It's not often that I'm excited by encountering an inanimate object, but getting your hands on the FA Cup is genuinely a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Eldest son and I were determined to have the moment recorded, especially since -- as a number of helpful bystanders pointed out -- it was the closest that two Crystal Palace fans were ever likely to get to it again.
We were at FA Headquarters for a very special occasion -- a reception for Geoff Thomas's New York Marathon team. Geoff's story is well known: former Crystal Palace and England footballer, diagnosed with leukemia, makes a full recovery and -- partly inspired by Lance Armstrong -- decides to ride the route of the Tour De France to raise money for research. Having done that twice, he's still seeking new challenges -- hence the NY Marathon.
His team includes some well-known cycling figures including Brian Smith, Anthony McCrossan and Stephen Roche, who -- according to a well-placed insider last night -- has lost a lot of weight in training and is set for a respectable time.
Highlight of our evening was meeting Geoff in person -- a truly modest, inspiring man whose relaxed and friendly exterior clearly hides a steel determination.
The Geoff Thomas Foundation is aiming to raise £20 million over the next five years to fund early clinical trials of new blood cancer therapies. Please consider donating money to this excellent cause.
And somewhere after the second beer, I think I may have expressed an interest in riding London to Paris next year. Damn. Here we go again.
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