Follow the guys
Of course, we’re all hoping that Chris and Morris make their way north nice and steadily, without any hiccups. But if it was that easy, we’d have called it Cycle Ride 2010!
So click on each place they've visited so far to see how they've tackled this mammoth challenge.
They're stopping off at various FCA local offices en route, with foster carers invited to attend events and fundraising activities that are taking place to celebrate Foster Care Fortnight 2010 and raise money for Bulgaria’s for our children.
Land's End
15th May 2010... They're off!
A Souvenir photo, tablet and a fair amount of road kill later, the guys are on their way! So for Foster Care Fortnight 2010, it's due North for Chris and Morris. Well, east to start with.
“We gathered at the sacred signpost and posed for our souvenir photo,” describes Chris. “After more than a little messing about and silliness we were ready to start. I said to Morris: "Well this is Lands End, I wonder what John O'Groats is like… shall we find out?" Read more
Cullompton
18th May 2010
Another short day of cycling on Monday for Chris and Morris; if you consider 40 miles to be short in the scale of their challenge to cycle the length of the UK for Foster Care Fortnight 2010 Read more
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A stirring of excitement at the FCA Cullumpton office arose as the team awaited the arrival of the guys, plus a visit from the Mayor. Handing out flags & waving to passers by, raising awareness of fostering & generating support for the guys' mammoth efforts
Read more
Bristol
19th May 2010 - 2 countries, 2 offices
The FCA Bristol Office seized the opportunity to raise awareness of fostering in Bristol as well as Foster Care Fortnight 2010, as Chris and Morris took a break from their intensive pedaling schedule to pay their home office a visit.
The Bristol team had laid out two exercise bikes in the front car park of the office for volunteers to take turns in cycling through the day and, in conjunction with a raffle, raise money for the For our Children organisation. And there was also a small surprise in store. Read more
Cardiff
19th May 2010 - 2 countries, 2 offices
The FCA Cardiff Office seized the opportunity to raise awareness of fostering in Cardiff as well as Foster Care Fortnight 2010, as Chris and Morris took a break from their intensive pedaling schedule to pay them a visit.
The team had previously been in Bristol, where laid out in front of the office were two exercise bikes for volunteers to take turns in cycling through the day and, in conjunction with a raffle, raise money for the For our Children organisation. Read more
Bromsgrove
21st May 2010 - Cycle Challenge arrives in the Midlands
7.30am and Chris and Morris were on the road from Cardiff, racing their way through Newport's industrial heartland.
Meanwhile, the echoes of foster carer recruitment was left in the midst of their visit to FCA Bristol and FCA Cardiff, with the radio air waves filled with information about the qualities needed to become a foster carer.
As Chris and Morris arrived in the Midlands, the guys were taken by the sights. Read more
Derby
24th May 2010 - Fostering Fun Day enjoyed in Birmingham
Day 7
As Chris and Morris’ epic challenge reached the Midlands, the guys enjoyed a well-earned rest day in Bromsgrove.
Day 8
It was off to Birmingham for Chris and Morris on Saturday and a family fun day at Birmingham Wheels Park.
Day 9
In the scorching sun, the guys headed up the A38 to Derby. Read more
Leeds
25th May 2010
Chris and Morris continued their journey north, taking their FCA branded T-shirts through Derby, Sheffield and up to Leeds, raising awareness of fostering in the East Midlands and Yorkshire along the way.
The hilly surroundings made for a tough journey for the guys: “On paper, the route post Derby looked like a fairly short journey in comparisons to some of our other days but the route rose 4400ft – the most climbing of any of our days. We made our way up the busy but familiar A38, with Morris' tyre playing havock..." Read more
Newcastle
26th May 2010
Day 11
Unlike other mornings of late, when the sun beemed down on the Chris and Morris’ Foster Care Fortnight 2010 Cycle Challenge, Monday started out cold and grey – not conducive to aching muscles being dragged onto the saddle for Day 11.
Today was definitely going to be a day where the support driver’s job description of inspiring along the way was going to have to kick in!
Read more
Selkirk
27th May 2010
600+ miles in, and the guys are finally ready to wave goodbye to England (for a short while). Bringing their Foster Care Fortnight 2010 celebrations to the north east, fostering in Newcastle was the theme of the day on Cycle Challenge Day 12.
Day 12
"The Leeds to Newcastle day was long and certainly challenging," describes Chris. "But swooping down into the town and across the Tyne Bridge in bright evening sunshine was a grand end to the ride." Read more.
Glasgow
28th May 2010
Unlucky for some, Day 13 proved to be the toughest day for the guys on the Cycle Challenge 2010.
"We woke to a lovely sunny day in Selkirk and headed off to FCA’s office just down the road from our hotel to be greeted by excitable reception! Foster carers and staff turned up to get the Selkirk event underway," said Morris.
"Selkirk to Glasgow presented four seasons in one day: hail, rain, sun but most off all a 25mph wind blowing over the exposed Lanacshire countryside."
Fort William
29th May 2010
As the end of Day 14 approached, the cyclists arrived at Ardgour – about 10 miles south of Fort William.
Day 14 included a visit to the FCA Glasgow office, where Chris and Morris received a warm welcome from FCA's staff, as well as a guest appearance from a well known Soap!
From Glasgow to Fort William, the guys’ route passed beautiful scenery and spectacular views of the Lochs.
On to Inverness amidst growing optimism that the guys will complete this heroic challenge...
Inverness
30th May 2010 - Not a monster in sight!
Day 15, and as Foster Care Fortnight 2010 reaches its climax, so does Chris and Morris’ epic journey, as they reach Inverness.
After leaving Fort William at the crack of dawn, the guys headed up the lochs that would ultimately take them up to Inverness. This beautiful part of Scotland made for pleasant viewing as Chris and Morris peddled their way through.
“We reached Loch Ness and kept our eyes peeled for the famous monster – but no such joy!” remarked Chris.
John O'sGroats
31st May 2010
Two weeks and 1066 miles on, the guys have finally reached the Holy Grail that is John O'Groats - just in time for the climax of Foster Care Fortnight 2010.
"I looked out of my Inverness hotel room window at 5am on Sunday to a grey, rainy morning. By the time we'd sorted ourselves out, the rain had gladly stopped,” described Chris.
“We made our way up the A9, across the Moray & Cromarty Firths..."
Read more
Congratulations!
A huge congratulations goes to Chris and Morris for completing the Cycle Challenge 2010.
Become a foster carer
Foster Care Fortnight plays a vital role in continuing to raise awareness of fostering throughout the UK. This year's efforts have helped our cause of addressing the 10,000 shortage of foster carers in the UK.
If you think you could make a difference and you'd like some more information about fostering please get in touch - we'd love to hear from you.
