The EMBO Cycle Ride Across The USA

2012-03-16T06:36:00.002-07:00

Matt sets off for US marathon cycle ride
By Jenni Horn
Medway Messenger Friday Edition
16 Mar 2012

A COUPLE are preparing for the ultimate cycling challenge in memory of their daughter and people in Medway have been making sure they give them a good send off. Matt Loughrey, from St Mary’s Island, Chatham, is cycling 2,500 miles across America in...read more...

2012-03-09T03:11:00.000-08:00

Wonderful support helped Emma cope

Medway Messenger Friday Edition
9 Mar 2012

EMMA Toms’ beaming smile hides a gruelling eight-month battle with cancer. The brave five-year-old was diagnosed with a tumour in her kidney, known as Wilms, last June. The Featherby Infant School pupil, Gillingham, pupil was admitted to hospital when...read more...

Tech Tags: Medway Messenger Friday Edition newspaper Deadly Substance Was Left By Rail Line

2012-03-02T08:49:00.003-08:00

Husband and wife team in top gear for cycle trip
By Jenni Horn
Medway Messenger Friday Edition
2 Mar 2012

THEY say behind every great man there lies a woman. And that is certainly true of Matt and Caroline Loughrey. In less than three weeks, Matt is embarking on the ultimate cycling challenge – crossing America in just 21 days. There to support him...read more...

Tech Tags: Medway Messenger Friday Edition newspaper Herald Disaster – 25 Years On

2012-02-17T01:10:00.002-08:00

Medway Messenger Friday Edition
17 Feb 2012

39 days to go!!!!!!

2012-02-01T13:16:00.000-08:00

Its very real now!!! 39 days to go. Am I ready? Yes and I cant wait! I have never been so excited about a challenge, this has been 2 years in the making and just like the LEJOG and the Gibraltar venture I can feel everything is coming together. My fitness is key and am working hard everyday and making sure I stay injury free. This Tee Total thing is fantastic (I cant wait for an ice cold beer in St Augustine at the end of 3000 miles) I wake up feeling ready to go.

In the past rides I have always visualised iconic moments like on the LEJOG I couldnt wait to ride through Glencoe and see the Highlands in their full glory - Well after leaving the beauty of Loch Lommond we were blown backwards for 5/6 hours as we struggled to get into Ft William. Again going over the Pyrenees was a dream - No it wasnt, we were drenched, freezing and couldnt wait to get into the next town. So I hope that long straight road through the desert flanked by cactus and pure blue sky isnt going to dissapoint me!

The flight from Heathrow will get us into San Diego for 8pm local time, by the time we clear the terminal and pick up the hire car etc it will be the best part of 10pm. Jetlag hopefully wont be an issue as I will hopefully sleep on the flight (If we get some leg room and we are not next to the toilets and a 6 month old baby that is trying to tell her mum that her ears hurt, she is hungry or needs winding by crying continuously for 11 hours)

The plan is that I get the bike put together the next morning and give it a little test ride before some lunch and then weather permitting and all ok I will steal about 50/60 miles of the first leg.

Charity of the Year 2012

2012-01-14T14:32:00.001-08:00

Emily’s memory will keep me going on epic ride

Medway Messenger Friday Edition
13 Jan 2012

EMILY Loughrey was diagnosed with cancer while on a trip of a lifetime around Australia with her best friend. She died in June 2007, 10 days after her 22nd birthday. Since her death, her parents Matt and Caroline and youngest daughter Jessica, 22,...read more...

Tech Tags: Medway Messenger Friday Edition newspaper Charity Of The Year

2011-12-25T04:28:00.003-08:00

A show of caring by Brownies

Medway Messenger Friday Edition
9 Dec 2011

YOUNG performers showed off their hostess and entertaining skills while raising £397 for a good cause. The 1st Rainham Brownies staged a Christmas talent show in aid of the Embo Coast to Coast Appeal. The show was part of CLIC Sargent’s...read more...

Tech Tags: Medway Messenger Friday Edition newspaper Medway Messenger In The Community

2011-12-25T04:19:00.001-08:00

Help floods in for dad ahead of challenge
By Jenni Horn jhorn@thekmgroup.co.uk
Kent Messenger Sittingbourne
25 Nov 2011

A FAMILY firm has given a fundraising dad a push as he prepares for a cycle trek across America. Matt Loughrey, of St Mary’s Island, Chatham, is set to pedal 2,500 miles in just 21 days to raise money for CLIC Sargent in memory of his daughter...read more...

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Latest Medway Messenger News

2011-11-25T11:50:00.001-08:00

Help floods in for dad ahead of challenge
By Jenni Horn
Medway Messenger Friday Edition
25 Nov 2011

A FAMILY firm has given a fundraising dad a push as he prepares for a cycle trek across America. Matt Loughrey, of St Mary’s Island, Chatham, is set to pedal 2,500 miles in just 21 days to raise money for CLIC Sargent in memory of his daughter...read more...

Tech Tags: Medway Messenger Friday Edition newspaper Matt’s Coast To Coast Mission

2011-11-25T11:46:00.000-08:00

2011-11-16T14:16:00.001-08:00

Medway Messenger Friday Edition
28 Oct 2011

2011-11-16T14:12:00.000-08:00

Team picks CLIC Sargent for 2012

Medway Messenger Friday Edition
11 Nov 2011

CLIC Sargent has been chosen as the Medway Messenger’s Charity of the Year for 2012. It continues our link with the children and young people’s cancer charity which started when we first backed the Embo campaign, in memory of Emily Loughrey, who died...read more...

Tech Tags: Medway Messenger Friday Edition newspaper Remembrance Day

2011-10-29T04:39:00.000-07:00

Medway Messenger Friday Edition
28 Oct 2011

EN-VI - Update

2011-10-16T09:55:00.000-07:00

Fantastic News!

Theo Page who works for The Sun Newspaper group gave us a donation of £250. Theo and his colleagues regularly donate and support many good causes. We are very grateful for their support.

The other highlight of the week is that Leanne Page and her colleagues at EN-VI hairdressers in Chatham are holding a Hair and Beauty Event for CLIC Sargent and Coast to Coast on 4^th November 2011. The event will commence at 3pm and clients will be treated to a wide range of treatments at a greatly reduced cost, all proceeds going to CLIC.

Texas Moon

2011-10-09T10:54:00.000-07:00

Fantastic night with Paul and Penney from Texas Moon in Rochester. £1000 raised for the EMBO campaign. Thank You x

Medway Messenger launch new EMBO Challenge

2011-09-11T07:17:00.000-07:00

All the latest EMBO Challenge news from the Medway Messenger can be viewed on our Medway Messenger Page

2011-08-26T11:02:00.000-07:00

In cycling terms this is the Holy Grail - to cycle across America - every cyclists dream.

Since losing our eldest daughter Emily Rose to a wild form of cancer we (The family Loughrey, friends old & new) have been fundraising for CLIC Sargent. This Young Persons cancer charity specialises in supporting children and young people with cancer, and their families, every step of the way.

My previous bike rides include Lands End to John O Groats and Chatham to Gibraltar. Both rides were both exciting and challenging to plan, however even more incredible and fulfilling to do.

On this ride I will be supported by my wife Caroline, she will be driving the support vehicle, navigating and doing all the organising and troubleshooting. The ride will be in late March/early April 2012 and I plan to cover the distance between San Diego to St Augustine in 20 days. Each stage will be approx 130-150 miles.

Whilst planning this ride I have found some really good resources on the web of which I have listed. My route isnt 100% concrete as it has been done from GOOGLE Maps and Street view with references from 'The man who cycled the world' - Mark Beaumont and Adventure Cycling Association however, it isn't going to be too far off the mark.

I hope you find this blog useful as I add more information and resources in my planning process.