London - Paris, 17th-20th Sept.
British Association for Adoption & Fostering
When I received my trip allocation for the events that I would be working on this year, I never gave a second thought to the one labelled BAAF. With all due respect to all of the charities and organizations that I provide my services to, and there are many, I usually read up and take an interest in each one just before the trip. It would be difficult for me to retain all the information on all of the charities for such a prolonged period prior to their particular event.
When the BAAF event arrived I read their website www.baaf.org.uk with great interest. Now some of you already may be aware, but others not, I was adopted at birth. I had a fantastic and very loving childhood with my adoptive parents, the ones that I consider as my natural parents. I always have done, and always will do. My relationship with Mum & Dad continues in just the same loving way now, as it has done for the last 46years.
So what a delight to be working on this event, with the people and fund raisers for the BAAF. Of all the events that I’ve worked on this year, I would have never known that eventually by the end of the summer that one of the charities would be so close to my heart.
I never knew of the BAAF, and certainly when Mum & Dad adopted me, then their second child Daniel (my adopted brother) some 6 years later, they would have been unable to turn to anyone for help or advice. In fact having spoken at length to some of the staff and cyclists on the event, I’ve now come to appreciate what a difficult, uncertain time, and not knowing what to expect and an unsupported part of their lives, my parents probably had in the mid 1960’s.
When I returned from the event I had a fantastic family conversation about it all and today, more than ever before I thank Mum & Dad for persevering through those times of uncertainty and little outside support.
During the trip we had an evening where many of the participants spoke of their reasons for being on the trip. None more so than Nicky Campbell the well known radio broadcaster and television presenter. Nicky is the patron of BAAF and he had some fantastic words to say, along with so many of the others. I spent time talking with Nicky and we share an almost identical view of our adoptive childhoods, although and he won’t mind me telling you this, but he decided for his own reasons to explore the origins of his birth parents. I have not and have no intentions to do so either.
Nicky wrote a book called ‘Blue-Eyed Son' about his childhood, a fascinating read on adoption and of course its available at most online bookshops etc etc.
I was flabbergasted to hear some of the difficulties and hurdles involved with adoption and the outdated and very obstructive procedures involved for families wishing to adopt today, in 2010!
This is one of areas that BAAF is trying to address, amongst many others.
I sincerely wish this particular charity all the best, I hope that they continue to carry out the good work that they are already doing and that funding is always available for their cause. Who knows, I’ve worked on so many charity cycle events over the last couple of years, maybe in the future I might even ride and raise funds for this one.
Oh I better mention cycling or bicycles or something down that line!
The riders for BAAF were a great group. Now I can’t remember everybody's name, however the following stood out;
Lily The Pink - A great club rider and one of the fastest all season, a credit to your club ‘Brighton Mitre’, but PLEASE PLEASE get them to change their club kit!
Nicky Campbell & Co. - always smiling, funny and never without the camcorder. Any luck with the film of my legs?
The Scotish Ladies Commonwealth Road Cycling Team - Three extremely fit cyclists who have trained together, and rode fantastically well. You always looked so good dressed the same, hence my nickname for you.
Charles Richards - Charming and always first in the queue to buy new tyres & inner tubes!
There were others, too many to mention but all in all everyone on this trip was great.
Ok better sign off now, but as I write this (yes it’s around six weeks late) I have just finished a training day with another charity, and i have yet another ‘’ a helmet prevented this casualty from further serious injury’’ story to tell you all.
Watch this space over the next few days.
Chow Now.
