With a little help from our friends...

While the EuroChampsChallenge concept is one that I have lived with for over five years now, it was only in the summer of 2010 that the wheels were really set in motion and it became real.  Up until then I had only ever shared the idea as a 'pub chat' discussion and I don't think anyone ever really thought I was serious.  And up until late July this year, I'm not sure I'd convinced myself that I was serious. 

As with many things in life, The EuroChampsChallenge only really came alive once it had an identity and once it's name had been spoken.  And like many things in life the initial response was generally sceptical.  This is understandable - I mean, seriously, it's not like 'I'm going to run a marathon' or 'I'm going to climb some hills'. 'I'm going to The Champions League Final... and on the way I'm going to visit 21 of Europe's biggest football teams, meet one of their stars, and raise £100,000 for charity' - it's not a normal discussion, and as charity challenges go, it's ambitious to say the least.

I have to say, however, that once people have realised that I am serious, the reception has been nothing less than tremendous.  This shows itself in many ways and the comments range from 'good luck', 'great idea, well done' through to 'how can I help?' and 'can I come with you?'.

What has been most remarkable, however, is the manner in which this has progressed.  A lot of you out there have just picked up on this and helped spread the word.  I've got some great friends who have great friends and between them they've opened some doors to some pretty impressive places.  There are also a number of people who I ain't seen for long time; guys who I haven't spoken to years, but for whatever reason have gone out of their way to help. 

I'd like to just take a minute and tell you about one example.  In September I wrote to the various embassies in a number of the countries we are due to travel through, and to the British Consulates in these countries.  We needed to find out about the laws and regulations for travelling through these countries, and to be aware of what would be required at border crossings.  As I noted in an earlier blog, key to the success of this challenge has been the 'cheeky requests'; in my letter to the British Ambassador for Croatia I asked if he happened to know the likes of Suker, Boban, Boksic or Prosinecki - not ever expecting to gain anything from it.

A man called Chris at the British Embassy in Zagreb then got in touch, and 6 weeks later we had a lunch date organised with Robert Prosinecki.  Genuinely remarkable.  The reason I use this example is that here is a guy we've never met, who doesn't know us and who's 1,500 miles away.  But nevertheless, he looked into what we are doing and why we're doing it, and then went out of his way to help us.

Chris, and all of the rest of these people - you know who you are - have been instrumental in the successes we have achieved to date, and we would not have got this far this quickly without you. And neither will we achieve what we have set out to achieve without your continued support.  It is you people who are now making this real.  Thank you.  We'll do our best not to let you down.