The 2PinkLadies was created after we heard the news that
Suzie had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease at
the age of just 43.

Suzie and Debs (her great mate) wanted to build on their tradition of undertaking challenging activities, but this time to do it for a good cause.

Suzie has a close relationship with St Nicholas Hospice and knows the tremendous work it does, “People think a hospice is a place to go to die, but the hospice provides so much care and support for the living family and friends as well as those close to the end of their lives”. So, The PinkLadies aim to raise funds and awareness for St Nicholas Hospice on a large scale.

But, what could they do!!

We’ve Done It!
£30,000 and more still coming in!

Many, many thanks for the tremendous support we have received from you all.

Without this, in all its various forms, lunches, parties, cash, cheques, gift aid, cottages, houses, food, transport and a million other things, we would never have achieved this amazing amount. We have been truly overwhelmed by your kindness and generosity.

PS Enjoy looking at the final pictures!

Love from Suzy, Debs and Carolyn.

How we've done it!

Friday, 17th Oct. – Sunday, 19th Oct.

We are having a fab time!  This really is a challenge of a lifetime and I feel so honoured to be able to do this.  Fundraising started on the plane and we collected £150 off the other passengers!  Suzie went on the intercom and told everyone all about the pink ladies; they emptied their purses!!!

We then met Chris Leary (who is riding for Suzie part of the way) at Inverness and went on the train to John O’ Groats.  We had quite a party on the train!  We met Hamlyn and Jane and the most amazing ‘hospitality team’ Ronald who has missed his vocation and should have been a stand up comedian not to mention Brenda who some how let the local highlanders know of our trip and we have had waves all the way.

The boys left at 3 a.m. and arrived at 5 p.m. with Chris Glass driving and continuing to do sterling work looking after us all.  He is driving the back up vehicle and has Suzie in it occasionally having a glass of pink bubbly - don’t worry not enough to be drunk in charge of her quad!

We stayed on Friday night in John O’ Groats at a lovely local B&B.  In the morning we had a super breakfast to send us on our way; they made the most fabulous porridge.

Saturday night we were kindly welcomed to Pauline Daniel’s house where a lot of the photos were taken.  Suzie has lost her camera at the moment so Pauline kindly took some photos.  The log fire was very much appreciated for our cold bottoms, as was the G & T!  We had a great evening of delicious food and wine and it was lovely to see the McPhersons there too.  Thank you all so much for looking after us so fantastically.

Just arrived in Dunkeld for the night and Zos Austin and the boys amazingly found us and met us on the road here, where Felix had a chance to ride the quad for Suzie.  Jo Andrews welcomed us at her farm house and again we have been spoilt, going so far as to lend us her car for the night.

Monday, 20th Oct.

We left a fabulous B&B in Letter Farm, Dunkeld.  Jo Andrews looked after us so well we didn’t want to leave.  Suzie was feeling tired and a bit emotional, but a tasty smoked haddock omelette soon perked her up.  On to Galashiels we went, it rained and rained and blew a huge gale so Suzie was tucked up in HQ in the truck with Chris Glass, and Suzies great friend Chris Leary rode the quad.  It was so cold they had on 7 layers and still froze!

The staff on forth bridge would not let us cross so we had to put the quads on the trailer and drove across because of the high winds.  Next stop Edinburgh airport where we sadly dropped off Chris L who was flying to Spain on business she will be rejoining us again on Friday.  Suzie was tempted to go too and get a little tan and some warmth!

EADT called for an interview of how we were all progressing and this was given in HQ.  Debs thinks Suzie is getting a little too fond of HQ!  Perhaps it the pink bubbles, not to mention the warm!  Suzie rides the beginning and the end very day and is in charge of PR the rest of the day her phone does not stop ringing!

Debs battled on and several hours later we were in Galshiels - it took us a lot longer to get there than expected due to the weather.

We stayed on an organic farm; they welcomed us with a lovely log fire and pot of tea with delicious fruit cake.  In the evening we happened to find ourselves in Melrose in a fab restaurant where we replenished our reserves!

In the morning Radio Suffolk called for a live interview - what stars we are all becoming!

We left there and thought we were not going to go much further, after filling up with petrol.  Debs disappeared, her bike had conked out and we thought that was that for the day.  All was well, Chris G came to the rescue and did a little tinkering and off Debs went again.

Miles Rush, one of Suzie’s 21 year old twin sons who is at Durham University, came to join them at Carlisle and joined us for the best journey so far (weather wise) through to the Lake District.  Suzie rode behind Miles on her bike and found it all very exhilarating.

We arrived at Kendall and quickly found ourselves at the shops because we needed supplies of more pink bubbles and Suzie needed more underwear – apparently, she hadn’t brought enough with her!  Debs can’t believe that Chris G managed to drive here all through the home of cashmere without stopping to shop!!  After bringing Kendall to a halt with quads and the 30 ft support vehicle – how Chris ever managed to do such amazing manoeuvres we will never know - into M&S Suzie went and came out with a lovely cashmere jumper!

Wednesday, 22nd October – Thursday, 23rd October

What a lovely surprise to see Tracey too with Calvin for the day.  The weather was the best so far and we actually managed to shed some layers and had a glorious trip through to the Lake District, then on to Cheshire.  We arrived at Joyce Barbers (Adrian’s Mum) Farm and had the warmest of welcomes, then off for a super meal with his brother Philip and wife Mel at their house next door.  Debs adored being a pink lady on the farm and milked the cows with Philip – let’s hope the yields are not down!  It was so good to see Tim and Vanessa Edwards later that evening they had come up on the spur of the moment to see us.

Thursday morning

Another fab breakfast!  We really are becoming two fat ladies!  Deb’s daughter, George got up 4.30 a.m. and travelled from University in Nottingham to the nearest station for a morning’s quad biking riding pillion behind Debs.  She was so tired, she nearly fell asleep!

Vanessa did a great job riding on the front of Suzie’s bike for the morning.  We met up with the Hospice Team, Paul Abbott and Yasmin Jeffrey who enjoyed their time on the bike and Suzie caught up with a good natter with them.  Sue Rawlinson and her father came to join us too.

We arrived at Dee Champion’s house with a huge entourage!  Poor Dee! Unfazed, Dee warmly welcomed everyone into her home.

Debs and Suzie’s girls arrived and soon made themselves at home.

Off to bed we go as we have 178 miles to do tomorrow.

24th October, Friday morning

It’s Friday morning, and Suzie is up first quite an achievement as it takes her so long to get organised!  Just heard Guy (Suzie’s other twin son) has missed his train to join them so he will have to catch them up on the way!  A huge thanks to Dee who as we speak is cooking breakfast for us all.

Today, Suzie’s Mum. Jenny and lovely Peter are joining the gang for the rest of the trip they are staying in B&B along the way.  Suzie’s cousins, Jo and Sasha are being dropped off at Chippenham and going to ride for Suzie soon.

Viewing today we have Helen (Peter’s niece) and Peter Mills from Dorset so we look out for them.

Annie and Amelia (Deb’s daughters) and Milly (Suzie’s daughter) will be riding on the back of the bikes for the first part of the morning and have their first experience of the 2 pink ladies’ challenge.

Friday evening
 
Guy had huge problems with trains and didn't manage to arrive until 3 p.m. and rode for an hour then got a train back!! Sasha came to the rescue and rode Suzie's bike for most of the day with either Suzie or Jo on the back.
 
Deb's girls Annie and Amelia rode pillion on Deb's and Keith's bikes and Milly (Suzie’s daughter) on Mark's for the whole day 178 miles!!

It was a long journey and we arrived at Oakhampton cold, tired, in the dark and, even worse, LOST! Thank goodness our lovely hosts Sally and Doug Dwyer came to the rescue and found us.
 
Suzie's cousin's were having such a good day, they decided to stay.  The Turpin family stayed with the Dwyers and Suzie and family were booked into a B&B with Chris L (back from business in Spain), Chris G and Alan Bentley alias Mr Bentley because he resembled a Jane Austin hero!
 
All 16 of us went to a local pub for a super supper and a jolly time was had by all - huge thanks to Jo and Sasha who very naughtily settled the bill. The 2 pink ladies went their separate ways for night. Huge thanks to the Dwyers who looked after Debs and family so fantastically - they didn't want to leave them or their animals - and now want to have a sproker dog (springer/cocker).  Suzie was, as you can imagine, celebrating till the early hours with the B&B gang drinking and wishing she hadn't enjoyed herself so much because in the morning as could not wake!!

25th October, Saturday morning
 
Saturday morning - Lands End in sight - only about 100 miles to go.  Yet more glorious breakfasts had by all and the Turpins said a sad farwell to the Dwyers. We all met at the B&B to set off for our final day. Mr Bentley rode Suzie's quad with Suzie riding pillion, we have to say here that Mr. Bentley was by now not looking his immaculate self, windswept be-jeaned with a flourescent jacket but he loved it (we hope!).
 
Debs, Keith and Mark who had ridden the whole way from John O Groat's were feeling a mixture of sadness and elation as they rode the last leg.  Suzie took over her quad with Milly on the back.  She said a sad farewell to HQ, she loved her time in there with Chris Glass who had done the most amazing job of looking after us all throughout the week.  He was a mixture of a friend, counsellor, mechanic, and most importantly opened the bubbles!!  

They all rode the final 10 miles to Lands end, not knowing what to except.  We were surprised and delighted at the welcoming party: friends, family and, amazingly, Paul and Yasmin from the hospice.
 
Suzie's Mum Jenny popped on the back of the bike to ride to the Land’s End sign. She loved it!!!  

Picture this - cameras flashing, corks popping, people cheering - what a fabulous reception. Thanks Carolyn!!!
 
Suzie has always wanted to emulate a grand prix win, with an exploding champagne bottle!  Guess who got it all over her: Debs!!!  
 
Back to Morwenna Cottage for the team, kindly lent to us by Natalie Johnson, and then out with all the family and friends for a celebrating supper.
 
Sadly, later in the evening we were called with the news that Suzie's sister Rosie had peacefully died at home.  Her husband, Charlie, and sons Tom and Harry were with her.
 
The crazy idea of riding quad bikes from
John O’Groats to Land’s End was conceived.

October 2008 will see the 2pinkladies begin the challenge, you will be able to follow their
journey on 2pinkladies.co.uk and hopefully on local radio and TV.

Carolyn, a close friend has taken the idea from the sofa to the road, and is ‘the organiser’.
She is planning a variety of fund raising initiatives, from lunches and parties to helping
children to get involved which will not only raise money but help the next generation to
understand what St Nicholas Hospice does and why it is so important to our community.

Keep a look out for ways that you can help the 2PinkLadies (although our husbands
(Mark and Keith) think we are more like the 2 fat ladies). By visiting 2pinkladies.co.uk
regularly or click on the link Donate which will take you to justgiving.com

We hope you will support us, enjoy following our journey and help us raise our target
for St Nicholas Hospice.