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Sixtyplusurfers Interview
Roger Allsopp
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Roger Allsopp is
the oldest person to swim the English Channel, entering
the Guinness Book of World Records after accomplishing
this amazing feat at the age of 70, in August 2011.
Roger's swim helped raise money to buy a mass
spectrometer to help with the earlier diagnosis of
cancer and disease. We caught up with him to find out
more about how he prepared for his channel swim and his
secret to feeling so young and healthy at the age of 70.
Can you tell us about your Channel Swim? How did you
prepare for it and how long did the training take?
"It started with an idea after I completed my first
channel swim in 2006 at the age of 65. Immediately after
I thought thank goodness that is over, never again!
Ever! at 65 I had inadvertently become the oldest man
ever to swim the channel. I knew that George Brunstad
from the USA broke the world record to become the oldest
ever in 2004.
"An idea can be forgotten or occasionally it become
implanted in the brain and that is what happened to me.
I started to think perhaps, I just might be able to get
that record. It is the English Channel and I felt a
degree of ownership it should be a Britain not an
American to hold the record. 6 months later I was back
in training, that was 4½ years before the actual swim.
"I tried to swim most days in the sea through four
winters. Sometimes walking carefully over the ice on
shore to get to the water."
What difficulties did you encounter along the way? Or
was it all very straightforward on the day?
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"The hardest thing was the wait. We had eleven days in
Dover. Each day was a maybe. Most Channel swims are
attempted on NEAP (tides). Each day the tides were
getting bigger, it was cold and wet and windy on the
beach. The thought of spending a day and a half in the
water was not good. Every time the swim was cancelled I
had a sense of temporary relief but the long term worry
remained.
"On the day we set off on an Ebb tide which was unusual. I
had a huge price on my head and I knew that there was no
room failure. The first hour always seems to take the
longest. The last few hours became a bit of a blur."
Can you tell us about the day you did the
Channel Swim? How many people were around assisting you?
How long did it take? And how did you manage to swim for
so long?
"I entered the water at about 8am from the back of the
pilot boat and swam to Shakespeare Beach. When the ship's
horn sounded I hobbled down the beach and entered the
water and started swimming. That was the lonely bit.
"On board there were two pilots and an official observer
from the Channel Swimming Association. In addition we
had Rob
the cameraman and Anna Orford from Guinness World
Records (no pressure!). Then I had my support team. Mike Banfield ex RAF navigator in charge, his wife Eveleyne,
Vanessa Marsh and Rebecca Simmons, they all worked very
hard preparing feeds and shouting encouragement.
"Rebecca,
a successful Channel swimmer was there to help guide me
and give support in the water if I got confused. She was
not allowed to touch me or swim in front and was only
allowed in the water under certain rules and conditions.
I couldn’t have done it without her. She used a
combination of encouragement, threats and abuse to keep
me going.
"The swim took 17.51 minutes, the sun didn’t come out and I
kept going so long because I had to."
How did you feel when you realised you had broken a
World Record? Was there a special presentation?
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"All I had to do was to get there and break the world
record. When I got there I didn’t feel anything at all.
Back in Dover Anna presented me with a certificate and
gave me a hug. The hug was good."
What were the highlights of your swim? And what sort
of response were you greeted with after your swim?
There were no highlights, it was just a very long slog
and I don’t remember much about the journey home. Anna’s
presentation in front of the television cameras was good,
but the real welcome awaited me in Guernsey. There must
have been well over 100 people who came down to welcome me.
What would you suggest to readers of Sixtyplusurfers
who would like to take up swimming?
"It is a great way to take exercise and keep fit. Open
water swimming i.e. in the sea, lakes or rivers is
wonderful but one needs to take great care and swim with
experienced friends. Best not to start with a cross
Channel swim."
What would you recommend if you are not a strong
swimmer, or haven’t been swimming for a while?
"There are a lot of adult swimming classes available and
we can all improve as we get older. It is very important
to start slowly and build up."
What do you feel are the benefits to your health in
swimming?
"Swimming is a good all round exercise and injuries are
very rare.
"Masters swimming clubs cater for all ages up to the 90s
and as a sport it is a great way to meet people and to
have fun. Everyone wants everyone else to do well."
What is the secret to your feeling so healthy and fit
at 70?
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"I have been lucky so far as we get older it is important
to concentrate on what we can do rather than make
excuses for what we can’t. Although we lose strength as
we age we gain endurance and with perseverance and a degree
of bloody mindedness it is possible to irritate the
young and perform as well or better than some of them.
"Today I still swim nearly 40 minutes daily, I do a 20 minutes
core exercise regime daily and I take a range of
Healthspan supplements such as Co10, Omega 3s and
Glucosamine with a good diet."
Do you have a special message for Sixtyplusurfers
readers?
"To say yes to
most things, so long as they are not too expensive
illegal or immoral. As we get older we have more time.
The occasional reminiscence is okay but we need ‘now’
things to talk about, by this I mean living in the
present and really living life. We need to be doing
things and sharing our enthusiasm our interests and our
aspirations with others. It’s a good way to avoid
loneliness."
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70 Plus are a Nation of Ageing
Adventurers
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New research by
supplement company Healthspan shows that Brits are a
nation of ‘Ageing Adventurers’ with those over 70 saying
they keep themselves young by constantly setting
themselves new life challenges.
As well as being adventurous, nearly half of those aged
over 70 are really committed ‘silver surfers’ as they
discover what is new in the world of technology once a
week or more. An astonishing 47% of those in their
decade explore new technology each week compared to 46%
of 16 - 24 year olds.
The survey also found that out of the 1,331 people
quizzed, the over 70s are the most confident age group
in trying out new things alone, with 43% who have sought
new solo ventures compared to just 26% of 25-34s. Known
as living a ‘Second Life Syndrome’ those in this age
group enjoy being around the younger generation, with
over three quarters of those over 60 declaring they
spend more time with younger friends and family. This
generation also stated that they are just as close to
their grandchildren as they are to their own children.
In the past, our grandparents would attempt a crossword,
a jigsaw or tackle a knitting pattern in an effort to
stay young and mentally alert but today the over 60s are
actually proving to be very adventurous in their later
years with over a third saying they seek more adventure
style holidays, such as hiking in France or cycling in
Cuba rather than little jaunts to Bognor Regis.
Keeping mentally alert is vital to this age group and
the new survey revealed that today’s senior citizen are
now more likely to switch on their computers or surf the
web to try and keep their brain cells active. Keeping up
with the news especially for men is one of the main ways
pensioners try to keep their brain active (74%) followed
by emailing (70%), brain teasers and computer games
(66%).
And if they’re not logging on, 44% of our `Ageing
Adventurers’ tackle mental arithmetic to keep alert,
compared to just 21%of the 25-34 year age group.
Meanwhile 51% of over 60s claim they turn to new
technology and communications to keep their minds active
compared to just 30%of 16-24 year olds. Only a mere five
per cent those asked admitted that they don’t take part
in any activity to keep their brains active.
Over half of those surveyed said they had regrets or
wished they had lived life differently. But those over
70 were the group with the least regrets of all. Just
36% of over 70s had regrets about their life. In
contrast to 45 - 49-year-olds where an astonishing 61%
wished that things had been different.
The research clearly suggests that the days when
pensioners were content to sit in the corner with cups
of tea and biscuits are long over. The over 70s age
group are achieving various amazing feats from being the
oldest person in the world to swim the Channel (Roger
Allsopp aged 70), to still working as a catwalk model
(Daphne Selfe aged 84 years) to fighting off muggers.
Among those questioned, their proudest physical
achievements include fighting off a mugger, attending
Zumba classes and one husband who taught his wife how to
weld. Many stated that staying married is actually a
huge physical achievement in itself!
This age are most inspired by Bruce Forsyth, with Helen
Mirren named as the celebrity that most people are
inspired by to be young. Meanwhile the 16-24 year age
group named Kate Middleton as their most inspirational
figure.
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“Nutrition is key to enjoying a healthy lifespan -
quality is just as important as quantity when it comes
to radical life extension. Diet should always come
first, but as you get older, your ability to absorb
nutrients can become less efficient.
"As well as eating more nutrient-dense foods and staying
in physical shape, many older people choose to
supplement their diet with products that are specially
tailored to their age group. Micronutrient supplements
aimed at those aged 50 plus are now being extended to
meet the vitamin and mineral needs of an older 70+ age
group who are actively living younger and enjoying life
to the full.”
For more information about Healthspan products click on
www.Healthspan.co.uk
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Sixtyplusurfers Competition
Win
Prescription Swimming Goggles
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See what you could be missing
Sixtyplusurfers
has
joined up with Butterflies
Healthcare to offer five
lucky readers the chance to win
a pair of Sutton Swimwear
prescription swimming goggles.
Swimming is one of the most
enjoyable activities that is
often an integral part of a
holiday and can form part of a
healthy lifestyle. With the
London 2012 Olympics this
summer, interest in swimming is
set to rise.
If you wear glasses or contact
lenses, a pair of prescription
swimming goggles is a real and
affordable answer this summer
with prices from £17.00. The
concerns expressed by swimmers
without their glasses include an
inability to see the edge of the
pool, other people around the
pool, their children and
grandchildren or even the right
changing rooms!
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James Sutton (MCOptom) is an
optician and keen swimmer and he
noticed that most opticians only
stocked one brand of
prescription swimming goggle. He
had a hobby writing websites so
decided to create
www.prescription-swimming-goggles.co.uk
six years ago. He runs his
family business from a retail
premises just outside Banbury.
This is now the highest ranking
dedicated website for
prescription swimming goggles
and was listed in The Daily
Telegraph’s top ten websites for
swimming. Some grandparents,
parents and swimmers are still
unaware that these goggles
exist, yet our customer reviews
show that they greatly enhance
swimming, especially in
children.
James stocks over 30 different
goggles including children’s,
both off the shelf and custom
made for more complicated
prescriptions. He also sells
prescription diving masks and
swimming accessories.
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Goggle expert James is always
available to advise customers on
the best goggle for their needs
with many brands in stock for
immediate despatch. He has
personally sourced and imported
his own brand of cost-effective
goggle called Sutton Swimwear.
This prescription swimming
goggle offers excellent value,
while still being of the highest
quality with a wide, sturdy
strap for enhanced comfort and
fit. The goggles are designed to
correct short sight and are
supplied as a parts kit with
different sized interchangeable
nose bridges in a soft storage
pouch. They come in 2 different
colours, black or blue with the
same or different powers in each
eye. The lenses themselves have
UV protection, anti-fog coating
and are tinted smoked grey or
blue.
A convert to prescription
swimming goggles is Adrian
Sureshkumar from Banbury
Swimming Club who says, “I am
short-sighted and have been
wearing optical swimming goggles
for at least 15 years. Without
them, simple things like reading
the pace clock or following
training set would have been
impossible. They have
undoubtedly enabled me to enjoy
my swimming to the full”.
To view the complete range of
prescription swimming goggles
from Butterflies Healthcare
click on
www.prescription-swimming-goggles.co.uk
For
Your Chance to Win
Tell us how many different
goggles does James Sutton stock
on his website?
a) Over 10
b) Over 20
c) Over 30
d) Over 40
Tie Breaker
-
Tell us why you would like to
win a pair of prescription
goggles?
To Enter the Competition
Tell us how many different
swimming goggles does James
Sutton stock on his website?
Then send in your answer and Tie
Breaker, together with your full
name, postal address and
telephone number by clicking on
the special
red
email
address below:
gogglescomp@hotmail.com
Please fill in
the subject box
of your email with the title:
Swimming Goggles
Competition (Sixtyplusurfers)
Competition Terms & Conditions
1.
You may be contacted with
further information from
Butterflies Healthcare. Please
let us know if you do not wish
to receive any further
correspondence.
2.
Five
winners with the correct answer
will win a pair of Butterflies
Prescription Goggles.
3.
The competition is open to both
our UK and overseas visitors.
4.
We do not accept automated
entries.
5.
A tie-breaker is included with
this competition to ensure that
all entries are genuine and to
avoid spamming. Completing the
tie-breaker is optional.
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Bowel Cancer
Advice from Bupa
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Bowel cancer is a lump created
by an abnormal and uncontrolled
growth of cells that start in
the bowel. Bowel cancer is the
third most common cancer in the
UK. About five in 100 people
will develop bowel cancer in the
UK. Of these five people, at
least four will be over the age
of 60.
There is evidence that taking
the following steps to improve
your diet can help to reduce
your risk of getting bowel
cancer:
·
Eat five or more portions of
fruit and vegetables every day
·
Eat foods high in fibre such as
wholegrain bread, cereals and
wholemeal pasta
·
Cut down on the amount of
processed meat and red meat you
eat
·
Maintain a healthy weight
According to Bupa research, 60%
of Brits say they are still not
getting their five-a-day. Men
fare worse than women with just
37% getting their recommended
intake, compared with 44% of
women. And only 45% of those who
consider themselves healthy say
they get the recommended number
of fruit and veg portions.
Dr Katrina Herren, medical
director, Bupa Health and
Wellbeing says, “It is worrying
to think that over half of the
population are not eating enough
portions of fruit and vegetables
each day. What we put in our
body can have a direct impact on
our health; a healthy diet,
which includes lots of fruit and
vegetables, cannot only help
with preventing bowel cancer but
can also help you to maintain a
healthy weight and reduce your
risk of illnesses such as
diabetes, heart disease, stroke,
osteoporosis and other types of
cancer.”
Further lifestyle advice is
recommended to help to reduce
your risk of getting bowel
cancer:
·
Try to do 150 minutes (two and a
half hours) of moderate exercise
over a week in bouts of 10
minutes or more. You can do this
by carrying out 30 minutes on at
least five days each week
·
If you smoke, stop
·
Drink alcohol in moderation – no
more than two to three units a
day for women and three to four
units a day for men
·
Getting enough vitamin D may
reduce your risk of developing a
number of cancers, including
bowel cancer – although more
research needs to be done to be
certain. Vitamin D is produced
naturally by your body when your
skin is exposed to sunlight and
can also be obtained from some
foods, such as oily fish
Symptoms of bowel cancer
Bowel cancer is often painless
in the early stages. The
Department of Health recently
launched a national ‘Be Clear on
Cancer’ campaign to raise
awareness of the signs of bowel
cancer and encourage people to
visit their GP if they
experience the main symptoms,
which are blood in the faeces or
loose stools for three weeks or
more.
There are other symptoms to be
aware of, including:
·
Weight loss without any obvious
reason and/or loss of appetite
·
Tiredness or breathlessness for
no apparent reason – this may be
caused by the small amount of
blood loss from your bowel,
resulting in anaemia (when there
are too few red blood cells or
not enough haemoglobin in your
blood)
·
Pain, or a lump or swelling in
your abdomen (tummy)
These symptoms aren't always
caused by bowel cancer. For
example, problems such as piles
may cause blood to appear in
your faeces. However, if you
have any of these symptoms, see
your GP.
Dr Katrina Herren continues,
“Most people may experience some
of these symptoms from time to
time and it can be an
embarrassing topic to discuss.
However, if you experience any
of these symptoms you must visit
your GP.
“If it’s not serious it will put
your mind at rest. If it is
cancer, the earlier it is
diagnosed, the better the
outlook.”
Causes of bowel cancer
The causes of bowel cancer
aren't fully understood at
present but your risk of bowel
cancer increases if you have:
·
A family history of bowel cancer
·
One of two inherited bowel
conditions that increase your
risk – familial adenomatous
polyposis (FAP) or hereditary
non-polyposis colorectal cancer
(HNPCC), also known as Lynch
syndrome
·
A long-term bowel condition,
such as Crohn's disease or
ulcerative colitis
·
A diet that is low in fibre,
fruit and vegetables and high in
red and processed meats
·
An inactive lifestyle or are
obese
·
Diabetes
Screening for bowel cancer
Screening is important for
detecting bowel cancer in its
early stages. The Department of
Health has introduced a bowel
cancer screening programme in
England. Bowel cancer screening
kits are sent to men and women
aged between 60 and 69, although
if you're older you can also
request a kit. There are
different programmes running in
the rest of the UK. Ask your GP
whether the screening programme
has started in your area.
The screening kit contains a
faecal occult blood (FOB) test
that can detect small amounts of
blood in your faeces. The FOB
test doesn't diagnose bowel
cancer, but the results show if
you need to have your bowel
examined.
For more information about bowel
cancer visit:
www.bupa.co.uk
Bupa Colon Health Check
A Bupa Colon Health check
includes an advanced Computed
Tomography (CT) scan of your
bowel, known as a virtual
colonoscopy, designed to check
for polyps and other signs of
bowel cancer.
The CT scanner produces two and
three-dimensional images of the
whole of the colon and rectum,
enabling the radiologist to see
the inside of the bowel, and
spot any abnormality. The most
common abnormality to see is
bowel polyps; larger polyps have
a high chance of becoming
cancerous.
If the scan detects any
significant polyps, we will
discuss this with you. The next
step would normally be a
conventional colonoscopy, which
would enable a doctor to remove
the polyps. Removing significant
polyps dramatically reduces the
chance of bowel cancer
developing and, if bowel cancer
is present within the polyp, may
even be curative.
To find out how to book a Bupa
Colon Health Check, visit
www.bupa.co.uk
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Cool New Massage Tool Provides
Instant Stress Relief
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Stay relaxed with the Kneader -
enabling you to enjoy a stress
relieving massage, wherever and
whenever you need it!
The Kneader, an innovative and
beautifully designed massage
tool which offers pretty much
everybody the method and the
means to perform a relaxing
massage on themselves or others.
The Kneader is the invention of
professional therapist and opera
singer, Una Tucker. Frustrated
that she couldn't find any
suitable massage tools to
recommend to her clients for use
in-between treatments, she
designed her own with
simplicity, versatility and
affordability in mind.
The Kneader is made from
acrylic, so it not only looks
good but is both durable and
washable. The design of the
Kneader means that every part of
the tool is usable and
multi-functional, to achieve a
light or deep massage. Its
organic design flows with the
curves of the body and mimics
the actions of a professional
massage, so it's both an
enjoyable and effective home spa
treatment.
It can be used to massage over
clothes, directly onto the skin
with massage oils or in the
shower with soap and water.
Because the Kneader has no
moving parts and does not
require batteries, its easy to
use in the office, at the gym
after a workout or on holiday
(it can even be used with suntan
oil!).
Although you can start using the
Kneader straight away, it comes
with a comprehensive
instructional manual and DVD for
those who prefer a bit more
instruction.
So, relax and stay healthy with
The Kneader - a massage tool
that means anyone can give and
receive a fantastic massage
whenever they need it!
The Kneader costs £25 and is
available to buy from
www.kneadsmust.com
or through Amazon at
www.amazon.co.uk
and
www.firebox.com
To see the Kneader in action,
visit the Kneads Must website
homepage.
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Sixtyplusurfers Competition
Brits Need a Break!
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And Yakult's £5,000 holiday
giveaway is here to help
77% of people aged 55 and over in the UK are in need of a holiday, according to
a new survey. Whilst that might not be overly surprising, it is revealing to
learn the extent to which Brits are desperate to get away: when asked to name
their one material desire for 2012, more people aged 55+ plumped for a holiday
than for anything else – selecting a dream getaway even above a new car!
However, with purse strings being tightened across the country, it seems that
many will be going without their longed-for break – for this year at least. 31%
of Brits aged 55 and over stated that, due to economising, they would be cutting
down on holidays abroad in 2012 – and 19% will even be cutting down on holidays
in the UK.
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Yet our desire to discover more about the world remains as keen as ever – 78% of
Brits aged 55 and over stated that they were curious to learn more about
different countries and cultures across the globe. Despite this, almost half of
Brits aged 55+ have yet to experience a ‘dream holiday’– and so it seems high
time that Brits got a chance to experience the break they so desire.
And that’s where Yakult’s brand new competition comes in! Showcasing the fact
that Yakult is available in 32 countries across the globe, ‘Around the World
with Yakult’ is offering one lucky winner the chance to jet off on a £5,000
dream holiday.
Another six winners will each receive a Kindle, complete with £20
credit.
To Enter the Competition
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To enter this exciting competition, would-be jetsetters simply need to visit
the website at
www.yakult.co.uk/world
-
and then guess the location of the ‘mystery Yakult
country’.
Each month, a Yakult employee will give a personal insight into a fascinating
Yakult project taking place in their particular country – and offer clues as to
the location. (The competition is free to enter and no purchase is necessary.)
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Every month until August, one lucky winner will receive a Kindle (plus £20
credit) – and then in September, all correct entries will go into a draw for the
£5,000 grand prize!
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Healthy Recipe
Salade Nicoise
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This classic salad with excellent fresh
ingredients is perfect for a light lunch or a
Summer picnic. Quails eggs, cherry tomatoes and
baby potatoes make this a modern version.
Ingredients
·
225g/8oz baby new potatoes, scrubbed
·
225g/8oz thin French beans, tails snipped
·
2 tbsp sunflower oil
·
275g/10oz sustainable tuna steak
·
225g/8oz cherry tomatoes
·
16 quails, eggs, hard boiled, peeled and halved
·
8 anchovy fillets
·
20 black olives
·
Frilly
leaves
·
Finely
chopped fresh parsley
For the dressing
·
1
heaped tsp Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard
·
1
tbsp white wine vinegar
·
4
tbsp olive oil
·
Salt
and freshly ground black pepper
Method
1.
First cook the potatoes and beans separately in
boiling salted water. Remove from the pans,
drain and cool.
2. Heat oil
in a pan and quickly sear tuna steaks for just
about 1 minute each side. Reserve with potatoes
and beans.
3. Halve
cherry tomatoes and place in a bowl with hard
boiled quail’s eggs. Cut anchovy fillets into
strips and add. Halve any large baby potatoes
but add all others whole, with black olives and
beans. Break tuna unto chunks and add with a
handful of frilly leaves.
4. For the
dressing, place Grey Poupon Grey Mustard in a
bowl and whisk in white wine vinegar. Continue
whisking in olive oil, then season with salt and
freshly ground black pepper.
5. Pour over
salad and sprinkle with parsley, Toss with clean
hands and serve on individual plates.
Serves 4
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Aspirin Linked to Cancer Prevention
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Aspirin has a proven ability to prevent
cancer which should be factored into new patient guidelines, according to the
British lead author of a major new study.
Professor Peter Rothwell believes the evidence shows aspirin's anti-cancer
benefits may be bigger than its protective effect on the heart and arteries.
His research, published in two Lancet journals, suggests that low daily doses of
the painkiller may not only prevent cancer occurring, but also slow its
progress.
One study showed that taking aspirin reduced the risk of developing cancer by
about a quarter after just three years. From five years onwards, it cut the risk
of dying from cancer by 37%.
Another in a series of three papers showed that aspirin reduced the chances of
cancer spreading instead of staying in one place by almost 50%.
The deadly spread, or metastasis, of tumours to organs such as the liver and
brain is usually what kills cancer patients.
Many people take a low 75 milligram dose of aspirin each day to guard against
heart attacks and strokes.
Experts advise against this for "healthy" individuals at no special risk of
heart and artery disease because of the possible long-term side effects of
aspirin. The drug, which prevents blood clotting, can increase the likelihood of
internal bleeding in the stomach, intestines and brain.
In some cases, such as pregnant women at risk of high blood pressure, the
benefits of taking aspirin are said to outweigh the risks. However, to date
cancer has not been part of this calculation.
Prof Rothwell, from Oxford University says, "It's certainly time to add
prevention of cancer into the analysis of the balance of risk and benefits of
aspirin."
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Cataracts - Know the Warning Signs
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If your vision has declined or become
blurry in recent years, don't assume that a stronger prescription is all you
need for a quick fix. Cataract is one of the most common causes of sight loss in
the UK, but it needn't be. Leading sight loss charity RNIB (Royal National
Institute of Blind People) warns that 50 per cent of sight loss could be avoided
and that people should be more aware of what to look out for.
A cataract is a clouding of the part of the eye called the lens. It causes
vision to become blurred because the cataract is like frosted glass, interfering
with a person’s sight. The lens is a clear tissue found behind the iris, the
coloured part of the eye. The lens helps to focus light on the back of the eye –
the retina – forming an image.
What to look out
for:
If you experience any of the following symptoms make an appointment for an eye
examination.
·
Blurry Sight: This is very common. You may notice that your sight has become
blurred or misty, or that your glasses seem dirty or appear scratched.
·
Dazzled By Light: You may be dazzled by lights, such as a car headlamps, and
sunlight.
·
Change of Colour Vision: Your colours may become washed out or faded.
If your doctor or optician has told you that you have a cataract, don’t be
alarmed. Cataracts are very common with one in three people over 65 being
diagnosed in the UK. Many people over 60 have some cataract and the vast
majority can be treated successfully.
Cataract surgery, where the cloudy lens is removed during an operation, is one
of the most successful eye operations.
If you or someone you know has a sight problem, RNIB can help. Call the RNIB
Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit
www.rnib.org.uk
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Join in With Guy Martin's Big Brew
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Road racing legend Guy Martin wants us
all to have a 'proper mug of tea' at participating venues over the Bank Holiday
weekend of 4th - 7th May 2012, in support of the charity Spinal Research.
All around the UK kettles will be boiling, tea will be brewed and fundraising
activities will be underway. A number of partners have signed up so far, from
motorcycle dealerships and Hein Gericke stores, to biker cafes, motorcycle
owners' clubs, IAM and individual riders, all with a view to raising money and
giving something back.
Spinal Research has a dedicated campaign specifically for motorcyclists called
Ride Out and The Big Brew is one of the key events in their biking calendar.
Riding a motorbike is an exhilarating experience and there's little to compare
to the excitement, adrenalin and freedom of being on two wheels. But things can
and do go wrong and The Big Brew is a fun way to make a donation to the charity,
which aims to restore movement and feeling to people who are paralysed and
ultimately get them back on their motorcycles.
After Guy's accident during the 2010 Isle of Man TT, he realised just how lucky
he was to make a full recovery. He decided to combine his love of tea with
motorbikes and the inaugural Big Brew in 2011 was a great success.
"I'm putting my support and tea drinking enthusiasm behind The Big Brew and want
to ask motorcyclists to get involved and do the same, says Guy Martin. "I was
lucky that I wasn't paralysed when I broke the vertebrae in my back at the Isle
of Man TT in 2010, but not every rider is as fortunate as me. Taking part in The
Big Brew can make all the difference to people living with paralysis."
To make this year's event even more fun you can enter a 'grow your own
sideburns' competition. Male Guy Martin fans might decide to 'grow their own' or
sponsor a friend, while the girls might decide to design jewelled or painted
sideburns, so they can take part too. The winner of the best sideburns as judged
by Guy will win a Focused Events track day on the full Moto GP Silverstone
circuit at any of their 2012 events.
Visit your local participating dealership or Hein Gericke store during the Big
Brew weekend, to have your photograph taken with your best 'mutton chops' and be
entered into the competition.
You can also tweet your side burn growth images to @TheBigBrew or share their
evolution on Facebook (search 'Ride Out for Spinal Research') to give your
facial hair the recognition it deserves!
While you are in-store remember to enter the FREE prize draw for you and a
friend to meet Guy at a race meeting later in the year.
Check out the video on the evolution of the sideburn at
www.spinalnews.org/BigBrew2012 and keep up-to-date with
the latest information at
www.spinalresearch.org
Don't forget, anyone can arrange an event, large or small, every donation helps
fund ground breaking research to help people who have been paralysed by spinal
cord injury. There will be a prize for the two people who raise the most money
to meet Guy at a race event later this year. So get the kettle on and get
involved.
For your FREE information pack on how to organise your own Big Brew or to find
your nearest participating dealer or Hein Gericke store, visit
www.spinalnews.org/BigBrew2012
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May 2012