Andrew Cooper , Cyclist, Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge Team 2008

image: Andrew Cooper, cyclist with Square to Square team 2008

Cyclist profile - Andrew Cooper

The team currently comprises of ten cyclists, including a guest cyclists from Wight Mountain, Newport, British Cycling and the Carisbrooke Schools Sports Partnership.

 

  • Date joined the IW Fire & Rescue Service: October 2001

    Current Role: Firefighter (Control), Isle of Wight Fire Control Centre, Newport

 

 

About Andrew

  • Nicknames: - How many do you want? Here goes... Coop Dogg, Coops, Somerset, Stipe, Willo, Pasty Pete

    Age: 40

    Status: single

    Kids: none

    Interests/Hobbies: In my 'spare' time: listening to music, reading, with an Apple Mac: HDV post production, graphic design, web design. Cycling (I'm addicted!), squash, fitness, going to the cinema, eating out/socials with family, friends and colleagues.

    Favourite Food: Spaghetti bolognaise/pizza, chocolate pudding and chocolate custard, 85% cocoa dark chocolate - Green and Black's. Not forgetting the finest roast chicken dinner from Mum. ;o) (Mums always make the best!).

    Post cycle ride snack: wholemeal bread, banana and Mary Case Isle of Wight Honey sandwich - mmmmmm.

    Favourite Drink: Water/Milk or if alchoholic mine's an ice cold lager or Smirnoff and diet coke.

  • I would describe myself as: Loyal, dependable, hard-working, considerate, kind and far too generous. A perfectionist.

  • Who inspires me:

  • Elite wheelchair athletes (these are just amazing athletes and their achievements are outstanding). Sir Ranulpf Fiennes and Dr Mike Stroud.

  • Lance Armstrong.

  • Paula Radcliffe.

  • Sir David Attenborough.

  • Anton Corbijn (photographer/film maker).

  • Don McCullin (photographer).

  • Woody Harrelson

  • (see 'Thoughts from Within below).

  • My philosophy: Never take anyone or anything for granted. Keep listening and learning.

  • On thing I always carry with me: No one thing.

  • Distinguishing features: Wingnuts for ears.

  • Bad habits: Too generous with my time and money. I don't tolerate fools. Being a perfectionist.

  • Likes: Thoughtful, generous, kind and considerate individuals. Gadgets. Anything from Apple or Adobe. Great photography/music and film production.

  • Dislikes: Bad manners, arrogance, selfishness, bigotry, disloyalty, lack of integrity.

  • I've little time for politicians (they've destroyed their own profession with their dishonesty, lack of integrity and constant spin, along with their philisophy of 'If it ain't broke, fix it.'). Whether national or local they never fail to disappoint.

  • Paparazzi and all that they and the gutter press stand for.
  • Anything produced by Microsoft (just take a look at Vista) or Murdoch.

    My favourite actor is: Ewan McGregor

  • My favourite actress is: Kate Blanchett

  • Favourite film: 'The Meaning of Life' or ''Star Wars'

  • Favourite TV Programme: Qi, Mock the Week, Have I Got News for You

  • All-time favoute song: 'It Doesn't Really Matter' - George Michael ('It Doesn't Really Matter' from Older, 1996):

  • Closely followed by 'If You Were My Woman' written by Gloria Jones; Clay McMurry; Pamela Sawyer:

  • Amy Winehouse - Love is a Losing Game:

  • Favourite Band: Human League

  • Favourite Male Singer: A very close call between:

  • David Sylvian

  • Justin Timberlake

  • George Michael

  • Seal

  • David Gray

  • Favourite Female Singer: kd lang

  • First Gig: George Michael - Cover to Cover Tour 1991, Wembley Arena

  • Best Gig: , Diana, Princess of Wales - A Concert for Hope, 1992, Wembley Arena featuring Mick Hucknall, kd lang, George Michael - a stunning concert.

  • Dream car: Honda FCX

  • Most treasured possession: Sight and hearing. Apple Mac Pro and OSX - a reliable, creative workstation (the 'mutts nuts').

  • Favorite Books: 'Survival of the Fittest' by Mike Stroud, ISBN-10: 0224075071

  • 'Not on the Label' by Felicity Laurence, ISBN-10: 0141015667
  • Favorite Quotes:
  • "You gonna make the rich man richer or you gonna stand your ground"

  • "The universe itself keeps on expanding and expanding
    In all of the directions it can whizz
    As fast as it can go, at the speed of light, you know,
    Twelve million miles a minute, and that's the fastest speed there is.
    So remember, when you're feeling very small and insecure,
    How amazingly unlikely is your birth,
    And pray that there's intelligent life somewhere up in space,
    'Cause there's bugger all down here on Earth."

  • "He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy."

  • "If you wake up and don't want to smile,
    If it takes just a little while,
    Open your eyes and look at the day,
    You'll see things in a different way.
    Don't stop, thinking about tomorrow,
    Don't stop, it'll soon be here,
    It'll be, better than before,
    Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone."

  • "Suddenly my life is like a river
    Taking me places I don't want to go
    But like all good men who swim too well
    It takes all that I have just to cry for help"

  • "Don't seem to have that much to show
    For all the hard work, the sweat and toil
    You say 'well that's right', and you should know
    You've been there before
    You've basked in the glow
    You've stood in the roar
    You've tasted the snow"

On the Challenge

On the Challenge: - This is the second Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge I have been involved with (previously organising and support for SQ2SQ 2005), followed by organising and support for the Wight Extreme Hike in 2006.

This SQ2SQ challenge has gone from strength to strength, capturing peoples' attention, getting them involved and is succeeding in raising many thousands of pounds for charity, beyond our wildest dreams. The frantic pace, huge amount of time and work associated with and being devoted to organising and promoting the challenge is proving its worth.

There are few people who have not been touched by cancer, whether family, friends or colleagues. It can be a devastating disease, but I sincerely hope that in a little way our efforts are going some way to helping folks deal with the disease that confronts them, with the hope that they can pull through.

At the very least it is to ensure that they can and should receive treatment on the Island as much as possible, with the comfort of not having to travel to the mainland, whilst being surrounded by their family and friends for the support they so need.

I have the pleasure of working with a team (both the SQ2SQ team and a group of extremely enthusiastic volunteers) who are contributing a huge a amount of time and effort into training, organising and promoting the challenge, with the aim of raising thousands of pounds for charity.

Collectively they also have the single aim of ensuring that all of the cyclists in the team can realise their aim of giving their best and utmost effort into successfully completing the challenge. None of us are professional athletes or cyclists and this is going to be a very demanding challenge, both physically and mentally.

The team spirit is second to none.

The support from colleagues in the Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service and Isle of Wight Council is and continues to be superb, along with of course the public. Thank you.

Last but not least, thanks and love goes to my family and friends for the continuing and enduring support which is never taken for granted; especially important during the hectic schedule that is ongoing during a SQ2SQ event. See some of you in Rome!

Roll on September 2008!

(April 2008)

Odds on completing the challenge: The challenge is going to be extremely challenging and possibly life changing. Whatever the outcome for me personally, it will be the culmination of over a year of my life working towards our aim.

If this challenge is anything to match SQ2SQ 2005 (and so far during preparation it has been superb) then it will a fantastically rewarding experience.