11 Bernese Puppies !!
March is the month that Maggie will set off from Aldeburgh in Suffolk to cycle 5,000 miles around the coastline of Great Britain with her faithful companion, Oscar, a seven year old Golden Retriever by her side. Inspired by Sport Relief to take up such an adventurous, self-funded trip, 65 year old Maggie, mother of four and grandmother of eight will push herself to the limit to raise money for LLR (Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research) and SANDS (Stillbirth and Neonatal Deaths).
Maggie’s ultimate goal is to raise £25,000 for these causes.
Maggie’s son-in-law suffers from a blood cancer disorder called Myelofibrosis. Blood disorders affect someone in the UK every 20 minutes. He received a life-saving bone marrow transplant through the Anthony Nolan blood cancer charity and bone marrow register. LLR is a leading charity researching all types of blood cancers in order to improve the lives of all patients suffering from blood cancers such as Leukaemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma.
Sands stillbirth and neonatal death charity is pushing campaigns to help prevent unnecessary stillbirths, of which 17 happen everyday in the UK. Their dedicated care for mothers who suffer such terrible losses is vital, and all of this requires funding too.
Salters are delighted to be sponsoring Maggie’s trip by sending Oscar’s Salters Dog Food ahead to predetermined destinations so that Oscar won’t miss his Salters and Maggie won’t have to carry too much weight on her bike and (Oscar’s) trailer. Oscar is already a Salters Dog and their sponsoring Vet said “What a fantastic condition Oscar is in!”.
Maggie and Oscar aren’t new to challenges, having already sailed halfway around the world together – so leaving him behind was never an option.
Having always explored the coast from the sea Maggie thought it would be refreshing to see it from the land. The anti-clockwise route around the coast of Great Britain and Scotland means, based on roughly cycling 30 miles a day, the whole trip will take her five months. Oscar gets to ride in a Dutch-designed “Doggie Ride” which is like a trailer attached to the back of her bike. Maggie will be doing the trip solo although she hopes friends and family will join her for days along the way. She’ll overnight in B&Bs, with friends or in her own words “any old barn will do”.
Maggie was brought up in Orford. She lives a very busy life as a landscape gardener, B&B owner and ferry woman at Butley Ferry. When she has a chance she sails her boat on the River Ore and Alde and competes in weekly races at the local yacht club.
Look out for updates on Maggie’s trip on our Facebook page, or follow “Dog on Tour” (Maggie’s) blog, Facebook page or tweets. We wish them every success!
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