Defiant Optimism - Marcia Roberts: I Was The First Woman To Officially Cycle The LEJOGLE

Marcia Roberts: I Was The First Woman To Officially Cycle The LEJOGLE

11/30/21 • 25 min

At 54 years old, Marcia Roberts set a world record by cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats and back again, which is called the LEJOGLE.
It took her 11 days, 13 hours and 13 minutes to do the incredible ride, and she was helped along the route with supports, friends and family. Marcia battled a lot through the ride, from Storm Francis (which came on day three) as well as saddle sores and a lack of sleep.
She's raised more than £10,000 for her local mental health charity, Mind.
Hear our chat with Marcia, where she talks about what got her through, the kindness of strangers, smashing her fundraising target, and her nuggets of inspiration for others who want to take on a challenge.
CHAPTER MARKERS:
0.55: Marcia discusses her challenge
2.36: Aiming for a Guinness World Record
5.45: The training plan
7.20: How the ride went
11.42: A focus on charity fundraising
15.40: Getting to the finish line
18.33: Advice for others
21.29: Setting up a virtual challenge
22.30: What does defiant optimism mean to you?
23.19: Find out more about Marcia

Follow Marcia on her blog: https://mawonavelo.com/author/mawonavelo/
Donate to her JustGiving : https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/marcia-roberts2021
Support her charity of choice, Solent Mind: https://www.solentmind.org.uk/

Next Episode

Joanna Stokoe: I Swam The English Channel Solo

Joanna Stokoe raised more than £15,000 in a solo charity swim across the English Channel, completing the 21-mile swim in 15 and a half hours.
As an oncologist, she chose to raise money for the Sussex Cancer Fund and the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation – two charities that are connected with her day-to-day work with cancer patients.
She was preparing for the endurance swim for more than two years. On episode 4 of Defiant Optimism, we speak to her about what it took to train, what it's like to swim the English Channel, and how she managed to complete it.
CHAPTER MARKERS

0.00-1.40 - Introduction
1.40-2.49 - How you swim the English Channel
2.49-3.48 - The actual swim
3.48-7.06 - ’The difficult bit was the end’
7.06-10.41 - Smashing the fundraising target
10.41-12.59 - The impact on the charities
12.59-14.35 - The planning and prep
14.35-17.12 - ‘You have to think you can do it’
17.12-18.39 - Tips for fundraising challenges
18.39-21.11 - What does defiant optimism mean to you?

Follow Joanna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoannaStokoe
Support and find out more about the Sussex Cancer Fund: https://www.sussexcancerfund.co.uk/
Support and find out more about the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation: https://roycastle.org/