Cranfield, Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, England, United Kingdom
Charity Cycling Campaign 2020
Rides for the Willen Hospice - Milton Keynes
I often ride around Cranfield and the local area in my Willen Hospice jersey. This year, I was doing well until I got Bronchitis followed by a bad virus. I managed to continue cycling on my turbo-trainer using Zwift online for a while. I was able to get back on the road occasionally but had lost some fitness and endurance capacity. My latest charity fundraising rides took place on 25/26/27 September for the Milton Keynes based Willen Hospice for their Extra-Mile 2020 challenge. I rode over 20 miles each day and donated the target of £100 in addition to the £40 entry fee and Virgins charge for money processing of about £4.50. The rides went well enough in 30+ mph winds. The button below takes you to my page on Virgin Money for making donations.
Pedal Revolution Winter Challenge Rides 2019-2020
In 2019 I rode regularly leading up to the 100 miles of the Tour of Cambridgeshire event in June. Then, not long after that, my first ever century ride, I decided to cycle to my annual Cancer review in Cambridge at the new Bio-Medical Campus 45 miles away. It was obviously a mistake since I never really recovered from it. Sadly, I then missed the Willen ride in September through fatigue when I was unwell. In December I made the effort to drive to Norwich and ride the 25 mile Bronze Snowflake event by Pedal Revolution from Whitlingham Park. In January I completed their 35 mile Silver Snowflake ride. Unfortunately, by February there was no way I could attempt the 50 mile Gold Snowflake ride as cycling had become quite difficult and remained so for a while.
Charity Cycling Campaigns 2018-2019
Ex-Fire Fighter Cycles height of Mount Everest & away from Cancer!
In 2018 The Fire Fighters Charity celebrated their 75th anniversary year with their #My75Miles campaign. I cycled in it with my Fire Teddy Bear mascot and raised £1,825.41 riding over 1,598 miles while climbing the bike to the equivalent height of Mount Everest, The National Three Peaks and Isle of Man's Snaefell combined.
Following my lung Cancer surgery that cost me two lobes of my right lung in October 2017, I'd started cycling again on New Years Day. I joined the fire charity's campaign on 12th February and had my first flat tyre on my first fundraising for fire crews ride on St Valentine's Day!
The first 75 miles was hard and took me about two weeks. I then added my own campaign of 999 miles for £999 by August. I got a finisher's medal for the Tour de Broads for 75 miles in a day. My story to June 21st is published in a Kindle Edition eBook on Amazon titled "On yer bike, Walker! #My75Miles
The Winton Foundation for the welfare of bears
In 2019 I also rode as 'Team Dammers' for The Winton Foundation for the welfare of bears. I published a book of my own verses about bears with the title of "Rhyme Time - In the Company of Bears" to help them raise some much needed funds. My Paperback A4 book version is still available at £9.99. It generates only £4.15 per copy due to the £5.84 cost of local printing.