On your bike Bradley Wiggins!

Marine’s charity fundraiser Peter McCormack wrote a live blog during rest stops on his 187 mile cycle to Blyth Spartans on Saturday and the cyclist is thanking everybody who supported his successful trek.

The Evo-Stik NPL's answer to Bradley Wiggins, pictured on arrival, has raised thousands of pounds in recent years for the Mariners and the Multiple Sclerosis Trust, including once riding from Blackpool to Paris!

This time the Director and Safety Officer at the Premier Division outfit peddled all the way to Northumbria to raise £1000 at the last count for Marine’s 50K ground development.

The fundraiser eventually arrived at Blyth at lunchtime and to ensure he made it in good time for the match which ended with Karl Noon grabbing a late Marine equaliser in the thrilling 3-3 draw, Peter, who is also the chairman of the club's Supporters Association, left the Arriva Stadium early on Friday morning. He posted his blog whenever he got a chance to stop and take a breather!

Along the way Peter posted from Hadrian's Wall, reported on his aching feet from a bed and breakfast in Carlisle on Friday night and even managed to bump into a Blyth fan at a half deserted cafe in Cumbria! Peter's latest and final blog is below - in it he thanks his supporters and vows to do it, or something similiar involving bikes and long journeys at least, all over again...

He’s also used the trip to stay in shape and help publicise next June’s two day 230 mile Evo-Stik Cycle Challenge ride from Wembley to Blackpool. This summer’s inaugural event was also in aid of the Multiple Sclerosis Trust and was backed by Arriva North West and Doodson Sport, the Evo-Stik NPL’s League Cup sponsors.

The event was the brainchild of Rick Halsall who works for Marine's stadium sponsors Arriva as their Head of Operations. His wife Carol is battling the condition and in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in June the father of two was awarded the British Empire Medal for his charity rides in aid of the Multiple Sclerosis Trust.

The charity funds research into the condition which effects 100,000 people in the UK with thousands more going undiagnosed as it is often difficult for doctors to spot at an early stage and can strike the young and old alike. Rick's gruelling adventures have included trips in recent years across China, Africa’s Sahara desert and even up and over the mountains of Peru in South America.

Before hitting the road on Friday, Peter who rode alongside Rick in June's marathon ride which ended at the Evo-Stik NPL's Awards Night at Blackpool's Hilton Hotel, revealed that he’d be calling in a few culinary favours when the Mariners’ new hospitality and catering development eventually opens.

"I’ll definitely be sampling a few free burgers or I’ll be having a word with the catering manager," he joked. "I doubt it’ll be ready before next summer’s London to Blackpool ride so I should be okay weight wise. If all the cycling fans from the league get behind the event they could raise thousands to combat MS which can strike any of us at any time, so a very worthy cause."

Peter's Blog....

Friday 7am
It's 7am just south of Lancaster. A restless night spent wrestling the big decisions I'm likely to face on the long and lonely trek up north across fell and dale. The first decision being that as a finely tuned near Olympian I need to ensure I pack in the right balance of essential amino acids high carbs protein with extremely low fat count. I go for 2 sausage 2 bacon black pudding 2 eggs beans mushrooms hashbrown and of course fried bread. I convince myself Wiggo would have done the same.

Received dozens of texts this morning wishing me well and good luck. I've raised £675 for Marine fc ground appeal so far so hoping to nudge that up throughout the day.

It's a fabulous looking day brilliant early morning sunshine no wind but biting cold Autumn has arrived my Breakfast will keep me warm next stop Kendal!

Friday 11.20
First milestone of the day I am now in Cumbria and its not even 10am yet. Ahead of schedule! The big breakfast was the right choice LOL

Friday 1.30pm
1400 feet in 14 miles a long long steady relentless climb with near horizontal rain driving into my ageing crumbling body, steam vapour rising from legs burning with pain as I push hard to the summit. This is the maddest thing since mad jack mcmad won the being mad competition 3 yrs running! Who's bleep bleep idiotic stupid bleep bleep insane bleep idea was this? Wait till I get hold of Marine chairman Paul bleep bleep Leary what in gods name was I thinking of allowing him to persuade me to attempt this ridiculous challenge.

If you're reading this and haven't sponsored me yet then do so immediately or I'm never coming back ya can stick ya ground appeal up ya bleep bleep bleep bleep I'd better be on free burgers for life from this new refreshments kiosk. That pint you promised me Mr Chairman better make it a barrel.

My knees are no longer mine no pain no gain! Pah ! Where's the gain bleep bleep ground appeal bleep bleep Marine fc bleep bleep............10 minutes later ...... I'm sat in a cafe in shap village its amazing what a large coffee and chocolate cake can do for a man's soul. So that's the biggest hill behind me what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and its all down hill to Carlisle (i hope ) the Col de Shap wasn't so bad then again I've not tried standing up yet! Onwards and upwards (or is that downwards) see you in Carlisle!

Friday 4.55pm
As I roll into wind swept rain drenched Shap village like a dead man on a horse in some long forgotten western movie. I realise this seemingly deserted place has a cafe. I pull in and as I enter to my astonishment the place is packed to the gunnels, there's the village WI meeting going on and a female cacophony of noise greets me like an impenetrable stone wall I notice through an archway a snug with a lone man sat at a table and immediately make a bee line for male company and a bit of peace.

We strike up a conversation and within no time football is the topic of choice and to my utter incredulity he's a Blyth Spartans fan! I am flabbergasted! I'm in a deserted village on top of a fell in the midst of a women's institute meeting and meet a Blyth fan beyond belief doesn't do it justice!

This delays my departure by 45 minutes as we talk non league not for the first time on this adventure football proves itself yet again as the catalyst for bringing people together in friendship. I leave the gaggling meeting and head off down into Penrith in pouring rain the only note worthy incident being a not yet registered blind man driving a van tries his best to kill me on a roundabout.

Catastrophe avoided I press on to Carlisle where my guest house awaits. I'm in for a treat crossroads house in the village of brisco is run by Warren and Sue he's an ex referee and staunch Rochdale fan. We both reminisce about 1974 Rochdale at home to Marine fa cup 1st round. We were both at that game and both at the replay and both at the 1989 fa cup game played at anfield (strange we hadn't met before today really). Warren is delighted to talk football and I'm treated like royalty for my short stay, again football bringing friendships and people together!

Friday 9.40pm
A very early night beckons as I rub ibuprofen gel into my knees and take co codamol tablets for a long list of other aches and strains. It's been a great days cycling apart from a very cold early morning long painful hills headwinds and lashing rain not forgetting the dice with death in Penrith and now the sad realization that I'm feeling the wrong side of fifty due to cramp and the desperate need for my pillow and its only 9.30pm.
My Olympian breakfast of Cumberland sausage bacon eggs beans etc etc has been ordered for 7am the weather is forecast as considerably better and drier than today so its a quick 75 miles cross country along the very busy A69 to the outskirts of Newcastle before heading north east to Blyth. Piece of cake to a mamil (middle aged man in lycra) like me. Had some good news tonight my fund total is nearing £800 so if you have a spare £200 to give it will make a nice round figure to head home with. I've enjoyed the unique experience of the solo adventure that is long distance cycling, one gets to meet interesting people that one wouldn't normally come across when traveling in a group. I do miss the team spirit of the group who encourage, inspire and push each other along they keep you going and its not nearly as tough when there's a number of you taking turns to buffer the wind. It's truly a team effort that inter dependence that binds you all together for a single purpose and goal.
The solo non supported ride has its plus side but there is no hiding place its a mental challenge every much as the physical. If you have enjoyed my blogs so far please consider joining us next June for our Wembley to anfield / goodison trip 200 miles in one day or the more leisurely 3 day event London to blackpool. Your reward will come from within yourself its an achievable yet impressive event to challenge yourself to do and make a real difference to real peoples lives.
Off to do a bit of stretching now don't want to get too stiff in bed and awake with cramp at 3am!

Saturday 4am
It's 4am and despite a lovely comfy bed I'm wide awake and considering the ramifications of knocking on the room next door to discuss his prostate problem which he may not realise he has but after five visits to the loo complete with five fans whirring and the inevitable five flushes his health issue is becoming more urgent by the minute as I feel like punching him. I NEED SLEEP !
I wake at 5.30am and decide its get your own back time and put kettle on have a shower and flush the loo a few times. Sated from my anger I settle down with tea in one hand and map in the other all looks straight forward LOL . I head downstairs to a desperate Dan fabulous breakfast. And I'm ready for the off by 8am

Saturday 10am
As I cycle alongside Hadrians wall on A69 I've entered into a state of delirium or perhaps nirvana! I've decided there are no horrible hills between Carlisle and Blyth just tendon bursting undulations they cause me neither pain nor anguish as I've decided this little blog is now a full blown travel log and my middle name is Bill Bryson I am soon to be guest of honour at a book signing at Croft Park where Danny Boyle will be tempting me with a film rights contract.
Well it passes the time. The service station coffee has brought me back to my senses and I must push on the game waits for no man especially one in lycra!

Saturday 11.50am
Just outside Newcastle. Just a easy turn left and up a bit!

Saturday 1.08pm
Thrilled finally got here!

Last post and thanks
Well I made it! A great experience and what a welcome from our friends at Blyth, fans, stewards, committee even the caterers wishing me well and congratulations. I had hoped my ride would inspire our players to the first victory at Blyth in our entire 118 year history but it was not to be. We drew 3 all in a great entertaining game.

Highlights of my trip would be the stunning wilderness, wonderful views and the people I met along the way. The sense of achievement will live long in my memory my aches and strains will soon pass and fade away. Football is a ubiquitous and ever changing catalyst for conversations friendships and when mixed with hopes and dreams provides us all with the basic tools to be the gregarious creatures we are.

I will have raised £1000.00 by the time I get home but perhaps more importantly the Marine family will once more have joined together in a common cause and thrived.

Would I do it again? Absolutely yes! I'd do it every week if I could take the time away from work and family. Its really down to others to take on the baton laid down, and do something from within themselves that will ignite passion and inspire others onto greater things.

I'm sat on the team bus heading home after an extraordinary two days. An adventure yes but measurably achievable by most fans of all clubs and I would encourage anyone and everyone to get involved in next summers two big evostik fund raisers.

Big thanks must go to my friend Roger Mawer who was always at the end of the phone in case of emergency. Dave Watters for providing media coverage, Paul Leary for his unending support and belief in me and most important of all the kind and thoughtful friends who sponsored me.