George Bullard
‘It is not about the days of your life, but the life of your days.’
The why’s and the what’s are common questions that are asked when anyone has to suffer a bereavement. For this reason I was inspired to raise money for The Haven after my aunt became ill with breast cancer. She was an incredible lady who fell victim to this prevalent disease at a very young age. Beyond this, she was undeniably popular- at her memorial service the whole cathedral was full– what a testament to a magical person. Although popularity isn’t a defining reason as to why I was inspired to raise money for The Haven, her memory and spirit is.
The longest fully unsupported polar journey in history
For The Haven I took part in the Tiso Trans Greenland expedition in 2008. This was a journey of determination, stamina, and integrity. Travelling 1,374 miles across Arctic Greenland, over a period of 113 days in order to break the world record for the longest fully unsupported polar journey ever and raise vital funds for The Haven. To put my journey into perspective, the famous Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Mike Stroud completed a 1,200 mile trip across Antarctica.
After such a truly gruelling and memorable challenge I was hard pushed to find something that would match this when in 2010 I decided to take on a second challenge for The Haven.
2,500 miles Trans European bicycle trip from UK to Greece
My friend Jack Ronan and I decided we would cycle 2,000 miles through Europe in aid of The Haven. We started the journey in Suffolk and finished at the Peligoni Club, a favourite summer haunt of Jack’s. The route took us through France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Italy and then down the Adriatic Coast through Slovenia, Croatia, six miles of Bosnia Herzegovina (the scary part), Montenegro, Albania, the Greek mainland and then finally a ferry to the island of Zakynthos and the Peligoni Club.
The trip took a little over three weeks averaging between ninety and a hundred miles a day taking with us a tent, sleeping bags and a couple of good pairs of cycling shorts!