to go we have been busy putting the teams information packs together and finalizing our route and accommodation paperwork.

In the teams information pack we have such information as letter from RBL giving them permission to collect for the RBL. Where they will be staying and a job description.

On Monday, Alex will be arriving here. He will be kitted up and fitted to my somewhat bent body. I lean to the right.

Even though I want to do this challenge in one Alex, I am been given a spare. HC do not want my world record attempt to end because Alex did not make it. Thank you HC.

With now only 7 days to go, it is now a matter of putting everything together. Fill packing boxes. Make sure that I have all my personal equipment. Cross all the right X’s.

This weekend I go out with Philip – my cyclist - on a training run, for the second time. We went out yesterday for the first time covering 22 ks. This first training run was on footpaths, main A roads and minor A road. I loved every moment of the time we spent.

FairTrades Big Lunch Day

2009-07-08T07:28:00.000-07:00

8th July 09

Big Lunch Day

While i am on my E2E i am going to try and get involved in the FairTrade Lunch Day. I shall be inviting anyone who wants to join us to share our evening meal and to sample FairTrade coffee and tea. I will report back.

This is FTs press release...

When Good Neighbours Become Good Friends

Mighty oaks from little acorns grow. A groundswell of goodwill is spreading across the land as friends and neighbours come together for a common (and gloriously uncommon) purpose. With just under two months to go until The Big Lunch on 19 July, events up and down the country are starting to take shape. T he turn out on the day is currently estimated at around half a million, but as more and more people sign up to take part, that figure continues to grow.

The Big Lunch, the ambitious idea from the Eden Project, in partnership with MasterCard, and supported by EDF Energy and the Royal Mail Group, aims to bring together as many of the 61 million people in the UK to simultaneously eat lunch with their neighbours and put a big smile on people’s faces.

Whether it’s their prize-winning courgettes, secret-recipe homebrew or playing a mean set of spoons, finding out what our neighbours are made of is one of The Big Lunch’s great joys; forging firm friendships another. There are as many ways to get involved as there are people to turn up. From home-made art, cakes or beer, to garage bands, mini-olympiads and open mics, or simply showing up and having a great time with the people on your street, the possibilities are endless.

So far, over 6.900 lunches have been set up across the country, including:
· a 5,000-strong Big Lunch in Toxteth, Liverpool, hosted by Arts in Regeneration, which will see 5 streets transformed into an open-air gallery promenade with cultural food, film, football, art, dancing, choirs and buskers
· Garstang, the world’s first ever Fairtrade town twinned with the Ghanaian town, New Koforidua, and now twinning their Big Lunch too
· Sikh gurdwaras in London and Bradford will be sharing a magnificent curry for The Big Lunch through the institution of ‘langar’ - people from different religious and social groups cooking and eating together

Paul Twivy, CEO of The Big Lunch, commented: “Let’s all express our talents, get over our embarrassment, shake hands and work with our neighbours and realise that the neighbourhood where we live is the biggest untapped source of happiness we possess.”
Eden Project Chief Executive, Tim Smit, commented: “Imagine a summer's day on which millions of us, throughout the UK, sit down to have lunch together with our neighbours: in the middle of our streets, around our tower blocks and on every patch of common ground. The food, entertainment, music and decorations we will have grown, cooked, or created ourselves. This will be a day to break bread with our neighbours, to put a smile on Britain's face.”

The Big Lunch takes place on Sunday July 19, 2009. Looking for inspiration? Check out Easy Ways to Serve The Big Lunch, our multi-purpose high-energy manual packed with wild ideas and straight up facts (available for £2 from the website, Waterstone's, WH Smith, B&Q, Amazon - proceeds go towards the Eden Trust), plus our spread-the-word leaflets that will start a Big Lunch buzz in your neighbourhood. Visit www.thebiglunch.com for more information.

Ends
For Further Information please contact:
Rhona Hurcombe
07976 847594
rhona@thebiglunch.com

My FairTrade Day

2009-07-07T03:50:00.000-07:00

7th July 09

My FairTrade day

As you must all now be fully aware, on this world record challenge i will be supporting FairTrade. After going on the FairTade web site i have discovered that on Sunday 19th July 09 they are holding a FairTrade lunch day. This world record attempt will be fully supporting this lunch and you can read this blog to see how. For more details abou the day click on to this link. http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/get_involved/news_events_and_urgent_actions/the_big_fairtrade_lunch.aspx

I am also looking at having the 19th July 09 as a fundraising day for FairTrade. I will consult with my friends at the RBL first.

Alex arrives today.. I will report back later

"Alex Becomes..."

2009-07-06T00:21:00.000-07:00

06 July 2009

Alex becomes and Honouree Member of The Lands End to John O’Groats Association

I have just heard from Don of the LEJOG Association , that in view of the fact that Alex is going for a world record, he is to be made a Honouree Member of the Association. What greater accolade than that, except of course holding, a “Power Chair World Record”

As soon as I have got a few training miles in, I will report back to you.

Only 12 days 6 hrs to the off gun……

Official Paperwork

2009-07-03T10:11:00.000-07:00

3rd July 09

The official paperwork.

In my email box today was the official paperwork from the Guinness Book of Records. This paperwork tells us the rules and regulation that the GBR lay down for my E2E to be recognized as a world record. The list is long and i have a lot of paperwork to fill in, notes to take, pictures to take and proof to obtain that i am where i say i am at the time i say i am. You get the message.

What this paperwork say, and this is very important to all E2E ers, that the E2E is now back on the books as a recognised world record. This means a lot to us all, and no more than the Lands End to John O'Groats Association who have world endlessly to have the E2E reinstated. Thanks Jack.

Tomorrow i do the final, if there is such a statement as final buying when preparing for the E2E, simple things like chopping boards, bread knife and two Orange mobile phones.

Now back to cheering for Murrey at Wimbledon...

Press Box

2009-07-03T00:14:00.000-07:00

3rd July 09

Press Box

Only 16 days and 6 hrs to the startin gun!

Please can you pass this link on to who, and where ever you can.

Thank you

Hello Mary Laver,Thank you for submitting your press release to PressBox. PressBox is a valued source of information for journalists and is used by thousands of media relations professionals each week. Your release has been validated. To help maximise exposure please also remember to link directly to your press release from your website. You can find your release here :

http://www.pressbox.co.uk/detailed/Sports/World_Record_Attempt_in_a_Alex_Power_Chair_335599.html

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We Are Now Awaiting "Alex"

2009-06-30T01:54:00.000-07:00

39th June 09

We are now waiting for our star 'Alex'

With only 18 days to go to the off, the stage is now awaiting for "Handicare 'Alex'."

So far we now in place, most of the funds to attempt this once in mine and i dare says, Alex's life time. We have the full team. the vehicles are booked and paid for. The CTC route is now maped and written up for Philip my cyclist. We have tons of camping gear. A Fairtrade food hamper. Insurance, very important.. The list is endless. All we now is Alex. When he arrives you will be the second one to know.

Keep watching this space...

My Chosen Charity

2009-06-29T11:49:00.000-07:00

29th June 09

My chosen charity

Just a small reminder to you all that this world record attempt is to raise money for my chosen charity The Royal British Legion.

You can go to my fundraising page by clicking on http://www.bmycharity.com/V2/e2epowerchairchallenge

Thank you

Sleeping On My Streacher

2009-06-29T00:30:00.000-07:00

29th July 09

Sleeping on my stretcher

It is very important that my team and I, get a good nights sleep. To this end i am supplying good quality blow up beds. In my case, i am looking into using a stretcher.

Last night i started to find the best combinations of mattress to fit the stretcher. Last night proved to be a disaster. Tonight i try again

I my well be looking at taking a fold up bed with a memory mattress and just use my stretcher for my person care. Not all campsites and YHA's have shower facilities for disabled people.

While we are talking about campsites, can i say a big and very sincere thank you to, for donating my board for the night of the 27th July 09.

Their details

Robert and Julie Broad
Emral Gardens Caravan ParkHolly

BushBangor-on-Dee

WrexhamLL13 0BG
Tel: (01948) 770401
Mobile: (07774) 275266

e-mail: enquiries@emralgardens.com
www.emralgardens.co.uk

Dealing With My Nerves

2009-06-29T00:16:00.000-07:00

29th June 09

Dealing with my nerves

The best way i am finding of dealing with my nerves, i was bad again this morning, is to get onto my computer and work. There are lots to do.

One place i find help and is also a very good read, comes from my friends on the Cycling Touring Club (CTC) forum. They are a great bunch of Guys and Girls and always willing to give advice and encouragement..

This morning i have just been on the forum and the time is only 0820, but there is lots to read and there are many posts about the E2E on the forum.

This i have just read and found it very encouraging as it is about my chosen route The CTC YHA route. I hope i am not breaking any rules by coping and pasting this

Quote "A friend and I just did the ctc route (we did the hostel route but camped instead).I would have to say it was excellent! However, it was a huge gale of a headwind the day we were supposed to cross Dartmoor so we went around to Oakhampton and took the old A30. Good roads away from the majority of traffic.Definitely worth a quick look, may be not the fastest or most direct, but mostly very quiet empty roads " unquote.

To anyone doing the E2E i would very highly recommend that you join the CTC you will find them a great orgainsation to be in. I am going to ask if they will adaopt me as i am not cycling the E2E but a power chair user but I think you may will have worked that one out by now

Please Remember Me In Your Prays

2009-06-28T09:18:00.000-07:00

28th June 09

Please remember me in your prays

I am asking everyone, regardless of their faith, to please remember me in their prays. If you belong to a church, pray group, pray chain, please include me and my team in your prays.

I cannot do this on my own and i know that with your prays and Jehovah's help we will become a World Record team.

God Bless

Love

Mary

Physically Feeling Sick

2009-06-27T01:42:00.000-07:00

27 June 2009

Physically feel sick

Photograph of last years attempt

With only 3 weeks to the off I am now feeling physical sick and have been sick once. As I write this entry, my tum is churning away. I never had a baby but if this is what morning sickness is all about, I can feel empathy with all you moms.

Why am I feeling this nervous I keep asking myself!

For me to get from one end of the country. Lands End to the other end, John O’Groats, due to the extent of my disability, takes many people. There is my team of 7 in all. Without just one of them, this World Record Challenge could collapse like a pack of cards. Not trying to put pressure on you guys!

Then we have Handicare who are giving me Alex and either Ales or my Alber Adventure will be up for sale to offset the costs, some £6000, this challenge is costing £1000 give or take a few £’s.

We then have the RBL Poppy Appeal. They are supporting me where and when they can. They will be at the start with the RBL Standard and Standard Bearer. If you would like to make a donation then please go to my Bmycharity link on the left.

I am promoting Fairtrade and they have been a great help. My local FT rep gave me a FT hamper, thank for that.

Euro cars are providing my second vehicle with a very good discount.

Petal Black Clothing are giving a donation to my expenses and providing some tee shirts.

Jack Adams along with Don Dyer of the Lands End John O’Groats Association has worked to get The Guinness Book of Records to recognise this challenge as a World Record. See link to the left.

Back here at home, my friends and carers are working very hard to make sure that this challenge happens. Emmanuelle is doing all the paperwork. Addie is working on the food side, Eileen is making sure I have everything I need, and Eileen has worked with me for 17 years and was very much involved in my last attempt. Margaret is dealing with the bank and arranging for wages to be paid while I am away. Jacky, new to my team, is out doing 26 ks with me so I can do some serious training; Karen is getting my cloths altered. All of this is on top of feeding, watering and toileting me and doing my sleepovers.

Three of my team, Emmanuelle, Addie and Margaret are taking turns on the actual challenge by doing a week, encase of Emmanuelle, two weeks, out on the road with me. What can I says guys, but thank you.

Without all of the above and the massive fundraising efforts of a lady who likes to be in the background, Jenny Robson and a guy call Gary, some and not so small donations from friends and strangers in Tyne & Wear, then the funds for this challenge would not be in place. With the knock on effect that this challenge will not take place.

When I think off all of the above, then I remember I have forgotten the one person who will be out there on the road with me, Philip my cyclist, then no wonder I have morning and day sickness. Just opening my side gate has to be done by me.

The Campsite and Youth Hostel owners I have spoken to in booking our overnights stay, have been just great to speak to and making sure at this busy time of the year, ‘that we have a place to hang my hat’ you have the list here on the blog.

Put all this together and a once in a lifetime chance of becoming at the age of 62 years a World Record Holder.. Wow. Can life get any better?

To those of you who read my blog, and there are a few of you, you will know that I have a very strong faith. Would you please put me and this challenge onto your pray list and get the word out to other pray groups. Thank you and God Bless.

While my team and I are out on the road, we would love to hear from you and see you supporting us along the route, you can ring me personally and time on Mobile 07975649162. I would love to hear from you.

Well there you have today’s blog entry. Hope it is not too long but it has helped my tum if only for a short time

3 weeks and 4 hours to go!

Now The Nerves Are Kicking In!

2009-06-26T08:45:00.000-07:00

26 June 2009

Rescue Remedy to the rescue

Now the nerves are kicking in.

With still three weeks to off, my training is going well but the verves are now kicking in. This is something I have never experienced before. My tummy that is taking the blunt of my nerves. Already this week I have been sick twice and had bad heartburn once.

If anyone has any advice to pass on then I am only too pleased to read, and may, act

Today I was out fundraising towards my expenses and raised £150. Not bad. This evening I am off to a Forces Night, I am ex-WRAF and hope to get up on the floor in my Alber Power Chair and do some jig a budding. I just love it.

See you in my next entry

World Record Attempt

2009-06-25T09:25:00.001-07:00

25th June

World Record Attempt

A World Record Attempt in a Power Chair
LEJOG 18th July/12th August 09

The Guinness Book of Records TM http://www.guinnessworldrecords/ have now agreed to recognise “The Lands End to John O’Groats” challenge as a “World Record” and that The Lands End to John O’Groats Association are the official judicator of the LEJOG Challenge. http://www.landsend-johnogroats-assoc.com/

Mary Laver (62) is now going to take on the challenge under the rules of the “Guinness Book of Records TM,” of driving her Handicare “Alex” Power Chair from Lands End to John O’Groats between 18th July/12th August 09

Mary, who is severely disabled with Rheumatoid Arthritis, is totally human and wheelchair dependent will be with a team of seven, made up of two drivers, two vehicles, four carers, one cyclist... They plan to stay in campsites and Youth Hostels on this epic journey.

Mary says, “While this is my World Record attempt, I also consider it is also a team event. We will cross the starting line as a team and cross the finishing line as a team.” She also goes onto say. “This will be my second attempt but this time, thanks to friends and strangers in ‘Tyne & Wear and the support of my team;’ we will go for that World Record in their name.

Mary knows that the safety and the safety of others is a prime importance, and will if deemed necessary, Mary will get into her van to pass any danger knowing that by doing so her World Record attempt is finished.

Mary hopes the challenge will raise awareness of the work her chosen charity “The Royal British Legion and Poppy Appeal” and raise them lots of cash. Her target is £8000

Mary is also very passionate about the work of ‘Fairtrade’ and ‘Organic Food’, so will be promoting their work on this World Record attempt..

The team will be feed, where possible, on Organic and Faitrade produce.

Mary says’ “The World Record is there for me to take, all I have to do take it. Easy to say, very hard to do!”

For more details of the challenge, please go to
http://powerwheelchaire2e.blogspot.com/

To support her chosen charity please go to
https://www.bmycharity.com/V2/e2epowerchairchallenge
To contact Mary on her mobile, she would love to hear from you.
07975649162

Guiness Book of Records

2009-06-24T00:53:00.000-07:00

24th July 09

0845 email from Jack Adams

It is offical, this is a world record attempt in the Lands End to John O'Groats in a power chair, in this case "Alex" from Handicare. Thank you all for making this possible Mary

Hi Mary
I can confirm that subject to you finishing your end to end journey successfully you will be recommended by the LEJOG Association to the GWR for world record status, on behalf of the LEJOG Association I wish you well with your adventure. After meeting you and conversing via email I can think of no other person that deserves success more than you.

Kind Regards

Jack

Everything Is In Place

2009-06-20T11:38:00.000-07:00

20 June 2009

Everything is in place

It is now 1915 and I am playing catch up to tell you what has been happening.

Firstly, I can now say that this challenge is fully equipped with all its camping gear and all but three overnight stops are in place. My Fairtrade donated hamper has arrived, thank you for that. The contents have now been packed into to 85 lit plastic boxes, of which we have nine and are now slowly been packed with various items the boxes are numbered to identifie the tasks the contents will perform. 1. Our cooker 2. Our cooking stoves, BBQ, lighters, gas cylinders in another. 3. Fairtrade dry rations take up three. 4. Kitchen stuff takes up one, ect. I think you get the picture.

For sleeping on, I have bought good quality inflatable single beds.Everyone has been asked to bring their own sleeping bag. I have even thought of the tags to identify which belongs to whom.

For safe storage of food, we have cool bags. Two are electric and the other two are just cold bags. We are been very careful with our food hygiene, making sure that the meat and chicken keep away from each other and other foods. We shall be following health and hygiene rules to the last letter when it comes to preparing our food.

On Wednesday, we have our first team meeting. My local park has given us permission to put up our tents and to use this time as team building. We shall also try out using the hoist on the rubber mat that we have.

The pups are booked into kennels; the van is booked and paid for. Today I became a paid up member of the Lands End to John O’Groats Association http://www.landsend-johnogroats-assoc.com/ who are monitoring my challenge, see left-hand panel for their web site. All that now remains is to pull it all together and pack the vans.

This now means that for the next 4 weeks, well 3 weeks and 6 days, I am going to get as much training in as I can using my Alber Adventure. The most I can do is 20 miles per day as this is about the length of Albers batteries. I am hoping to have ‘Alex’ in two weeks time and then he and I can burn some real rubber together.

In the mean time, now that thanks to the support I have been getting from local people, I also have to fit in some fundraising for my chosen charity, ‘The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal,’ so please will you now move over to my Bmycharity link and sponsor me.

Thank you.

Booking Our Campsites

2009-06-18T00:13:00.000-07:00

18th June 09

Booking our campsites

INDEX FOR ACCOMMODATION

FIRST WEEK

Day 0

Friday 17th July/18th July
Arrive Penzance
Bone Valley Caravan Park
Tel: 01736 360313
Deposit paid
Total cost £150 for 2 nights
www.caravancampingsites.co.uk/cornwall/bonevalley.htm

Day 1

Saturday 18th July
Lands End to Penzance
Bone Valley Caravan Park
See above

Day 2

Sunday 19th July
Penzance to Treyarnon
Treyarnon Caravan and Camping Park
Treyarnon Bay,
Padstow,
Cornwall.
PL28 8PN
Tel 01841 520681
http://www.carnevasholidaypark.com/amenities.html
To pay. Booked

Day 3

Monday 20th July
Treyarnon to Bridestowe
Okehampton (p191-192)
Ms & Mr Sargent
Bundu Camping & Caravan Park
EX20 4HT
Tel: 01837 861611
Confirmed pay by cash £40
email frances@bunduy.plus.com
www.bundu.co.uk/

Day 4

Tuesday 21st July
Bridestow to Cullompton
Mr Wellard
Forest Glad Caravan & Camping Park
EX12 2DT
Tel: 01404841381
www.forest-glade.co.uk/

Donated Thank you Mr & Mrs Wellard

Day 5

Wednesday 22nd July
Cullompton to Street
Isle of Avalon campsite
Godney Rd
Glastonbury
Somerset
BA6 9AF

Tel 01458 833618
Cost £60 To pay. Booked
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=2109

Day 6

Thursday 23rd July
Wells to Chepstow
YHA
St. Briavels (11miles)LydneyGloucestershire GL15 6RG
Tel 01594530272
Booked and paid £150
http://www.yha.org.uk/find-accommodation/heart-of-england/hostels/St-Briavels/index.aspx
Can take both road scenic and high.

Day 7/Day 8

Friday 24th July / Saturday 25th July
Chepstow to Burley Gate
“Change over”
The Millpond Camping & Caravanning Park (6 miles)
HEREFORDSHIRE
HR1 4JA
TEL 01432 890243

Deposit £28.60
http://www.millpond.co.uk/

SECOND WEEK

Day 9

Sunday 26th July
Burley Gate to Bridges
The Green Caravan Park (3 miles)WentnorBishop's CastleShropshireSY9 5EF

Tel 01588 650 605

Deposit £10
http://www.greencaravanpark.co.uk/

Day 10

Monday 27th July
Bridges to Holt (Wrexham)
Robert and Julie Broad
Emral Gardens Caravan ParkHolly BushBangor-on-DeeWrexhamLL13 0BG
Tel: (01948) 770401
Mobile: (07774) 275266

e-mail: enquiries@emralgardens.com
www.emralgardens.co.uk/

Day 11

Tuesday 28th July
Holt to Leigh

Day 12

Wednesday 29th July
Leigh to Slaidburn
Gallaber Park ( 9 miles )
Long Preston,
Skipton,
North Yorkshire.
BD23 4QFtel. 01729 851397

Booked to pay £18 per pitch
E-mail: info@gallaberpark.com
Web: www.gallaberpark.com

Day 13

Thursday 30th July
Slaidburn to Orton
None so far

Day 14/15

Friday 31st July/Saturday 1st August
Orton to Gretna
Hoddom Castle Caravan Park (14miles)
Hoddom
Lockabie
DG11 1AS
Tel 01576 300 251

Booked Paid £140 paid in full
http://www.hoddomcastle.co.uk/index.html
Change over

THIRD WEEK

Day 16

Sunday 2nd August
Gretna to Elvanfoot
Abington (7 miles)
Mrs Stirling
Mount View Caravan Park
ML12 6RW
Tel: 01864 502808
Email: info@mountviewcaravanpark.co.uk
www.mountviewcaravanpark.co.uk/
Booked in

Day 17
Monday 3rd August
Elvanfoot to Airdrie
Craigendmuir Park Business CentreSteppsGlasgowG33 6AFTel : 0141 779 4159Email : info@craigendmuir.co.uk Web : www.craigendmuir.co.uk/
Deposit

Day 18

Tuesday 4th August
Airdrie to Ardchullarie More
Mr Richards Strathyre, Near Callander, Perthshire
FK18 8NJ
Tel 01877 384285
www.immervoulin.com
Email: immervoulin@freenet.co.uk

Donated Thank you

Day 19
Wednesday 5th August
Ardchullaire More to Archallader
YHA Crianlarich (12 miles)Perthshire
FK20 8QN
Phone: 01838 300 260E-mail: crianlarich@syha.org.uk
Booked by email
http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostels-Crianlarich-YHA-050019.en.htm

Day 20
Thursday 6th August
Archallader to Spean Bridge
Gail & Andy Markham (4 miles)Bunroy ParkRoy BridgeInverness-shirePH31 4AG

Tel 01397 712332
http://www.bunroy.co.uk/
Booked Paid

Day 21/Day 22

Friday 7th August / Saturday 8th August
Spean Bridge to Drumnadrochit
Cannich Caravan & Camping Park(12miles)CannichStrathglassInverness-shireIV4 7LN

Tel 01456 415364

Booked To pay
http://www.btinternet.com/~highlandcamping/contact.html

FOURTH WEEK

Day 23

Sunday 9th August
Drumnadrochit to Bonar Bridge
Susannah
Dornoch Firth Caravan Park (13 miles)Meikle Ferry SouthTainIV19 1JX01862 892292 enquiries@dornochfirth.co.uk www.dornochfirth.co.uk
To pay £40

Day 24

Monday 10th August
Bonar Bridge to Tongue
SYHA Tongue,
By Lairg,
Sutherland,
IV27 4XH
Tel 01847 611789
http://www.syha.org.uk/hostels/highlands/tongue.aspx
Booked

Day 25

Tuesday 11th August
Tongue to Isauld
No accommodation so far

Day 26

Wednesday 12th August
Isauld to John O'Groats
John O’Groats caravan
Mr Steven
Tel: 01955 611329
Email: info@johnogrotscampsite.co.uk
www.visitjohnogroats.com/johnogroatscampsite.co.uk/

2009-06-17T03:32:00.001-07:00

17 June 2009

Solving problems

On this challenge, as with any other challenge, there are many problems we have to solve.

One problem we have to solve in my case is lifting me safely. This will be done by using a portable mobile lift.

Mobile lifts are designed to use indoors, none has come up with one to use outside. Why I do not know, as more and more disabled people are venturing out and using our campsites, me being one of them.

Getting back to hoisting.
Problem one is hoisting me on grass. Not easy, we have tried it. The solution has to be in the form of a firm base. Having looked at some, we have opted for a very thick rubber square, putting the hoist on it and moving my bed, or chair to the hoist. That problem that problem solved

Next problem, what happens if it is raining!
While we are out on the road, I will have to be taken out of Alex while he is having a battery change and general check over, and be put onto my stretcher or into my manual wheelchair. No problem in care parks and roadside parking areas as they have a hard surface. The problem is, ‘what happens if it is raining?’ ‘How to I keep the hoist dry?’ They are not designed for getting wet, mine is not, I have checked with the manufacture Solution a large winding up garden parasail, -see photograph. - over the hoist. To keep the handset/battery dry, we will be wrapped in Clingfilm

I hope we never have to put this to the test but it is one of the many things we have to be prepared for. Watch this space.

The Guiness Book of Records

2009-06-17T00:21:00.000-07:00

17 June 2009

The Guinness Book of Records

To bring you up to date as regards my application to the Guinnes I am appealing against this dission as driving a power chair is totally different to driving a power scooter. In addition, there is a big difference between 1600 miles and 1000 miles. I will let you know their verdict

15th June 2009
Book of Records.
Claim ID: 257257

Mrs Laver,

Thank you for your enquiry regarding your intention to attempt the record for '!000 miles in a power chair'. Your proposal is very similar to an existing record that we monitor and so we suggest you attempt this instead: 'Longest journey on an electric mobility vehicle (scooter)'.

The current record (current as at the date of this letter) is:John Duckworth (UK) travelled 2,662.8 km (1654.6 miles) around mainland UK on a Horizon Mayan electric mobility scooter between 20 June 2004 and 27 July 2004, finishing in Hincaster, Cumbria, UK.

You may wish to check with us again closer to submitting your full claim to be sure that a new record has not been set in the interim.

Please note that any current record information is provided to you to the best of Guinness World Records knowledge and belief as at the date of this letter and is based on the record information currently logged on the Guinness World Records database. This current record may change at any time due to a new record being approved. You are responsible for keeping yourself up to date with any new records as Guinness World Records will not inform you of any change to the current record.

We have attached specific Guidelines for this record category which detail the requirements you must follow to make your record attempt. You should ensure that all those participating and those witnessing the attempt are aware of the contents of these Guidelines. We would also draw your attention to the specific authentication we require when you come to make your claim for this particular category. This is in addition to the general authentication requirements as detailed in the Record Breakers Pack also included with this email.

These Guidelines will be appropriate for achieving a Guinness World Record as at the date of this letter. However, please be aware that as and when required, the Guidelines may be updated by us from time to time and without further notice to you.

Using the Guinness World Records T or logo is a great way to help promote your attempt. If you are interested in using our logo and trademarks during your record event, please log in the website, select the appropriate claim number and click on 'Use our logo'.

Once the record has been attempted and you have compiled your claim and completed the Agreement Regarding Supporting Materials which you will find in the attachment, all the information should be sent to us here at:

GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS LIMITED 3rd Floor184-192 Drummond StreetLondon NW1 3HPUNITED KINGDOM.

Please ensure that your Claim ID (above) is clearly marked on your package and all documentation.

Alex & Me

2009-06-13T13:34:00.000-07:00

12 June 2009

“Alex and Me”

At the heart of all this challenge is a guy called “Alex” you can visit his web site http://www.handicare.co.uk/handicare/pages/newspage____158284.aspx?epslanguage=ENhe

Alex is a normal sort of guy, he has the usual four wheels, his heart in his hand control, and I can snuggle up to him on his lap. He would like to do nothing more than to take me out for a nice ride in the country.

Alex and I have only met a couple of times, the first being on a blind date at Newcastle International Airport. I would not say it was love at first sight, I am not that sort of girl, I need a bit of time to get to know a guy, you know the sort of thing!

I well remember the first time I saw Alex; he was driving towards me at slow, and gentle speed with his friend called Mechanic. I was in my Alber Adventure, a trusted and tried friend. We said "Hi" and as we were there for a meeting, he went into the room with us. Not together I must add. Alex just sat quietly in the corner of the room

As our meeting was ending, it was time for Alex and me to get to know each other more intimately. It was then that I was hoisted onto Alex’s lap. Wow, that was a good feeling. I could feel his comfortable seat, a girls dream. His friend Mechanic, made a few adjustments to his wonderful armrests and made sure that my legs fitted securely onto his feet rests. “Enough” I said we want to be alone to get to know each other a bit more. The door was opened and Alex and I drove slowly at first, but then started to burn some rubber and together we drove into the airport, the others trying, but failing to keep up.

Alex and I were not together for very long on this first date. We did a few twirls on the open floor, had a few photos taken and ventured outside for a few moments to be alone having to return to the group for a sad parting. Alas Handicare, they made Alex, wanted to take him home and talk to him as man-to-man about him driving me all the way from Lands End to John O’Groats. – This is what the meeting was all about and they wanted Alex to be there as they planned that he might like to be the chosen power chair for the challenge. - They were to be frank with him, this was no romantic drive in the park or sitting in the back row of the cinema, no, this was the big adventure. Did he want to do it? The verdict I was to get at the NIDEX Show in Birmingham.

When I got to the NIDEX Show, I was a bit apprenticed. Was Alex going to do the End 2 End with me? Was he going to let me sit on his lap through the sun and rain? Was he going to be up to doing 40 miles a day and 1000 miles in all? Would he beable to do this when both of us wanted to call it a day knowing we had to carry on. Could he cope with the publicity, been in the lime light afterwards.

All these questions raised through my head as the train pulled in to Birmingham International.

With my heart raising, I made my way in my DHSS wheelchair, - Alber Adventure did not want to meet up with his rival again, so flatly refused to go with me, understandable -, to Handicare stand. Alex was there waiting for me. We were taken to a stand that sold hoists so I could be hoisted once again into Alex lap. Nothing had change. We still wanted to be together.

I had to ask Alex, “do you still want to take me all the way from one end of England to the other?” His answer was yes he did. If he had been able to do so, my disability stopped me, I would have hugged him there, right in front of thousands of people. I am just glad that Alber was not there. He would have turned on his wheels.

After spending, the day with Alex visiting various stands, drinking loads of coffee, we had to say good by, but this time knowing we will meet up again soon.

Yesterday I had an email from Eddie at Handicare who is a good friend of Alex. He told me that Alex is getting ready for our big day. Alex want to be at his best fitness, so is making sure that all his parts are in top shape and his new long distance batteries do not affect his performance on the road. Thanks Alex for that thought.

Alex and I will be meeting up again at the beginning of July to do some training runs. After the E2E we have been invited, with Eddie of Handicare, - remember they bought us together - and a couple of friends, to the House of Commons for lunch and a tour. What accolade is that?

Keep reading this blog to see how Alex and I fair in our new relationship and if at the end of the E2E our relationship lasts and my Alber decides there is not enough room in my heart, and my house, for two guys and leaves me.

Who will win my heart Alex or Alber? Only time will tell.

Copywrite Mary Laver

My Faith

2009-06-11T00:15:00.000-07:00

11th July 09

My Faith.

My faith is very real to me and has helped me through many events in my life, the worst been my marriage break up and the death of my mom and dad.

During all the hours, the ups and downs of organising this challenge, the disappointments, getting to the point where i was going to have to call it off, there is one place i go to for guidence and strenght, the Groto at Lourdes. There I leave a pray. You might like to pay the Groto a visit, they have a live Web Cam http://www.lourdes-france.org/index.php?goto_centre=ru&contexte=en&id=405

This is the pray i left there this morning.

"Dear Mary mother of Jesus. Dear Jesus, thank you for your spirit being in my E2E challenge. Please be with me when the road is long, the body is week and i want to call it a day. Give me your strength to carry on." Amen

Swindon

2009-06-10T12:51:00.000-07:00

10th July

Swindon visitor

Someone from Swindon is visiting my blog a great deal. You are extremely welcome glad you find the blog of interest but pray please revel yourself and tell me why.

The Highway Code

2009-06-10T12:44:00.000-07:00

10th July 09

The Highway Code for Power Chairs

The Highway Code

Rules for users of powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters (36-46)
(Called Invalid Carriages in law)
36
There is one class of manual wheelchair (called a Class 1 invalid carriage) and two classes of powered wheelchairs and powered mobility scooters. Manual wheelchairs and Class 2 vehicles are those with an upper speed limit of 4 mph (6 km/h) and are designed to be used on pavements. Class 3 vehicles are those with an upper speed limit of 8 mph (12 km/h) and are equipped to be used on the road as well as the pavement.
37
When you are on the road you should obey the guidance and rules for other vehicles; when on the pavement you should follow the guidance and rules for pedestrians.
On pavements
38
Pavements are safer than roads and should be used when available. You should give pedestrians priority and show consideration for other pavement users, particularly those with a hearing or visual impairment who may not be aware that you are there.
39
Powered wheelchairs and scooters MUST NOT travel faster than 4 mph (6 km/h) on pavements or in pedestrian areas. You may need to reduce your speed to adjust to other pavement users who may not be able to move out of your way quickly enough or where the pavement is too narrow.
[Law UICHR 1988 reg 4]
40
When moving off the pavement onto the road, you should take special care. Before moving off, always look round and make sure it’s safe to join the traffic. Always try to use dropped kerbs when moving off the pavement, even if this means travelling further to locate one. If you have to climb or descend a kerb, always approach it at right angles and don’t try to negotiate a kerb higher than the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations.
On the road
41
You should take care when travelling on the road as you may be travelling more slowly than other traffic (your machine is restricted to 8 mph (12 km/h) and may be less visible).
42
When on the road, Class 3 vehicles should travel in the direction of the traffic. Class 2 users should always use the pavement when it is available. When there is no pavement, you should use caution when on the road. Class 2 users should, where possible, travel in the direction of the traffic. If you are travelling at night when lights MUST be used, you should travel in the direction of the traffic to avoid confusing other road users.
[Law UICHR 1988 reg 9]
43
You MUST follow the same rules about using lights, indicators and horns as for other road vehicles, if your vehicle is fitted with them. At night, lights MUST be used. Be aware that other road users may not see you and you should make yourself more visible - even in the daytime and also at dusk - by, for instance, wearing a reflective jacket or reflective strips on the back of the vehicle.
[Law UICHR 1988 reg 9]
44
Take extra care at road junctions. When going straight ahead, check to make sure there are no vehicles about to cross your path from the left, the right, or overtaking you and turning left. There are several options for dealing with right turns, especially turning from a major road. If moving into the middle of the road is difficult or dangerous, you can
stop on the left-hand side of the road and wait for a safe gap in the traffic
negotiate the turn as a pedestrian, i.e. travel along the pavement and cross the road between pavements where it is safe to do so. Class 3 users should switch the vehicle to the lower speed limit when on pavements
If the junction is too hazardous, it may be worth considering an alternative route. Similarly, when negotiating major roundabouts (i.e. with two or more lanes) it may be safer for you to use the pavement or find a route which avoids the roundabout altogether.
45
All normal parking restrictions should be observed. Your vehicle should not be left unattended if it causes an obstruction to other pedestrians - especially those in wheelchairs. Parking concessions provided under the Blue Badge scheme (see 'Other information') will apply to those vehicles displaying a valid badge.
Other information
46
These vehicles MUST NOT be used on motorways (see Rule 253). They should not be used on unrestricted dual carriageways where the speed limit exceeds 50 mph (80 km/h) but if they are used on these dual carriageways, they MUST have a flashing amber beacon. A flashing amber beacon should be used on all other dual carriageways (see Rule 220).
[Laws RTRA sect 17(2) & (3), & RVLR reg 17(1) & 26]

Team to Visit Poppy Factory

2009-06-10T01:05:00.000-07:00

10th June 09

Invitation for team

Clair O’Dowd, the Events Assistance at the RBL, on completing the E2E wrote quote “We would like to offer you and your volunteers a chance to visit the Poppy Factory in Richmond once you have completed the trip” unquote.

This is great news and will show how much appreciation from the RBL, have for all the team and their effort.

Thanks RBL for that. Much appeaciated.

If anyone reading this blog has any other suggestions as a treat for the team a long the route, then can you please email me. Thanks

5 Weeks to Go

2009-06-08T00:46:00.000-07:00

8th June 09

5 weeks to go

With only five weeks cum Saturday to the start of this epic challenge, i am now know my team and can deligate them responsibilites within the team.

This the information i shall be giving to the team along with much more I hope you find it of some interest.

Job Allocation

Camping Arrangements.

Sleeping arrangements.

We shall have four tents.
Tent 1 for the guys sleeping two.
Tent 2 for the girls sleeping 2/3
Tent 3 for me plus 1
Tent 4 for the mess tent and using the hoist, my personal care.

Allocation of responsibilities.

First, can I say thanks for coming?

That I see this challenge as a team effort. None is greater than the whole team. Remember we are here to do a challenge to raise lots of cash for the RBL. Also, remember to have lots of fun and enjoy the moments as they unfold. Not many people do what you are doing going from one end of England to the other. You are going to visit some beautiful parts of the UK, enjoy them and enjoy each other’s company. We are taking a second bike in case anyone of you wish to do a days cycle or just get away from the group for a bit.

To help this challenge move along easily I am going to allocate each one of you, in addition to mucking in with everything, a responsibility within the team. Please help each other in any way you can and all hands to the deck to set up camp or the Youth Hostel.

Team leader for each week, and holder of the credit card, will be

Week 1 Addie
Week 2 Emmanuelle
Week 3 Margaret
Week 4 Emmanuelle.

The team leader will be responsible for paying all the bills, including the campsite, YHAs when we use them, shopping and petrol in the second van. I will put petrol in my van. They will be responsible in helping the other team member involved in my care that day; helping with the cooking, driving the second van, hence they only do a Friday night sleepover. Making sure that the site is clean before you leave. Guys’, laying the table is your job. Nothing changes does it…

Week 1 & 2 Gary is responsible for the Van 1, doing daily checks, making sure the van is loaded properly, and keeping the van clean. Driving my van and looking after Alex.

Week 2 & 3 John is taking on the above task.

Keith will be taking on the responsibility of the tents. Please everyone, take Keith’s’ lead on this one. Keith will see that they are taken down and packed properly. That all pegs are cleaned and put away. He will also take the lead in putting the tents up. Looking after van 2; loading it. (Team leader will be driving van no 2.) Generally in charge of setting up the camp, putting up tables, pumping up beds, ect. While you are doing all this, the girls help where you need them to, ie help in putting up the tents as it takes two, will be making your coffee/tea and cooking your meals.

Jenny x's 2 …. Your main responsibilities for all of my care, including the sleepovers, and along with the team leader, take on cooking for the team; helping with setting up the tents.

Philip. Your main job is been the cyclist getting us both safely from point a to point b. You will not be expected to do any more than that unless you wish to.

Me. I have the best job. I just drive the Alex 40 miles per day and watch you all working hard!

Local People Rally to My Support

2009-06-05T10:39:00.000-07:00

Press Release
By Mary Laver 05 June 2009
Local People Rally to My Support

05 June 2009

Local people in Tyne & Wear are rallying to my support.

Local people, many whom I do not know, and friends, are rallying around me to support me in these hard times, to help make this once in a lifetime, End-to-End Challenge, in my ‘Alex’ power chair, happen.

They are doing this by giving cash – small and not so small - to my funds. They are doing this by holding events; giving food hampers – Due to my support for Faitrade, I have been given a very large Faitrade food hamper; their much needed prays; their love. All this, and much more, is to help me achieve my goal of raising money for the RBL Poppy Appeal.

Jenny Robinson, RBL, has pulled out all the stops, in her affords to help me. Jenny is doing this by asking local people to hold fund raising events. Jenny herself has organised a 60’s night, which happens to be on my 62nd Birthday, at our local Forest Hall RBL club.

I have applied to the ‘Guinness Book of Records’ to see if they will recognize this challenge as ‘1000 miles in a power chair.’ I await their verdict on this one.

The amount still needed, thanks for all the effort, is getting less by the minute. With all this help, I should raise enough money to do the E2E and at the same time prevent me going into a lot of personal debt, which I am very reluctant to do, or selling my Alber Adventure, which, thought I desperately do not want to do, I was prepared to do. Alex, as things stand, will have to be sold to help meet my expenses. I would, if possible, and if funds allow, I would like to give ‘Alex’, after a full service, and complete with is guarantee, to a disabled service person.

If all the plans for our fundraising come together, I may now, due to their generosity, besides paying all the bills and not getting into personal debt, I might just be able to pay for one more much needed carer. We had to drop a carer when one of the sponsors dropped out.

With all this love and support around me, when you live in such a community
who needs to watch neighbours?

To you all, a very sincere thank you.

Mary Laver’s Power Chair Challenge May Have to be Cancelled.

2009-06-03T06:32:00.000-07:00

3rd June 09

Mary Laver’s Power Chair Challenge May Have to be Cancelled.

Mary Laver (62), who has crippling rheumatoid arthritis making her totally human and wheelchair dependent, has a driving ambition, to drive her ‘Alex’ power chair, in July / August 09, from Lands End to John O’Groats, for her chosen charity, ‘The Royal British Legion and the Poppy Appeal.’ Just one thing may be stopping her, finding the shortfall of £4000 in her £10000 budget to fund the challenge.

After months of planning, sending out press releases via Press Box, Mary has not managed to capture the imagination of the press or sponsors, even her local paper, the Newcastle Chronicle only squeezed in a small paragraph at the bottom of a page in their newspaper. The free paper ‘The Metro’ have not picked it up, and only one local radio station ‘Metro’ did a 4 second slot at intervuls during one day and put an earlier press release on their web site though Mary only got one response, though very disappointed, Mary says a very hearty thank you.

Mary says, “I have short fall of approx £4000 and have no private means of raising this money. I cannot afford to put all expenses on a credit card as I do not have the means to pay such a large amount off.” I may, if I cannot find some more funding have to call the challenge off”.

Mary, through Press Box, is putting an appeal out to every one to please help her do this challenge by providing some funding. I have applied to different charities but have been told they do not fund individual’s only charities. Mary has applied to the Guinness Book of Records to have her challenge recognised and recorded as ‘1000 miles in a power chair’ Mary awaits their verdict

If you wish to know more about Marys End 2 End then please visit her blog http://powerwheelchaire2e.blogspot.com/ email her mary.laver.e2e@googlemail.com or mobile 07975649162
3rd June 09

5000 Visitors Since October 07

2009-06-01T10:21:00.000-07:00

01 June 09

5000 visitors since i started this blog

Since October 6th 2007 i have had 5000 visitors to my blog, visitor number 5000 came from London. That is quite a mile stone for any blog writer

To day i got some great new from my new friends in Cornwall RBL. They are going to lay in a launch for me at LE and will try to arrange support for me all to way to JOG. What more can a girl ask for. Okay £2000 would be nice.

On Saturday i bough the tent that the girls will be using and it has now been put up in my garden for them all to see. Then we shall do the same with the other two tents.

We now have in place the name and address of all the YHA's and campsites along our route. The ones in Cornwall and Devon we shall book in advance and book the others as we approach the area. Just hope they have spaces for us.

Only 6 weeks to the off.

Please do not forget that all important sponsor money. This is one of the reasons i am doing the challenge, to raise money for our service guys and girls.

Please do remember me in your prays. I need all the help i can get.

SOS for Cash Help

2009-05-30T10:33:00.000-07:00

30th May 09

SOS for cash help.

To enable me to do this challenge i need to raise £10,000. I have £5,400. or Alex and me cannot make this epic journey. Can any one please help me.

All the plans are in place, but unless i can raise some more cash, i will have to call off my attempt. I remortgage my home for my last attempt.

If you feel you can help me then please email me on mary.laver.e2e@googlemail.com or on my mobile 07975649162.

I thank you

Mary

Camping Sites

2009-05-29T11:17:00.000-07:00

29th July 09

Difficulty in find suitable camp sites.

One of the, if not the most important part of this challenge, is finding suitable camping sites to stay at night.

To anyone who is disabled and looking for a camp sites they will appreciate the problems we are having finding suitable wheelchair friendly sites. Is it not time that all caravan and camping sites should be wheelchair friendly?

Camp sites are not the only ones guilty of this misdeamer, our Youth Hostels are just as guilty.

As you follow this blog while i am on the challenge, we shall reveal camping sites and YHA's that are acceptable to wheelchairs, and report back to you.

2009-05-28T09:21:00.000-07:00

28th May 09

Petal Back Clothing come on board.

On this challenge i shall have to use a variety of equipment and clothing from my 'Alex' power chair to my tee-shirts.

While i was at the NIDEX show in Birmingham I was on the look out for good quality, comfortable tee-shirts to wear and came across Petal Back. After looking at their product, including the ease of putting them on, i invited them to send me a sample to try. This i now waiting for and will report back to you all.

If you have any product that i maybe able to use and put to the test while on the E2E then please drop me an email at mary.laver.e2e@googlemail.com. I would love to hear from you.

Now for Neighbours. Bye.

Raw Oats Cause Me Pain

2009-05-26T09:36:00.000-07:00

26th May 09

Raw oats cause my pain.

I am telling you this in case you are interested in my diet to control my pain.

Being a great eater for breakfast of my porridge i decided to have, now that summer has arrived, to change to raw oats. Very nice, try it. I have noticed over the past few mornings that i have been getting pain in my shoulders, was it the raw oats?

To find the answer to this question i tried my porridge, no pain. I tried the raw oats, i got pain.

If anyone reading this blog knows why this should happen i would love to read what you have to say.

Training went well today.

What a Wonderful Feeling Training Is

2009-05-25T10:34:00.000-07:00

25th May

Today i discovered that wonderful feeling you get when you go training.

As a person who has never taken to any sports into my life, i have discovered that wonderful feeling that i have been missing all my years of life, training. Sitting there on my starting blocks ready to do my days training essential to reach my goal.

I have a new route around Forest Hall which is 2 k longs and takes in traffic, traffic lights and lots of pot holes. I had people looking at me as they see me fly past them more than once as i did my circuit. i had one or two that i spoke to and i told them my story of the E2E and they were very impressed and wished me luck.

On my first session i did 5 turns of my new circuit and that was 10 k's taking 1 hr. I then stopped for lunch, went out again and did another 5 circuit and came back for my 10 min break and a wee to discover that my ceiling hoist was not working properly. Back to reality. After calling out Staner Lifts to come and fix the hoist, i was back out again only to get a phone call on my mobile, which have a blue tooth and i wear in my ear, saying they were on their way which meant me returning home after just 4 laps to see if the Staner man had been. I not left my home unattended but in the capable hand of my PA, bit as the Stanner man had not been i stayed and waited for him. His verdict on my lift was i need a new switch. As my time was ticking by fast and i had to be back for my evening meal, and end of my training, i went back out and clocked up 2 more laps.

So today i experienced the excitement of training for my challenge. The knowledge that the more i train the easier driving my power chair becomes. I had shear joy and fun in my heart and lastly, i know in my heart how much this challenge means everything to me. Bottom line being if to do this challenge i had to sell my Alber Adventure power chair as well as Alex to cover any short fall in the cost of this challenge and be left with my Balder and my 4 mph DNSS power chair , I would sell my Alber Adventure. That is how much this challenge means to me.

Speak again soon.

Mary

10 k An Hour in My Alber Adventure

2009-05-23T10:48:00.000-07:00

23 May 2009

10 k an hour in my Alber Adventure

I am using my Alber Adventure for training while I wait for ‘Alex’ to be delivered with its few extras. We are looking at me wearing a camcorder to record the whole venture.

Today my training on my local roads has started in earnest. I did 15 k’s today in 1 ½ hrs. On the E2E, I have to do 65 k minium per day for 6 days with 10 min stop every 1 hr and 1 hr stop for lunch, meaning I will be out doing the challenge for 9 hrs per day. It is strange been on the roads in my power chair, but I will have to face traffic on some, not all of the E2E this is the reason I am doing training in local traffic. On the E2E, where possible I will be using cycle paths and footpaths. I have found that after so much driving on the footpaths I now found that I have to concentrate a lot more on what is around me, the condition of the road and read the traffic as well as obeying traffic signals and signs. Me been on the road in Alber has turned quite a few heads and caused a few laughs.

When I am on the roads safety is my prime importance. I have a cycle orange flag flying high above the chair at the rear. My friend followed me, told me I was very easy to see, and congratulated me. I wear a Florissant jacket and orange cycle hat and good cycling gloves. I must take a photograph for you.

While driving along I am reading the road, just like when I drove my car, I am looking out for potholes in the road, other vehicles coming from every side of me, and the pedestrian crossing lights we have here in Forest Hall.

One thing I did notice was the more I drove the less body discomfort I felt. It was if my body was having a good shake down and settling in to the seat. My arm relaxed and I enjoyed the ride the more miles I did.

We still have a lot to do concerning the E2E before the off on the 18th July, the van is already booked and paid for; two campsites are booked and paid for. I have arranged a new credit card solely for the E2E, and my team are now coming forward, but you keep more fully up to date by reading all about it here on my blog...

Funding Costs

2009-05-16T01:49:00.000-07:00

16th May 09

Funding costs.

To fund something like this challenge because of my care requirements takes a lot of people, i need minim 6 people in the team so this puts the overall costs of this challenge high than normal.

To give you an idea of the costs involved i am including the appendix in my blog. I hope you find it of some interest.

E2E Appendix (A) Accommodation

From 17th of July to the 15th of August
Based on 6 persons @ 30 nights

Option 1

Costing for staying in YHA for whole trip
YHA = £15 person per night x 6 = £90
£15 x 6 persons x 30 nights = £2700

Option 2

Campsite per night including 4 tents, 2 vehicles, 1 hook-up,
6 persons
£75 average High price
£50 average Low price

All nights in Campsites as above no YHA
Higher Price £75 x 30 = £2250
Lower Price £50 x 30 = £1500

Option 3

4 nights in YHA and 26 in campsite:
Higher Price (£90 x 4) + (£75 x 26) = £2310
Lower Price (£90 x 4) + (£50 x 26) = £1660

Option 4

8 nights in YHA and 22 in campsites:
Higher Price (£90 x 8) + (£75 + 22) = £2370
Lower Price (£90 x 8) + (£50 x 22) = £1820

E2E Appendix (C) Transport Costs

We are using 2 mini bus vans for the whole trip and hiring a car to change shifts this is a breakdown of costs

Cost of Mary’s van. Free

Cost of hire of van which we have been offered at a greatly reduced price because the challenge is for charity is – see attached quotation = £554

Average cost of hiring car at £80 for 2 days x 3 pickups = £240

Fuel for vans @ 25 miles per gallon @ 2500 miles approx = £1146

Fuel for cars @ 40 miles per gallon @ 1288 miles approx = £170

Food

We are looking at £7 per day per person, hopefully using mainly Organic and Fair Trade

Wages

I will have to pay, unless i can get volunters for at least for 4 people, so that will add £4000 onto the bill.

So there you have it. At an average estimate the cost to do the E2E will be in the region of £9500. Any offers of help will be gratefully received.

I hope that you found this information of interest

Speak again soon

Mary

My New Press Release

2009-05-10T01:29:00.000-07:00

10th May 09

New press release

(Mary in Handicare's 'Alex')

Press Release
09 May 2009

British Record Attempt
Lands End to John O'Groats
1000 Mile Power Chair Challenge
18th July/12th August 2009
Start 2 pm
http://powerwheelchaire2e.blogspot.com

Mary Laver is 62 years old Is severely disabled due to Rheumatoid Arthritis, and has been totally wheelchair and human dependant for 22 years. has a dream, to drive a power chair from Lands End 2 John O’Groats, a distance of some 1000 miles, 1600 k. It has never been done before in one power chair.

In July 09 Mary Laver (Newcastle upon Tyne) hopes to fly the flag for all power chair users and make her bid at the E2E

Mary only eats organic food and always promotes Fairtrade products where and when possible, as she will during the 1000 mile challenge. http://www.soilassociation.org/ http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/

Mary advocates very strongly about controlling arthritis pain by diet. Mary along with Margaret Smith, is also the co-author of a best selling cookery book 'Diet for Life' Pan Books,

During the passed 2 years, Mary has already had one attempt and failed. Mary was planning this challenge for the second time, however Mary still has a shortfall in funds and her support team for the challenge so new sponsors and supports are urgently sought if she is to leave on the date 18th July. See her blog http://powerwheelchaire2e.blogspot.com/

Mary is asking anyone to please come forward at this late date and back her in this once in a lifetime challenge either as a helper or to help cover the cost of any care she will need. If none comes forward her challenge and record attempt is off.

Local people are holding events and she say that she is selling one of her two power chairs to cover the costs of accommodation, food and petrol, some £7000

If Mary is to achieve her mission, she needs the most up to date technology. She is extremely grateful to Handicare Ltd, who have donated their new Alex power chair to the project. UK Marketing Manager Eddie Peacock describes Mary as “inspirational”. “She is a remarkable lady and we wish her every success with her 1000 mile challenge” Eddie Peacock (Handicare UK Marketing Manager) 07985-160675 mhtml:%7B2688B87A-4980-4B20-899E-3C3CAFB840DE%7Dmid://00000081/!x-usc:mailto:eddie.peacock@handicare.co.uk http://www.alexwheelchair.co.uk/

As Mary is an ex forces, the WRAF, she is keen to ensure the Royal British Legion and the Poppy Appeal as her chosen charity for the challenge, receives lots of sponsorship money and is asking people to make a donation by going to https://www.bmycharity.com/V2/e2epowerchairchallenge. Or contact Jenny Robson (The Royal British Legion) 0191-2682310 http://www.poppy.org.uk/index.php/give-money.html

Mary will be wearing a blue tooth earpiece while on the challenge so if you would like to speak to Mary while she is doing the challenge her mobile no is 07975649162. Mary is available for interviews with radio and press at any time before, during, and after the challenge, please just ring her mobile or land line

You can contact me in the first instance by mobile 07975649162 or 01912665197 or by email mary.laver.e2e@googlemail.com

Thank you.

Best Wishes

Mary Laver

Mobile 07975649162Tel No 0191 266 5197

E2E Challenge in a Power Wheelchairhttp://powerwheelchaire2e.blogspot.com/

Donation to our chosen charities please go to https://www.bmycharity.com/V2/e2epowerchairchallenge Make a commenthttp://bmy.typepad.com/making_giving_better/2009/02/power-chair-challenge-1000-miles-in-a-wheelchair.html

Local Metro Radio Supports Me

2009-05-08T07:42:00.000-07:00

8th May 09

Metro Radio Support Me

Taken from the Metro Radio web site

Mary Laver from Forest Hall is severeley disabled because of rheumatoid arthritis- she is hoping to set a new world record for travelling 1000 miles from Lands End to John o' Groats in a power wheelchair

The 61 year old has been totally wheelchair and human dependant for 22 years and is planning to embark on the 1,000 mile British record attempt on July 18 to August 18.

But the Forest Hall woman is now looking for a new sponsor to help towards the costs of the trip and a new support team, after her main sponsor backed out.

To complete the challenge Mary will need at least three carers to help with her personal care, a driver for the support vehicle and a cyclist.

She estimates it will cost about £7,000 to pay for food, accommodation and petrol for the challenge and she is willing to sell one of her two wheelchairs to help cover costs.
Mary, who used to be a driver in the WRAF, has chosen the Royal British Legion and the Poppy Appeal as the charities to benefit from her record bid and hopes people will sponsor her attempt at the challenge.

Local people and community groups are also supporting Mary's efforts by holding fundraising events. Forest Hall British Legion will be holding a 60s night on June 12 to help cover costs.
Mary said: "I'm looking for sponsors to help me raise the £7,000 to cover the costs of the challenge. They can put their name on the side of our van.

"I also need carers, a driver or two and a cyclist to volunteer for the challenge. Although it would be great if they wanted to do some fundraising, it won't cost anything for people to to take part - we'll cover the costs of food and accommodation. It will look great on anybody's CV.

"There are two aims of the challenge, one is to help the Royal British Legion and the Poppy Appeal. I used to be in the forces and I sell poppies every year so it seemed natural I should chose these charities.

"Secondly it is to fly the flag for powerchair users and disabled people and try inspire them. There's so many people out there who think there's nothing for them to rise to or try.

"When I get to John O'Groats I'll get the same feeling people get when they win a gold medal. There's been so much effort and planning go into this - it's going to be one hell of a journey! Hopefully I can get all the support I need to complete this challenge."

This will be Mary's second attempt at the challenge, in June last year Mary tried driving her powerchair from Lands End to John O'Groats, but had to stop after a day as she felt there were not enough people in the care team to cope with the demands.

If you would like to get involved with Mary's latest attempt as a sponsor or volunteer call her on 07975649162 or email mary.laver.e2e@googlemail.com.

To donate to one of Mary's chosen charities visit www.bmycharity.com/V2/e2epowerchairchallenge.

My New Press Release

2009-05-07T08:53:00.000-07:00

7th May 09

My new press release

Press Release
07 May 2009

British Record Attempt
Lands End to John O'Groats
1000 Mile Power Chair Challenge
18th July/18th August 2009
Start 2 pm
http://powerwheelchaire2e.blogspot.com/

New Sponsors Sort for E2E Challenge

Mary Laver is 62 years old Is severely disabled due to Rheumatoid Arthritis, and has been totally wheelchair and human dependant for 22 years. has a dream, to drive a power chair from Lands End 2 John O’Groats, a distance of some 1000 miles, 1600 k. It has never been done before in one power chair.

In July 09 Mary Laver (Newcastle upon Tyne) hopes to fly the flag for all power chair users and make her bid at the E2E

Mary only eats organic food and always promotes Fairtrade products where and when possible, as she will during the 1000 mile challenge. http://www.soilassociation.org/ http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/

Mary advocates very strongly about controlling arthritis pain by diet. Mary along with Margaret Smith, is also the co-author of a best selling cookery book 'Diet for Life' Pan Books,

During the passed 2 years, Mary has already had one attempt and failed. Mary was planning this challenge for the second time, however Mary still has a shortfall in funds for the challenge so new sponsors are urgently sought if she is to leave on the date 18th July. See her blog http://powerwheelchaire2e.blogspot.com/

Mary is asking anyone to please come forward at this late date and back her in this once in a lifetime challenge either as a helper or to help cover the cost of any care she will need. If none comes forward her challenge and record attempt is off.

Local people are holding events and she say that she is selling one of her two power chairs to cover the costs of accommodation, food and petrol, some £7000

If Mary is to achieve her mission, she needs the most up to date technology. She is extremely grateful to Handicare Ltd, who have donated their new Alex power chair to the project. UK Marketing Manager Eddie Peacock describes Mary as “inspirational”. “She is a remarkable lady and we wish her every success with her 1000 mile challenge” Eddie Peacock (Handicare UK Marketing Manager) 07985-160675 eddie.peacock@handicare.co.uk http://www.alexwheelchair.co.uk/

As Mary is an ex forces, the WRAF, she is keen to ensure the Royal British Legion and the Poppy Appeal as her chosen charity for the challenge, receives lots of sponsorship money and is asking people to make a donation by going to https://www.bmycharity.com/V2/e2epowerchairchallenge. Or contact Jenny Robson (The Royal British Legion) 0191-2682310 http://www.poppy.org.uk/index.php/give-money.html

Mary will be wearing a blue tooth earpiece while on the challenge so if you would like to speak to Mary while she is doing the challenge her mobile no is 07975649162. Mary is available for interviews with radio and press at any time before, during, and after the challenge, please just ring her mobile or land line

You can contact me in the first instance by mobile 07975649162 or 01912665197 or by email mary.laver.e2e@googlemail.com

Thank you.

2009-05-07T01:28:00.000-07:00

7th May 09

Please visit this sight

I have had a greart email from a supporter in America which reads.

hi mary, this is John J2 Mryczko from Extreme Chairing. i recieved the press release of your 1000 mile challenge and must say im impressed. i went on a 200 mile 6 day roll across my state last year and it was not easy. i wish you luck and wish you a safe journey. i have put your story and pres release on www.ExtremeChairing.com . if we at EC get some donations this month i would love to send you a EC shirt and other gear. keep me and EC informed on your progress. Letting the great times roll,John J2 MryczkoExtreme Chairing

On that web site is a link see below, please follow it, it makes a great read,

http://j2rollson.com/rollathon%202008%20completed.html

My Rheumatoid Arthritis

2009-05-04T03:24:00.000-07:00

4th May 09

My Rheumatoid Arthritis

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, RA. If you wish to know more about RA then please visit http://www.rheumatoid.org.uk/

What effect does this have on my life and my ability to compleat this challenge? Non

I have been totally power wheelchair dependent for 20 years and totally human dependent for 15 of those years.

So what does this mean? First and foremost I cannot not wash, clean my teeth, dress myself, feed, or generally use my hands and arms to any extent except drive my power chair and use my computer. I have a Possum to do things such as switch on the TV, Lights and answer the telephone. I cannot stand and have to be hoisted out of my chair.

On the challenge, all of my personal care will have to be given. I shall still have to be washed, got up, feed and watered. I shall still need care during the nights as I get now. All of this will happen on campsites and YHA’s. Not forgetting while out on the road I will need toileting, I can wee from my chair, i will also need feeding and watering, besides making sure that I am safe on the road. Now that takes a special team of people and I have such a team.

To keep my body in this excellent condition while on the challengemy power chair and cushion are play a vital part, step in 'Alex'.

So there you briefly have it, my condition. The best part is, I do not have any pressure sore due to good care over the years. Now that is amazing don’t you think?

Visitor From Brighton

2009-05-02T04:03:00.000-07:00

2 May 09

Visitor from Brighton

Hi, i am having someone from Brighton visiting my blog quite a few times and you seem very interested in my site meter. Can you please tell me who you are and why you are visiting my blog, not that i am complaining. Glad you find my blog worth visiting. You can email me on mary.laver.e2e@googlemail.com or ring my mobile

Thanks
Mary Laver

NIDEX Show Birmingham April 09

2009-05-02T01:17:00.000-07:00

02 May 2009

NIDEX Show

Good morning from a sunny Newcastle

On Wednesday, I attended, at the request of Handicare, the NIDEX show in Birmingham. The aim to be fitted out with Alex and to see what I would require in addition to the standard setting; different seat back, you have many to chose from with ‘Alex’, seating, I am even told I can have a cruse control on, great as I shall be driving about 40 miles per day. Eddie also explained about the information that is stored in the hand control computer system. I also asked especially that a mirror also be attached. I was then free to drive Alex around the show and start to get use to driving this chair with so many variables to suite my personal driving.

Meeting up with Alex was not the start of this extronary day, just a small part. My day started at 0300 with my wake up call. Why so early? My night staff had to have me ready for my next carer for that day who arrived at 0500 and I had to be ready for a taxi at 0530 to catch the train to Birmingham, this is when the day really started to unfold.

When travelling a long distance on a train in the commuter time people sometimes get to talk to each other. This was no exception in my case.

About two hrs into the journey I had the urge to talk to one of the passengers sitting nest to me, about the challenge and to give the information I had prepared. It turned out that this lady lived by me and was interested in the challenge and would see if she could help with some sponsors. Please remember I need to raise £7000 for the trip and as things stand, I will be selling my Alber Adventure and keeping Alex. This was starting to be a great start to the day. A gentleman, who had heard me talking, as he left the train also asked for my information.

On my tour of the show, I visited many stands and spoke to the BBC’s Ouch program. I was also interested in a stand that made clothing for people, who like me, have difficulty getting into clothing. The are going to look into donating to the challenge in exchange for me wearing their tee shirts with their logo on. As I liked the tee shirt very much, I asked them to contact me.

To readers of this blog, you will know that I am a great lover of ‘Drinkup’; I use their jug at home. They have designed hands free drinking device that will be attached wheelchairs and need to see ‘Alex’ to make sure their device will fit onto ‘Alex’ so I can drink hands free, while on the move. As ‘Alex’ and Chris from ‘Drinkup’ were at the show, Chris was able to visit Handicare stand, look at an ‘Alex’ and make sure that the Drinkup hands free will fit on ‘Alex’. No problem

I will now skip the show, get back into my DHSS power chair and take you to my trip home.

As with most comuter trains people get their computers out, plug into the trains system, and continue as if they are still in the office, typing away.

It was when a certain lady had stopped doing this, (typing on her computer,) that I started to speak to her about the challenge. Believe me when I say her husband has just done the E2E a couple of weeks ago. The lady in question will be back in touch, as she may know of a means I can get some funding. Along comes Jack. See entry Jack Elliot.

My day finished at 2000 hrs at home.

Since Wednesday I have been on the computer, got the press release off, booked our first campsite at Penzance and will be attending tonight a Girkers night at our local Legion.

So there you have it. An update.

Speak again soon

My MP - Mr Stephen Bryers - Supports My Challenge

2009-04-30T01:56:00.000-07:00

30th April

My MP supports my challenge

At this time when our MPs are getting a very bad press here is a good press for my MP. The pize folks is dinner for 4, which is broken down to 2 prize winners and me plus carer, at The House of Commonds and a tour aroung the House afterwards. Money cannot buy such a prize.
Thanks Mr Bryers

Now to see emails conferming this fantatic prize.

Dear Mary

Thank you for your email of 11.4.09.

I will be pleased to donate the same prize again and would be happy for funds raised to go to whatever would be most helpful to you – I am flexible.

Yours sincerely
Rt Hon Stephen Byers, MP

From: mary.laver [mailto:mary.laver@sky.com] Sent: 28 April 2009 18:26To: BYERS, StephenSubject: Re: Marine & Coastal Access Bill

Dear Stephen
Thank you very much for supporting this very important Bill.
Have you given any more thought to donating as a fundraiser, the lunch for two at the House of Commons. These tickets would be used as a joint prize to be held in 3 clubs in North Tynside.
Thank you.
Regards

Dear Mary
Thank you for your email of 18.4.09.
I will support this Bill and will also talk directly to DEFRA Minister, Huw Irranca-Davies about it.
Yours sincerely
Rt Hon Stephen Byers, MP