Pals in hot seat for epic cycle challenge
FOUR friends are preparing for the ultimate post-lockdown adventure by cycling the length of Great Britain.
Neil Bradbury, Keith Seaton, Sean Martin and Eddie Kohler aim to complete the 958-mile journey from Land’s End to John
O’Groats in nine days.
Their itinerary includes a visit en route to St Ann’s Hospice to raise awareness of their efforts to generate £4,000 in sponsorship for the charity, which is 50 years old in the same month.
Preparations for the bike ride have been limited by lockdown restrictions, which means the group has been unable to meet up for some time.
Neil’s 20-mile round trip from home in Cheadle Hulme to work in Manchester has helped his training.
He said: “We’re looking forward to getting back together again once rules allowing us to exercise with one friend only are relaxed.
“We’ve also had to stay local, making training more difficult.”
Neil’s wife, Michelle, is head of HR at St Ann’s, so the cyclists realise how much fundraising matters to the charity – which needs £20,000 a day to provide services to patients and their families free of charge.
Keith said: “The hospice’s fundraising activities have been reduced this year because of the pandemic and every penny counts, so we’d ask supporters to dig deep and even the smallest amount can make a difference.”
Sean, also from Cheadle, said: “We’re selffinancing the trip so St Ann’s will receive all the sponsorship.
“We’ll visit St Ann’s on day four and at least can stay in our own beds that night rather than hotels.”
Eddie, from Liverpool, said: “We’ve got long train journeys just to get there and back and will average 117 miles a day on the roads.
“It’s going to be tough and the highlight will probably be reaching the finish line.”
Rachel McMillan, chief executive of St Ann’s, said: “This is such a huge challenge and I’d like to thank Neil, Keith, Sean and Eddie for everything they’re doing to raise money for our patients.
“I am always really humbled to see the lengths our supporters go to in order to fundraise, and this challenge is definitely showing them going quite literally more than the extra mile!
“I wish them all the best, and can’t wait to follow their progress.”
To sponsor the group, visit justgiving.com/ fundraising/LandsEnd2JohnOGroats2021 ●●TO TAKE on your own fundraising challenge in aid of St Ann’s 50th birthday, visit sah.org. uk/birthday.