Macmillan London to Paris 2016 - anyone doing it?

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Mobytek

Well-Known Member
Hopefully working it so see you there!
 
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User33236

Guest
No. Personally I have issues with events that state the following:-

" Simply pay a £150 non-refundable registration fee when you sign up online. We then ask you to pledge to raise a minimum sponsorship of £1,600 which covers your full costs."

I will be doing L2P next year but will be paying the cost myself to ensure that all the money collected goes to the charity of my (and my son's) choice.
 
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mwktar

mwktar

Über Member
Location
Merthyr Tydil
No. Personally I have issues with events that state the following:-

" Simply pay a £150 non-refundable registration fee when you sign up online. We then ask you to pledge to raise a minimum sponsorship of £1,600 which covers your full costs."

I will be doing L2P next year but will be paying the cost myself to ensure that all the money collected goes to the charity of my (and my son's) choice.

Thats a fair point, just been digging through the fine print, apparently a minimum of 63% of the 1600 (so at least 1000) goes.directly to MacMillan, and 100% of anything above 1600

Food for thought I guess
 
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User33236

Guest
Thats a fair point, just been digging through the fine print, apparently a minimum of 63% of the 1600 (so at least 1000) goes.directly to MacMillan, and 100% of anything above 1600

Food for thought I guess
In this case it means that the trip is costing £750 (£150 paid upfront and £600 being the 'missing' 37% going to the charity).

The other side of the debate, I guess, is that a lot of riders will not be able to afford to pay £750 so by using donations to subsidise the ride the charities are opening it up to more people and thus, potentially, raising more for the them.

It still doesn't sit right with me asking for donators to 'fund' a 'jolly'. IMHO any fund raising these riders take part in should come with full disclosure of the fact that up to 37% of a persons donation may be used to fund the trip.
 
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Mobytek

Well-Known Member
I can understand you positions and thoughts - and I agree.

Alos having had the opportunity to work these events I can also put a differnt view forward:

Most poeple that attempt these events are, in all honestly, not ready to do them - be it physically or mentally. The suport and administation that accompanies these events means that large discounts can be had, for large bookings -

Ferry prices are not passenger prices, but reduced bulk price. I'd be surprised if they give you anything off, even if you say you are doing it for charity.
Support vehicles - professionals can be there at all times for mechanical or injury problems. What is your back up if you come off due to a blow out, farless fixing it or getting to somewhere.
Escort group - busy roads (or even back roads can be more dangers as syslists are unexpected) in a group, with a support vehicle, lights flashing and either holding vehcles back / arranging when to pass etc. Assume the ndividual has lots of H-Vis and is aware that european drivers are VERY different to UK drivers.
Food and water - you can only carry so much - set up points where people can ridethought or stop for some food / gels / refill bottles. Whats your plan - subsist off energy bars and carry 20 odd full bottles, or buy as you go?
Reputation - (nothing personal) someone says to be that a friend of theirs is doing form A to B., self supported. How do I knoe that they arent taking anythoung out for themselves even to cover base costs at cost price? Some are honest and upfront, some will take the hit, some may take base cost plus a mark up, who know. This is a published X -Y=Z
See those chuggers out on the street - the compaies they work for charge the charity £20 - £90 per person they sign up. So you £5 a month can take between 4 and 18months to pay off the person who signed you up, before y actually "give" to the charity.

There is a hell of a lot that this goes to pay for - and running costs of the charity also add up.

Charity is anything but free.

And FYI the mechanics for a L2P get between £200 and £400 depending on the event organisers. Flat fee, no mileage, additional fuel or sustenance claims, for what is 4 days work. Leave saturday 0700Hrs from London (so probs up around 0500), they have 24Hrs to get to Paris, Ferry sometime Saturday morning, there by 0700Hrs Sunday morning, and ferry back 1100rs local Monday (sunday to sleep as you've been up for 24 / 36Hrs getting / driving there). What is included is ferry crossing ticket, and a share of a double / twin / family room with other support staff / riders (they notmally book out a complete hotel for the day / night).

300 odd miles each way = 600 return, at 400 miles per tank of fuel, £95 a tank takes tank and a half so that's £140ish aready gone, buy own food and drink (reserved for riders only!) so say you could do that for £50 for 3 days, so where's the profit .....?

Charity eh?
 
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User33236

Guest
Charity is anything but free
I fully understand the costs incurred and please excuse me for limiting most of your quote (it makes the thread easier to read for others).

Me and my son are paying our organiser over £600 each for our ride. Add to this our costs to get to London and back, hotel overnight before the start, plus expenses en route I have no argument at all with the costs being demonstrated by yourself.

We are doing this trip (independent from Macmillan) simply because we want to, it's a personal challenge, and both of us would feel bad if we thought that our sponsors were contributing towards our personal expenses. The charity aspect was a side issue but one we have become committed to for family reasons

We did look at doing it independently but the cost were nearing those of the organiser without the same level of support.

Of course setting the personal expenses barrier low will include more potential riders (and may benefit the charity overall, I remain open-minded on this). If people are comfortable doing this then so be it. I only ask that full disclosure stating donations are funding a significant percentage of their trip is made.
 
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mwktar

mwktar

Über Member
Location
Merthyr Tydil
Cheers for the extra info everyone, gave me a lot to think about.

After some research i've decided that i'm happy with the framework macmillan have. Though there were costings taken into consideration with the final 1600 to be raised, they expect usually between 100 and 150 people to do the ride, which means even if they take the maximum amount per person for their expenses, the charity will still get a minimum of £100,000 from the event, from people that may not have been able to do it otherwise.
 

Mobytek

Well-Known Member
100 - 150, that all? Got 370 doing Newcastle to London next weekend!

@User33236 none on the above was meant to be or intended to be "personal" to you and your ride, but more to the generic "lone rider" that might want to take on in a similar vein. No offence meant, and TBH give us your lin for raising and I'll sub ya for it.
 
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User33236

Guest
100 - 150, that all? Got 370 doing Newcastle to London next weekend!

@User33236 none on the above was meant to be or intended to be "personal" to you and your ride, but more to the generic "lone rider" that might want to take on in a similar vein. No offence meant, and TBH give us your lin for raising and I'll sub ya for it.
No need to apologise @Mobytek I didn't find your post personal of offensive in any way. :smile:
 

Tin Pot

Guru
Can't it be done with a ferry ticket and a hotel? Doesn't sound like £750 to me, to do it without support.
 
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User33236

Guest
Can't it be done with a ferry ticket and a hotel? Doesn't sound like £750 to me, to do it without support.
I have no doubt whatsoever it can be done on a lower budget if you do it without support. It all depends on what you want.

Me? I'd rather travel light and have support to move my luggage around etc, but then again I did calculate out a number of options before forking out for my trip.

The Macmillan figure is not unreasonable, although given the number of riders quoted above I'd have thought the enconomy of scale may have made them a bit cheaper. There may however be costs I dont know about due to having a higher rider count.
 

Crandoggler

Senior Member
Can't it be done with a ferry ticket and a hotel? Doesn't sound like £750 to me, to do it without support.

I planned it with a few mates through Dieppe. Granted we never did it, but costs looked around £120 per person excluding food and drink. £750 is outrageous.
 
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mwktar

mwktar

Über Member
Location
Merthyr Tydil
There has been a fair bit of discussion regarding this above. Especially in relation to the amount of support riders receive in terms of mechanics, moving of luggage, feeding and accommodation.

Although £750 is a lot, it is a maximum figure, and as has been said, the charity would (if this maximum was taken) still benefit from £100,000 to £150,000 in donations.

I have no doubt it can be done cheaper than this, but it's the support mentioned above that attracts so many to do it in the first place.
 
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