Since I started cycling again 10 years ago I have dedicated every second year to raising monies for local causes, focused on helping sick children. This year, I am combining that focus with Covid 19 to support the Covid 19 appeal for Children's Hospital Charity.  

At the ripe old age of 61, Covid 19 had scuppered my original fundraising plans this year to cycle across the country. I suffer with Ankylosing Spondylitis and the drugs that keep me mobile mean I have been shielding since March and am not best placed to travel safely around the country. However, on my weekend cycle yesterday, I watched a 22 year old complete the 'Everest Cycling Challenge' on 'Fiddlers Elbow' a local hill in the Peak District near where I live. It inspired me. However, I am well aware that, at almost three times is age and with my creaking body, I may fail in the attempt. It wont be for lack of effort though so I hope you can all get behind me to raise £1000 for this appeal.

The Everest Challenge consists of riding a bike up the vertical climb associated with climbing Mount Everest-8848 m of climb, or for the oldies, 29,029ft. To do this I am also going to ride up Fiddlers Elbow. To achieve the 8848m of climb I will need to ride up and down it fifty two times and will cover 285km in doing so. (For the cycling officianados-Fiddlers Elbow is 2.6km and 6.7% gradient). I anticipate that it will take me around 20 hours to complete since it took around 17 hours for my 22 yr old inspiree to finish it. That may be ambitious!!

Weather permitting, I will be looking to start the ride at around 3am on Saturday 29th August and expect to finish between 10 pm and midnight that night. I will find some roadsigns to highlight my presence and would really welcome any 'cycling buddies' on the day to accompany me for one or more of the climbs, or any roadside support. The more the merrier. I can assure you I wont be setting any speed records!

Hope you can support me!

Thanks

Colin