Support

If you'd like to see your messages of support on the website please email my web support team at grantnicolle@hotmail.co.uk

Hey grant,
i just wanted to say that i think its fantastic what you are doing. last year my boyfriend of 2 years was diagnosed with testicular cancer which had spread to his stomach, kidney and liver and the tumour in his stomach measured 10 cm.this in turn put pressure on his spine and fractured it. he was only 23 yr old at the time however now less than 12 months later he is in remission.

In December I brought a young horse from the sales and he was completely wild. i did this as i couldnt afford a older riding horse and I wanted to ride the uk for charity, everyone thought i was mad and didnt understand at all, however i have been working with my little pony and in a couple of years you shall hopefully hear about a young girl followig your hoof prints.

I wish you and your grand horse the very best of luck and I shall be gettng my whole family and friends to donate.
Best wishies

Adelle xxx

Hi Grant,
I just thought I'd drop you an email to show some support for the wonderful thing you are doing for the charities concerned It's truly inspirational. As you are traveling on the opposite side of the country from me - and that irritant called "work" gets in the way - I won't be able to come along and cheer you on from the road side - heck, if nothing else I'd have brought Marv a carrot. Though rest assured, if ever you are passing through Ayrshire then there is very large spare room with a big, soft, comfy bed in it for a weary traveller - well......... that's part of the stable block for Marv but I suppose my husband and I could rustle up something for you too He's a lovely horse, but then I'm biased, he's almost the double of one of mine.

Seriously though, if you need support for anything just let my husband and I know and we'll do what we can.

Good luck, I'll keep watching the website
Lorraine and Richard

Grant and Marv,
Just read the latest update and seen the pics – great to see you in good form, following your progress closely. Infinitely jealous that you are “out there doing it” while the rest of us are stuck in offices behind a computer screen! Love the photo of Maisie running beside Marv – looks properly airborne and suitably excited at having so much fun. Keep it up fella, looking forward to seeing you in a few weeks!
Matt, Fi and Freddie

We saw Grant and Marv riding through Paythorne on Saturday as we were riding out. They looked so fit and well - much better than we felt! Good luck to you both for the rest of the journey.
Linda & Rebecca

What a fantastic experience!!!!!!! makes my 20 mile once a week look very insignificant!! Good luck to you all and if you are near to Inskip, Preston and I can help please contact me
Janet

Hi my name is yazmina and i just wanted to tell you how great what your doing is and that marv is beautiful and you both look like your having a great time

Captain,
Well done! You're well on you're way! I'm proud to say that I've met and trained with you!! I thought you may have got Dickie involved in this in some bizzarre way!!!??? There is still time, he needs a real job anyway!!

You're a good man! you'll complete easily!! I hope you're legs hold out!
Regards, Ian Baxter

Many best wishes for your continuing journey. I have made a donation to the ILPH and would like it to be in memory of Teddy, a horse Marv would surely have liked to compare feathered feet with. an old and grand lady she has recently been put down.
Claire Gillies

Hi Grant
Just had time to catch up on your diary – what an amazing time you both seem to be having! Any sign of saddle sores yet?! (on you I mean, I would have read about Marv’s!) I have had several people contacting me to make donations for your ride, which is very kind. We even have a lady in Somerset who is going to try and get her Bridleways Group to do a fundraiser for you…
We’re all really proud of you, and hope your ride continues to be fun for you both.
Best wishes, Mel

This is just a quick note to say it was a pleasure to meet Marv and his companions! After you left Heriot yesterday, William spent some of the morning calling for Marv, how fickle because he didn't care much after their first introduction. He then promptly resumed his affair with the mare at the top of the hill who has changed her allegiance yet again! I suspect Marv will have already forgotten her and moved on to his next Beau.

I hope all goes well for the rest of your 'long trek' and I would like to encourage those that can to help where they can. This is a truly inspirational project, both causes deserve support as cancer can touch all of our lives and those who know and love horses will realize how important the work of the ILPH is.

Well done, Good luck and bon voyage, I shall keep watching the website to see how you go and donate on line.
Best wishes
Janet Craig

Dear Grant. I am full of admiration for you and Marv. What a journey! What a diary! I look forward to every installment to see how you are both getting on. I live on the coast so have no chance of meeting you on your journey so thank you Fiona for keeping us posted. You should write a book, Grant. Would love to have the strength and guts to do this. I know what an amazing bond can be built between horse and rider and the feeling of mutual trust at times can be so powerful. Stay safe and enjoy! All the very, very best.
Joanna

Hello Grant
Julie here (Fiona's mums dog sitter!)
Just been on your website - excellent. Keep up the good work, big pat to Marv. Enjoy yourselves.

Looking forward to offering some support / meeting you and Marv you arrive in this neck of the woods.
Good Luck! Julie x

Hi Grant
We have our horses at Charlene and Campbell's yard. Just to wish you and Marv all the best for your remaining journey. I'm sure Marv will have some great tales to tell once it is complete.

Hope Marv had a great time at Charlene's field. Every time I was there to see to our horses (Brandy and Goofy) Marv was flat out. I love the pictures you have of our Goofy.
All the best and good luck to you both
Sandra and Ian

Grant
Just read week one and it sounds amazing – hope it all continues to be a lot of fun. Love the pictures as well, I appreciate the difficulties of getting you both in the frame! Impressed by your basha skills and the F Bty T Shirt!
Take care, hope the sun shines!
Matt

Hello Grant, Marv, Fiona and your super wee dog
I met you today (Sunday 4 May) in the lane on the way to Struy and have since added your website to my favourites list so I can keep track of your journey. What a wonderful thing to do. I will of course be sponsoring you and Marv, and encouraging everyone else I can to do so too.
Nice to meet you. Clydesdale crosses are wonderful....I love mine, Nelly, to bits.
Thinking of you.
Dilys Hartland
XXX

Hi Grant,
Just want to say all the best for Ex Longtrot. Looking forward to regular updates on the site, and to seeing you in Melrose on the 22nd.

Don't give up, don't give in, remember we are thinking about you.

Good luck,
Jamie, Mairi and Innis

Dear Grant
I would like to convey you and Marv a successful and safe trip and a wonderful experience take care and enjoy .Kind regards pip Wallen-Priestley .

Dear Grant,
My husband, son, and I bumped into you at Pendragon Castle just outside Kirkby Stephen. How wonderful to hear what you are doing. Marv looked great! Good luck with the rest of your trip.
Best wishes
Selena, Paul, and Edward

Grant:
I own a 17 hand Percheron gelding by the name of Hook (Tinkerbelle was his mother!). His temperament is much like that of Marv; in fact they share almost the identical confirmation, after looking at all the photographs. I don't think people over here in the U.S. understand what wonderful riding horses’ drafts make.

I applaud and am humbled by what you are doing. You really need to write a book about your trek (I would buy one) and get the documentary film deal as well. My mom died with cancer in 1978, so you are and Marv are doubly special to me. I am telling every one of my horsy-friends over here to look at your web site.

Take care and Godspeed,

Rowena Parr
Little Rock, Arkansas
USA

Hi,
Ran into Grant - or more correctly Marv, the horse, outside Mottram Post Office just as they were crossing the A57. Admirable project and worthy causes. Today - very nice weather - and hope Grant gets the saddlebag mended.- Also hope the field and pitch work out OK in Hayfield .

All the very best with the rest of your journey. And hope you raise a good amount of money

Kind Regards, Dick

I just wanted to say well done I think what you and Marv are doing is amazing. All the best

Elizabeth and Lee (the water and mars bar ice cream providers)

Just found your link through Endurance GB posting - what a fab job you are both doing! There's nothing like a long distance ride to forge a relationship and wow is it a long distance one. Merv is looking really good on it judging by the photos and Fi is doing a fabulous job of Diary updates. I will be sending a cheque to be split between the two charities - the ILPH do a fantastic job and having lost both parents and far too many friend to cancer... need I say more. I know I am off route (surrey) but if there's any support needed as you get to my part of the world don't hesitate to contact.

Best of luck to you both - keep trotting on...

Maggie Pattinson
On the Hoof - Distance Training

Continued Best Wishes from all Mace team at Fettes Campus. Hope you guys are good swimmers with recent weather!
Brian Mathers
Project Manager, Mace Limited.

Hey Grant,
Just met you and your friend in Enford in Wiltshire and I stopped and had a chat to you both. I was in a silver car and you mentioned how long it had taken you so far and you were stopping at Larkhill. Well I can only say what a challenge. You (including your horse) looked well and happy. What a lovely thing to do, without people like you raising money for horses to be cared for would not happen and people would die younger. Lovely to have met you, our work team here at Netheravon have let South Today know of your journey so you may get more coverage and hopefully appear on the TV tonight. I wish you luck and hope you meet lots of nice people on the way. Will put a donation in the post to the ILPH as I am doing race for life on Sun for cancer myself.
Take care and will keep track of you on your website.
Love Jane xx

What an achievement ! I don't know what to say, save for god speed, and the safest of journeys, from person also privileged to share my life with equines. Our utmost admiration goes out to you both.

regards,
Carole and Finn,.The latter being the equine!

Dear Grant, Fiona, Marv and Maisie,
It was a very special day for all of us when we drove over, in the sunshine ( after many wet and windy days ! ) to meet you Grant, and that very special horse Marv! Sophie, Abie ( our grandchildren ) Patrick and myself really enjoyed the time we spent with you both. Thank you, and Fiona for encouraging us to meet up with you, especially as it was a rest day for you and Marv....he really is a lovely gentle horse. We shall eagerly continue to read the diary, and hope that all goes well for the rest of the trip.

With lots of love, and good wishes to you all, Susan.

Halloo Grant and Marv I wonder how far you have got and are you being kept in a good supply of licorice allsorts??? I do hope you will be met by the television people when you arrive in Lands End I will keep checking because I think you are Marvelous it is a very very long way from John O Groats and back again. I will look out for you in Somerton and keep a supply of licorice allsorts and perhaps more important carrots and more money for Grant and the horses!! Good luck to you both I hope the weather is a little better than it has been for your "longtrot".

Sheila Dale.

Grant,
What you are doing has been a dream of mine for 10 years. The horse, Figaro, has been ready for ten years and we have had a taste and loved it. But work gets in the way. Maybe one day.

Look after yourself and well done

Peter Hogan

Grant,
You and Marv have had a long journey and should be very proud of your achievement. I hope you raise lots of money for the charities you are supporting. It was a pleasure to meet you both in Enford, Wilts

Jane Avery

Hi Grant,

You won't know me but Fiona will fill you in as I'm a rider from The Drum Riding for the Disabled in Edinburgh where Fi has helped in the past.

I just wanted to let you know how interesting I found the site & knowing how much I benefit from riding as opposed to walking with sticks or using my wheelchair I know what a great benefit others will get from all your efforts.

I hope to meet you & Marv sometime

Not sure if you've reached Lands End yet but keep up the good work

Mark Headden

Would just like to say a big well done to you and marv for completing such a long journey, especially with the awful weather we have had.

You both deserve a very long rest.

Once again CONGRATULATIONS