Having battled the elements to complete the ride (as documented in Part 1), it was finally time to celebrate, have some fun, and push our fundraising well beyond the finish line.
By the time we clipped into our pedals that morning, the B2P team, our generous sponsors, and a summer of events had already bested our original target of £10,000. We were riding for Parkinson’s UK and The OddBalls Foundation—two charities close to our hearts, tackling conditions that had deeply affected the friends and family of our team.
The Brighton Beach Ball
While I’d been preoccupied during the day with simply getting my body through the cycle ride, the evening was never about me. It was a celebration of a staggering team effort. Seeing everyone gathered at Dalton’s on the Esplanade for the “Brighton Beach Ball” meant the “man-blubs” were destined to continue long into the night.
I wasn’t alone, either. I could see similar emotions being experienced by my big brother, Jason, as he thanked the friends and family who had heeded the call.
I was never a “hugger” until my reserved Britishness was pushed aside by parental hormones after becoming a dad 15 years ago, but that night, I don’t think I let a single soul leave without a slightly damp, Lycra-clad, yellow-rain-jacketed bear hug.
The Party in Full Swing
While Jason and I had been manfully inching our cycles through the rain, our little sister Gemma—ably assisted by our better halves, Cathy and Lesley—had ensured the party was in full swing by the time we dismounted. They were the engine room of the evening, making sure beverages were flowing and introductions were made.
The soundtrack began with the smooth vocals of Floss, accompanied by my colleague Chris Fitzpatrick on the piano. Plied with “liquid enthusiasm,” the crowd started a run on raffle tickets and a flurry of bids on our blind auction items. In the end, the raffle and auction alone contributed a staggering £1,500. A special shout-out must go to Lloyd Rushden Jones, whose infectious enthusiasm and generosity resulted in his acquisition of several auction lots!
Seizing the Day
The music shifted up a gear with sets from Batmilk and Soft Top, followed by Hutch—featuring Jack Pritchard and Charlie Boggs. Both Jack and Charlie had completed the ride earlier that day as part of the B2P team, yet somehow found the energy for a crowd-pleasing performance.
Finally, it was time for the speeches. Between more man-blubs from Jason and myself, Gemma steadied the ship as we tallied the final contributions from sponsors, door receipts, raffle and the auction. We were floored to announce a final total of £24,000—rising to £28,000 with Gift Aid.
Fittingly, the night closed with the thought-provoking sounds of Ideal Living. Their set served as a final reminder to seize life by the balls and never take a single day for granted.
Steady On Goes South
The memories of the London to Brighton 2025, the Beach Ball and that £28,000 total will stay with me forever, but what are we going to do next?
Now that I’ve hung up my corporate boots, I’m preparing to take the Balls to Parkinson’s mission on the road. This summer, I’m heading to the Southern Hemisphere to see how the “New Normal” looks in Singapore, Australia, and Hong Kong. I hope to meet some local groups, stretch my “Parky” legs in new climes, and prove that I’ve still got plenty of miles left in the tank.
Stay tuned for my “Southern Hemisphere Postcards” coming soon.
Balls to Parkinson’s 