The Great Solent Pedal - Two blokes crossing the solent on a pedalo

Picture the scene, two guys crossing the Solent (one of the UK's busiest shipping lanes), on a pedalo, on D-Day!

What on earth would make someone even begin to contemplate such a ridiculous idea?

Let me tell you.

In September 2003, whilst on holiday in the US, I made an equally stupid decision to climb a ladder to repair the side of a relative's house, as a hurricane was about to hit. The ladder slipped and the resulting accident meant I spent the following 5 hours in theatre having my elbow pieced back together. The surgeon knew I would never regain full use of the arm, but had no idea just how much of a recovery I would make.

I flew home, saw a specialist, who then immediately referred me to the Wessex Rehabilitation Centre within Salisbury hospital. I spent the next 4 months at the centre, where the fantastic team tortured, sorry, treated me, with intensive physiotherapy in various forms including gym, industrial workshops and indoor hockey (those physios are even more evil when holding a hockey stick!) The results were fantastic.

I left the centre with a very good level of movement back in the arm and although my promising golf career was in tatters (anyone who knows me, will know just how badly I used to play), there was very little I couldn't now do, apart from play the piano, but my surgeon informs me that I would have needed to play prior to the accident for me to be able to play afterwards.

The whole team at the Wessex Rehabilitation are such a fantastic, dedicated team of people and it was for that reason that I came up with this slightly unusual fundraising event, to help them buy more equipment and to help others.

So, on June 6th 2009, myself and a friend will try to steer a humble pedalo across to the Isle of Wight, whilst overcoming the huge waves, strong currents and trying to avoid the massive container ships and passenger ferries.

This blog will follow our progress in training, logisitics in organising the event, the event itself and our subsequent memorial services!

Additional information on the event itself can be found at http://www.thegreatsolentpedal.com

Thanks for your support!

Mike