The Iron Butt 1000 Challenge.

The Royal British Legion Riders have set up a motorcycle challenge, it is called Iron Butt 1000.  The aim is to complete a 1000 mile course within 24 hours and the event will take place on the 6th June 2026. 
I am riding in memory of my step son Ben McGinn.  Ben was a soldier serving with the Royal Corps of Signals when he was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident, it is 20 years ago this year that we lost Ben.  My wife Lynn (Ben's mum)  wanted to do something in memory of Ben on this significant anniversary and suggested we both walk Hadrian's Wall ..... however ..... between us we have a combined leg age of 278 years! so I suggested we do something else instead.  Given that my bottom is only 70 years old (not counting cheeks separately) I'm fairly sure I can sit on it for 24 hours, even riding a motorcycle.
  
My aim is to raise £1000 (a pound a mile!) to be shared equally between:

The Royal British Legion (their riders branch are the organisers so it's only fair and they are a great charity).
The Royal Signals Charity (I served in Royal Signals for 38 years, Lynn served in the Royal Signals TA and Ben was serving in the Corps and was about to go for a commission when we lost him).
Northumbria Blood Bikes (I'm a rider and driver for this wonderful charity that does great work for the people of the North East. Worth noting that Everyone is a volunteer, every penny goes to providing the service).

If you feel you are able to support me I'd be very grateful.  Ben's son Josh ran the London Marathon this year in memory of his dad, if you supported Josh please don't feel you have to support me, that would be kicking the motorcycling bottom out of it!
Many thanks in advance and please wish me luck (it's a long way!).

FINAL UPDATE ..... I MADE IT!

What an amazing event!  Along with almost 200 other riders I started at 05.10 am on Saturday 6th June and finished exactly 21 hours later at 02.10 am on Sunday 7th June with a total of 1060 miles covered (it should have been 1006 miles but I got carried away with the scenery, missed the turn at Perth, and ended up in Dundee so rode an extra 54 miles to get back on track).

You will see that my original goal of raising £1000 was smashed and the total has climbed to £1920 ..... amazing support from so many people, thank you all so much.  My three charities will each receive £640 that will obviously be put to good use, but to give an idea of what this funding means to the charity I volunteer for, Northumbria Blood Bikes; it costs on average £3 for each task/delivery that we undertake, therefore £640 will enable us to carry out over 213 tasks ..... a great help for a charity that quietly does so much for the people of the North East.

A genuine 'Thank You' to everyone to donated, you are all officially 'Bon Oeufs'.    Peter.