A Transcontinental Triumph: David’s Fundraising Blog

Nacoa simply could not be here without our amazing supporters and fundraisers. Among those who take on incredible feats of strength and endurance to raise funds and awareness for Nacoa is David, who is shortly returned from his astounding ‘self-supported’ transcontinental race across Europe. Here is his blog describing his incredible journey, and the experiences

Nacoa simply could not be here without our amazing supporters and fundraisers. Among those who take on incredible feats of strength and endurance to raise funds and awareness for Nacoa is David, who is shortly returned from his astounding ‘self-supported’ transcontinental race across Europe.
Here is his blog describing his incredible journey, and the experiences that led him to know about our charity.

David’s Fundraising Blog:

‘Reading the accounts and experiences of others on Nacoa’s website was a revelation….’

I took part in the Transcontinental Race – a bicycle race across Europe, which started in Belgium and finished in Greece. There was no fixed route. Each of the 260 participants planned their own route in advance – some opting for flatter and longer routes, others opting for more direct, hillier routes. In addition to the start and finish locations, there were four mandatory control points through which to pass in Austria, Slovenia, Poland, and Bosnia & Herzegovina.

The total distance was just under 4000km, with approximately 36,000m of ascent.  The race was entirely self-supported – there were no team cars nor support crews to carry clothes, food, spares, etc. Instead, each rider carries eveything they need or buys what they need along the way.

Aside from being a challenging race, it was a fantastic adventure – landscapes and cultures gradually changing at the turn of the pedals. Sleeping only when necessary, and eating whenever possible! I finished within 14 days, unofficially 53rd place, dropping several places during the penultimate day due to multiple punctures!

I was drawn to Nacoa after my mother’s death in 2016. After the sadness had subsided, I began to notice a weight had been lifted. I began to reflect on the impact that her drinking had had on our lives, our relationship with each other, and our relationships with others. I had grown accustomed the patterns of her drinking, and to the futility of asking her to cut-down or to seek help for the addiction.

I became aware of Nacoa only after her death, via a feature on Radio 4 during Nacoa’s awareness week. Reading the accounts and experiences of others on Nacoa’s website was a revelation. Accounts which I could empathise with from my own experience; I had a realisation that this was a much more common situation than I’d imagined.

Even though this was after her death, I found the information on Nacoa’s website very helpful to make sense of what had passed, and I know that it would have helped me had I known about it years before. I’m aware that Nacoa is a small charity which provides its essential support with a limited budget, funded via donations, and without the huge marketing budgets associated with better-known charities.

For this reason, I have vowed to raise awareness of Nacoa via future sporting endeavours. My sport of choice is cycling – I’ve ridden bikes since the age of 6, and the mix of freedom, focus, and endorphins is my sanctuary! I plan to compete in at least one endurance race each year. If a COA following a race discovers Nacoa through my cycling efforts, then that will be a bigger victory than a podium finish.

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A Transcontinental Triumph: David’s Fundraising Blog

Nacoa simply could not be here without our amazing supporters and fundraisers. Among th...

A Transcontinental Triumph: David’s Fundraising Blog

Nacoa simply could not be here without our amazing supporters and fundraisers. Among th...

  • About Nacoa

    Nacoa simply could not be here without our amazing supporters and fundraisers. Among those who take on incredible feats of strength and endurance to raise funds and awareness for Nacoa is David, who is shortly returned from his astounding ‘self-supported’ transcontinental race across Europe. Here is his blog describing his incredible journey, and the experiences

  • About Nacoa

    Nacoa simply could not be here without our amazing supporters and fundraisers. Among those who take on incredible feats of strength and endurance to raise funds and awareness for Nacoa is David, who is shortly returned from his astounding ‘self-supported’ transcontinental race across Europe. Here is his blog describing his incredible journey, and the experiences

  • Hello!

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  • Nacoa branding - style guide

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  • Contact us Person looking at Nacoa's website for people affected by a parent's drinking to show different ways to contact for support or to get involved with the charity to help other children of alcoholics

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  • Governance

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  • History

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  • Nacoa Helpline

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  • Calling the helpline

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  • Helpline FAQs

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  • Managing browser history

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  • Monitoring & evaluation

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  • Policies & procedures

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  • Our people

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  • Abie Dunlop

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  • Amanda Brett

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  • Amy Dickson

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  • Carolyn Jones

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  • Ceri Walker

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  • Dr Anne-Marie Barron

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  • Dr Piers Henriques

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  • Euan Graham Euan Graham

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  • Hilary Henriques MBE

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  • Jane Elson

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  • Josh Connolly

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  • Katy Stafford

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  • Laura Leadbeater

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  • Laurence McAllister Alleyne

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  • Maya Parker MA

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  • Peter Irwin

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  • Patrons & ambassadors

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  • The Nacoa Promise

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  • Experiences Search Result

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  • Get involved

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  • Donate or become a member

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  • About Gift Aid

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  • Become a corporate member

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  • Become a member

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  • Welcome new member

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  • Donate in memory

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  • Gift in your will

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  • Give in celebration

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  • Make a donation

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  • Thank you!

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  • More ways to give

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  • Fundraising

    Nacoa simply could not be here without our amazing supporters and fundraisers. Among those who take on incredible feats of strength and endurance to raise funds and awareness for Nacoa is David, who is shortly returned from his astounding ‘self-supported’ transcontinental race across Europe. Here is his blog describing his incredible journey, and the experiences

  • Thank you for signing up to Big Nacoa Walk 2024! Big Nacoa Walk thumbnail

    Nacoa simply could not be here without our amazing supporters and fundraisers. Among those who take on incredible feats of strength and endurance to raise funds and awareness for Nacoa is David, who is shortly returned from his astounding ‘self-supported’ transcontinental race across Europe. Here is his blog describing his incredible journey, and the experiences

  • Raise awareness

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  • Sponsored events

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  • Volunteering

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  • VOLUNTEER APPLICATION FORM

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  • Message boards

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  • Log In

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  • Message board rules of conduct

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  • Start a new topic

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  • Nacoa: Helping everyone affected by their parent's drinking Nacoa UK Helping everyone affected by their parent's drinking

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  • News & events

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  • Events

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  • Features

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  • Latest

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  • News

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  • Privacy and cookies policy

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  • Research & resources

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  • Books, videos and media

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  • Nacoa professionals training

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  • Nacoa publications

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  • Research

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  • Widening Access

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  • Some Punjabi and Sikh parents drink too much…

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  • Support & advice

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  • Adults

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  • Books, videos and media

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  • FAQs

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  • Help and advice

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  • Information

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  • Personal experiences

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  • Children

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  • Books, videos and media

    Nacoa simply could not be here without our amazing supporters and fundraisers. Among those who take on incredible feats of strength and endurance to raise funds and awareness for Nacoa is David, who is shortly returned from his astounding ‘self-supported’ transcontinental race across Europe. Here is his blog describing his incredible journey, and the experiences

  • FAQs

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  • Help and advice

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  • Information

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  • Personal experiences

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  • Concerned others & professionals

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  • Books, videos and media

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  • FAQs

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  • Help and advice

    Nacoa simply could not be here without our amazing supporters and fundraisers. Among those who take on incredible feats of strength and endurance to raise funds and awareness for Nacoa is David, who is shortly returned from his astounding ‘self-supported’ transcontinental race across Europe. Here is his blog describing his incredible journey, and the experiences

  • Information

    Nacoa simply could not be here without our amazing supporters and fundraisers. Among those who take on incredible feats of strength and endurance to raise funds and awareness for Nacoa is David, who is shortly returned from his astounding ‘self-supported’ transcontinental race across Europe. Here is his blog describing his incredible journey, and the experiences

  • Personal experiences

    Nacoa simply could not be here without our amazing supporters and fundraisers. Among those who take on incredible feats of strength and endurance to raise funds and awareness for Nacoa is David, who is shortly returned from his astounding ‘self-supported’ transcontinental race across Europe. Here is his blog describing his incredible journey, and the experiences

  • Young people

    Nacoa simply could not be here without our amazing supporters and fundraisers. Among those who take on incredible feats of strength and endurance to raise funds and awareness for Nacoa is David, who is shortly returned from his astounding ‘self-supported’ transcontinental race across Europe. Here is his blog describing his incredible journey, and the experiences

  • Books, videos and media

    Nacoa simply could not be here without our amazing supporters and fundraisers. Among those who take on incredible feats of strength and endurance to raise funds and awareness for Nacoa is David, who is shortly returned from his astounding ‘self-supported’ transcontinental race across Europe. Here is his blog describing his incredible journey, and the experiences

  • FAQs

    Nacoa simply could not be here without our amazing supporters and fundraisers. Among those who take on incredible feats of strength and endurance to raise funds and awareness for Nacoa is David, who is shortly returned from his astounding ‘self-supported’ transcontinental race across Europe. Here is his blog describing his incredible journey, and the experiences

  • Help and advice

    Nacoa simply could not be here without our amazing supporters and fundraisers. Among those who take on incredible feats of strength and endurance to raise funds and awareness for Nacoa is David, who is shortly returned from his astounding ‘self-supported’ transcontinental race across Europe. Here is his blog describing his incredible journey, and the experiences

  • Information

    Nacoa simply could not be here without our amazing supporters and fundraisers. Among those who take on incredible feats of strength and endurance to raise funds and awareness for Nacoa is David, who is shortly returned from his astounding ‘self-supported’ transcontinental race across Europe. Here is his blog describing his incredible journey, and the experiences

  • Personal experiences

    Nacoa simply could not be here without our amazing supporters and fundraisers. Among those who take on incredible feats of strength and endurance to raise funds and awareness for Nacoa is David, who is shortly returned from his astounding ‘self-supported’ transcontinental race across Europe. Here is his blog describing his incredible journey, and the experiences

  • Topics

    Nacoa simply could not be here without our amazing supporters and fundraisers. Among those who take on incredible feats of strength and endurance to raise funds and awareness for Nacoa is David, who is shortly returned from his astounding ‘self-supported’ transcontinental race across Europe. Here is his blog describing his incredible journey, and the experiences

Nacoa simply could not be here without our amazing supporters and fundraisers. Among those who take on incredible feats of strength and endurance to raise funds and awareness for Nacoa is David, who is shortly returned from his astounding ‘self-supported’ transcontinental race across Europe.
Here is his blog describing his incredible journey, and the experiences that led him to know about our charity.

David’s Fundraising Blog:

‘Reading the accounts and experiences of others on Nacoa’s website was a revelation….’

I took part in the Transcontinental Race – a bicycle race across Europe, which started in Belgium and finished in Greece. There was no fixed route. Each of the 260 participants planned their own route in advance – some opting for flatter and longer routes, others opting for more direct, hillier routes. In addition to the start and finish locations, there were four mandatory control points through which to pass in Austria, Slovenia, Poland, and Bosnia & Herzegovina.

The total distance was just under 4000km, with approximately 36,000m of ascent.  The race was entirely self-supported – there were no team cars nor support crews to carry clothes, food, spares, etc. Instead, each rider carries eveything they need or buys what they need along the way.

Aside from being a challenging race, it was a fantastic adventure – landscapes and cultures gradually changing at the turn of the pedals. Sleeping only when necessary, and eating whenever possible! I finished within 14 days, unofficially 53rd place, dropping several places during the penultimate day due to multiple punctures!

I was drawn to Nacoa after my mother’s death in 2016. After the sadness had subsided, I began to notice a weight had been lifted. I began to reflect on the impact that her drinking had had on our lives, our relationship with each other, and our relationships with others. I had grown accustomed the patterns of her drinking, and to the futility of asking her to cut-down or to seek help for the addiction.

I became aware of Nacoa only after her death, via a feature on Radio 4 during Nacoa’s awareness week. Reading the accounts and experiences of others on Nacoa’s website was a revelation. Accounts which I could empathise with from my own experience; I had a realisation that this was a much more common situation than I’d imagined.

Even though this was after her death, I found the information on Nacoa’s website very helpful to make sense of what had passed, and I know that it would have helped me had I known about it years before. I’m aware that Nacoa is a small charity which provides its essential support with a limited budget, funded via donations, and without the huge marketing budgets associated with better-known charities.

For this reason, I have vowed to raise awareness of Nacoa via future sporting endeavours. My sport of choice is cycling – I’ve ridden bikes since the age of 6, and the mix of freedom, focus, and endorphins is my sanctuary! I plan to compete in at least one endurance race each year. If a COA following a race discovers Nacoa through my cycling efforts, then that will be a bigger victory than a podium finish.

You are not alone

Remember the Six "C"s

I didn’t cause it
I can’t control it
I can’t cure it
I can take care of myself
I can communicate my feelings
I can make healthy choices

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