On Saturday 11th September 2021, Tommy Leong will take on the 25km Thames Bridges Trek Ultra Challenge, taking in 16 historic London Bridges in aid of Dementia Forward and Parkinson’s UK, Harrogate & District. Here he is telling his story, and giving us a little bit of a history lesson at the same time. If you would like to donate, you can do so here Tommy’s Challenge. And if you fancy taking on an Ultra Challenge of your own, they take place across the country, and you can find your perfect event here: https://ultrachallenge.com/
Take it away, Tommy…
Please support me in my 25k Thames Bridges Trek challenge; zigzagging over an array of historical bridges around London. I will be starting from Putney Bridge, with the aim of crossing the majestic Tower Bridge, one of the most recognisable bridges in the world, before making a beeline for the finish at Southwark Park. (N.B. To all my American compadre, apologies for the confusion this may have caused with the *London Bridge standing tall in Arizona, USA)
All the money raised will go to North Yorkshire-based charity Dementia Forward and Parkinson’s UK Harrogate & surrounding area.
Both organisations are passionate advocates of putting the needs of the community at the heart of what they do, with a Local-For-Local approach, providing expert advice and guidance, offering support and delivering services to meet the needs of people with dementia and Parkinson’s conditions, their friends and their families.
Please do give generously as your contribution will go a long way to make a real difference to those in need.
Every penny will be spent wisely and put to good use.
Trust me I know. I am a true Yorkshireman, well at least a genuine fake one.
At a personal level, I am excited to take on this challenge but also the opportunity of being a child for the day, taking in the sights, sounds and smell of the city, and some London landmarks from the ground up. Perhaps along the way quenching my thirst, fuelling my energy level by copious amount of ice lollies, pop and crisps.
The Old *London Bridge
Here’s a bit of folklore with some irrelevant and irreverent lies and damn lies about the London Bridge in Arizona USA. Can you debunk fiction from the truth?
London Bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down.
In 1968, the crumbling old London bridge was sold by City of London and bought by an American entrepreneur believing that it was the iconic Tower Bridge.
This popular rumour was ardently denied by both parties.
The deal was brokered by an aptly named agent Ivan Luckin …… Yes Luckin !
The far-sighted entrepreneur was famous for thinking outside the box or his mind, with a string of successful business ventures behind him.
Immediately after the acquisition, he was alleged to have coined the phrase,
“I should have gone to Specsavers”
He went on to dismantle the structure and shipped the cargo across the pond through the Panama Canal, then overland to its final destination somewhere in the middle of Arizona.
He re-assembled and re-constructed the bridge piece by piece over a lake, to attract potential land and property buyers to the area.
He went on to become business tycoon of his time
The moral of the tale,
“Tomorrow will be a good day” (Captain Sir Tom)
“He who dares wins” (Derek Trotter of Trotters Independent Company)
So that’s all from me. Please do give generously. I’ll let you know how the big trek goes.
Tommy
