The Charity

I've told quite a lot of folk that I plan to do this ride.  I work on the basis that the more people who know, the less comfortable I'd feel if I bottled out!  And nearly everyone asked which charity I was doing it for.  That wasn't in my reasoning behind the ride - it's just my mid-life crisis.  But it made me think that maybe, I should raise money at the same time - it may be motivational to me, and if I can help a charity at the same time, then that's great.

I wanted to support a local charity and, selfishly, I wanted to be able to raise towards a specific tangible item/project, not just plough money into a large fund to be 'lost' in the pot.  So, I stumbled across the Watchtree Wheelers.  They are based at the Watchtree Nature Reserve, and have a 3 mile stretch of traffic-free cycle path on which people can hire bikes to ride.  They specialise in cycling for disabled and disadvantaged people who may not otherwise be able to get on 2 or 3 wheels.  They have a range of specially adapted bikes for hire, so cycling should be accessible to all, regardless of their disability.  They have recumbent bikes, handcycles, even one where you can sit a wheelchair on a platform, to be cycled around by an able-bodied cyclist.  This means that whole families can ride together, groups or just individuals, and it's all in a safe, enclosed rural environment.

Bob and I spent a morning with Ryan, their main man, and he explained that they were currently looking to buy a 'Cheetah' - a recumbent side-by-side tandem which would mean that someone with a disability can ride alongside an able-bodied cyclist.  This was top of their wishlist, and came in at £5K.  I was hoping to raise £2K (£2 per mile), so my contribution would mean they were almost half-way there.  I had found my charity!

The Cheetah!

www.justgiving.com/JanesBigTrip