Steve Keyes honoured

The great sportsman Steve Keyes who cycled the whole country, from Cornwall to Scotland, in support of our Church’s Fundraising Campaign was yesterday at our Church.

Fr. Anastasios, Mr. Pantelis Demosthenous and Mr. Christos Orthodoxou honoured him by presenting him with an honorary plaque and a book. They also congratulated and thanked him on his great achievement.

Steve finished his journey

It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that we announce the completion of Steve Keyes’ Cycle Tour.

He has cycled about 1000 miles from Land’s End in Cornwall to John O'Groats in Scotland.

He has taken this initiative in support of our new Church’s Fundraising Campaign.

His wife Stavroulla send us an e-mail saying that “With God's help he did it and I thank Him for this”.

Steve is back home now having a well earned rest. The pictures on this post are from those that he managed to take along the way.

Day 10 completed

Day 10 completed in fine weather at last. Just a few light showers.

Steve cycled 83 miles in total yesterday through Glasgow, Dumbarton and finally Loch Lomond where he is staying in a Youth Hostel that is an old castle.

He has collected a total so far of £1,300!

4 days left and he's eager to get finished.

Steve’s photo on this post is from Carlisle yesterday, proudly wearing his T-shirt of the Church.

Steve in Scotland !

Steve has now reached Scotland!!

Yesterday Day 9 Slaidburn in Lancashire in the pouring rain and did 75 miles to Keswick in The Lake District.

Today Day 10 he got up early to set off as he was meeting his cousins who live in Carlise for a quick coffee.

He caught up with the rest of the group at Gretna Green and cycled the remaining miles with them to Moffat in Scotland. 77 miles today.

The weather was kind to him today with only a few showers.

Tomorrow's a much harder day cycling 83 miles to Loch Lomand.
Today Steve and Stavroulla celebrate their 2nd Wedding Anniversary. Congratulations!!!

Steve's progress

Days 6 and 7 are now completed for Steve. He's now cycled nearly 500 miles and is half way there! 64 miles today were cycled in the pouring rain but he is keen to get going again tomorrow, as he heads for The Lake District, an outstandingly beautiful area of mountains and lakes. It will be a difficult 75 miles to Keswick but he can do it!

He hasn't managed to send any photos or e-mails, as the youth hostels where he stays have limited facilities. He assures us that he has taken some, so we can upload them onto the blog at a later date.

Steve cycled 320 miles

Steve has now completed Day 5. He's cycled over 320 miles so far taking him from Cornwall to Devon, Somerset to Wales and he is now in Shropshire.

Access to the internet is proving difficult as most places have wireless access but you need your own laptop or iphone.

He calls everyday his wife Stavroulla at the end of the ride and last night was the first time he sounded tired but hopefully after a good night’s rest he will be refreshed and ready for the 80 miles cycle to Runcorn, Cheshire. There he hopes to have better luck with sending e-mails and photos as he will be in a major town and staying in an Holiday Inn rather than a youth hostel.

Steve started his cycling

As was reported recently Steve Keyes is undertaking the task to ride on his bike from Lands End to John O’Groats.

He started his tour yesterday!

Steve had a very good day cycling from Land's End to a very picturesque seaside village called Fowey in Cornwall (64 miles in total)!

The group stopped for a break at a Cornish pastie shop where a lady spotted Steve in his t-shirt and got very excited that he was raising money for a church, so donated some money!

She told him how she enjoyed holidays to Greece and especially enjoyed visiting the churches. She herself was on her way to her Sunday Service. It's heart warming to hear this story and I am sure will be many by the end of the journey.

He didn't have access to a computer where he was staying last night but he hopes some places will have, so that he can email us and send some photos.

Today he will be heading off to Moretonhampsted in Devon travelling 60 miles.

Fundraising Cycle Tour

Steve Keyes is trying for the impossible! He is going to ride on his bike in financial support of our new Church. In his own words:

"On the 10th July 2011, I begin an ambition of mine to cycle from Lands End to John O’Groats. I will cycle through many cities, villages and counties of the UK ending my tour on July 23rd in John O’Groats in Northern Scotland. This will be an average of 71 miles a day.

On July 18th 2009 I married my wife Stavroulla at St. Panteleimon Greek Orthodox church and three days later work had begun to build a new church. This was after 12 years of planning and most importantly fund raising from the Greek Cypriot community which continues to this day.

The church had its official opening on the 9th April amongst much celebration as this was the first Greek Orthodox church to be built in Great Britain for over a century.

However, funds still need to be raised to completely finish the most special and sacred church. Therefore to spur me on during my cycle tour as my tired legs climb the hills of Cornwall, Dartmoor, Lake District and Scotland I ask you to please give generously to the Church of St. Panteleimon. Any amount will be gratefully received".

And as they say: “Impossible is nothing”.