Over the intervening years we have had around two thousand members, who have raised millions of pounds for charity. The Association itself is not a registered charity, even though the majority of members have raised money either for small, local ones or large, well-known national ones. The Association is run on a not-for-profit basis by a committee elected each year at the Annual General Meeting, and is regulated by a constitution. All full members are encouraged to participate in the running of the Association.
Members have undertaken the journey in a host of different ways. Obviously cyclists, walkers and motorists top this list but there have also been many more unusual modes of transport: for example, motorised supermarket trolley, push scooter (long-standing member Eddie Sedgemore is in the Guinness book of World Records for that one), various traction engines, unicycles, horse-drawn carriages, a Phantom fighter jet, microlight and a yacht. Most travel from one end to the other in a fairly direct route, but not all. Some include the four extremities of the United Kingdom, some the highest peaks in England, Wales and Scotland, some take the coastal route and a few extend their journey into Ireland and even the near continent.
We usually have two social events each year. The first is our annual Presentation Weekend, held in January or February at the Toorak Hotel in Torquay, where a two night stay on Friday and Saturday is offered. On the Saturday morning we hold the Association's AGM followed in the evening by the Presentation Dinner when we hand out certificates to all who have completed the journey in the previous 12 months and award our range of handsome trophies. We also have a late summer weekend and for this we move the venue around the UK so that as many members as possible have the opportunity to meet other members. In recent years we have visited Truro, York, Carlisle, Norwich, Colwyn Bay, Weymouth, Loch Lomond, Yeovil, Scarborough, Ironbridge (twice), Cardiff, Chester, Conwy, Witney, Hinckley, and Royal Leamington Spa.
Please enjoy your visit to the site. You are welcome to join our Facebook group. If you are planning an End-to-End trip, please read the Routes and Membership pages on this site, and contact our Membership Secretary and Route Advisor. We look forward to welcoming you as a new member soon.
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| Brian Dawson, Chair of the Association |