Eighty four year old veteran cyclist Gerard McCarten of Whitehaven
aims to send TEN THOUSAND kisses to the NHS Doctors and Nurses,
Emergency Services and Community Nurses and Carers in Cumbria and
the North East.
Gerard and his wife Margaret owe so much to all the caring professions
for their care and dedication over the past 2 decades.
Gerard is surviving prostate cancer detected at the turn of the century,
then. had a heart arrythmia attack in 2016 while on his regular cycle
ride. Three samaritans in Cleator Moor called the emergency service and
made sure he remained conscious until they arrived. He now rides with
an angel on his shoulder in the form of a defibralator.
In 2020 Margaret was returned home from hospital for paliative care
and needed both Ambulance and Fire crews for the transition, which
caused quite a stir for the neighbours. Margaret remains confined to bed
and needs care from the ‘Care in the Community Teams’.
Now, at 12:20 on Monday 20 March, and, using the power of a radio
transmitted heartbeat, Gerard aims to cycle for 100 minutes and
maintain a heart rate of 100 beats per minute for the duration of his
effort.

Ten thousand heart beats will be transmitted over the ethernet to all the

Doctors, nurses and carers in the community. Each heart beat is a kiss

and a hug from Margaret and Gerard to say ‘THANK YOU’ .
( there are two components to a heart trace, I’m told)
A Cardiosport monitor will transmit the heartbeat and STRAVA will
send the signal world wide.

“Yellow Jersey”
(Former Correspondent to Cumbria News)