Anyway a very good friend, fellow LRPer, HeroQuester (AND ex TT'er, but don't hold that against him!), is taking part in what is a REAL adventure. 

On April 15th Malcolm Rich (aka "Erf") will be flying out to the Arctic to take part in what is billed "the toughest adventure race in the world" the 2007 Polar Challenge.  He will be racing
as part of "Team Spirit" 360 miles in temperatures down to -50 degrees C, pulling a sledge loaded with around 120lbs and with 80% of the worlds polar bears as company, wthoug a spell or incantation in sight!

Erf has been a LRP'er for almost 25 years now and you would have thought at his age would know a lot better, OK he isn't doing this under the LRP banner (I couldn't convince him to do it in chain mail let alone full plate!), but I thought I'd try and drum up a bit of sponsorship for his charity among fellow LRP'ers, as there is always talk of us doing something, but often it doesn't come to much.

The charity he is racing for is COCOA (www.cocoa.org.uk) a charity set up to help Chinese children (mainly girls) who have been abandoned or orphaned and would have in the past been consigned to what were termed "dying rooms" (do an internet seach to find out more it's a bit too harrowing for here).

The added bonus is that (although he isn't allowed to advertise this, I am), his company will match any donation placed on his justgiving website so even if you can only spare £1 that would immediately become £2 etc.

I know only to well that LRP isn't a hobby awash with spare cash, but anthing you can spare will be gratefully received, and show what a generous bunch we are (and yes I've put my hand in my wallet) so please tell all and sundry as he has quite a target to reach.

His justgiving webpage is www.justgiving.com/polarchallenge2007 and to take a look at the handsome fellow himself checkout www.teamspirit2007.co.uk

Many thanks, and Erf, good luck mate!

Caine

Just one thing though... Team Spirit? I think my Trite-o-Meter just exploded.

Ascendancy LRP: Redvers Fenn-Cooper

Crimson Requiem: Crew

Real Life: Doug McKerracher

Quis custodiet ipsos custard?

I understand that one of the team is in marketing and has got some sponsorship from a team building company, and is also going to do presentations for schools etc., so it had to be something motivational and clean!

But you are totally right it is cringe worthy!

Caine

Sounds like a top bloke to me!

Ascendancy LRP: Redvers Fenn-Cooper

Crimson Requiem: Crew

Real Life: Doug McKerracher

Quis custodiet ipsos custard?

Firstly thanks to Caine for the plug. 6 weeks to go and we are all bricking it having had our medical "what can go wrong lectures yesterday", and shotgun training which was a bit more fun.

Secndly to clarify ALL of the money from the Just Giving site goes to the charity and is matched by the company I work for.  The cost of entering the race has been paid for by yours truly and a little help from Caine (cheers mate!), so if anyone does want to donate you can rest assured that it is ALL going to a worthy cause.  I've been to China and seen what COCOA do first hand, and if I can raise enoughto prevent one more baby girl entering "a dying room", then it's worth all the hardwork.

As for the other team names, well.....

Erf

PS Hopefully see of you ex TT'ers at Peckforton on the 23rd for the reunion, and I'm only fat as I've had to put on 21lbs for the race, honest!

Would it not have been better just to donate your £17,500 fee to the charity in the first place? Thuis definitely raising enough money for one more baby without the need for all the 'hard work'