A BOROUGH man has successfully completed an epic ‘up-hill’ cycling challenge to raise funds for Dementia UK.
Richard Burt set himself the challenge of tackling 100 of the UK’s toughest hill climbs in just 12 days with the aim of raising £50,000 for the national charity.
The 62-year-old took on the challenge to donate the vital funds after being inspired by his mum, Peggy, who currently battles with dementia herself at Sanctuary’s Redhill Court Residential Care Home.
Peggy has been living with Alzheimer’s for the past six years – and Richard admitted he wouldn’t want to complete the challenge for any other cause.
With some stints resulting in 13 hours of solid cycling, Richard and his team crossed travelled day and night for 12 consecutive days to complete Simon Warren’s book – titled ‘100 Greatest Cycling Climbs’.
Richard started his herculean mission on Gloucestershire’s Dover’s Hill on Thursday (August 18) before travelling through Bristol, Devon, Wales, Yorkshire the North East and Scotland.
The team then made their way back down south to Surrey via Cumbria, Lancashire, the Midlands and Berkshire.
Many well-known sites were visited along the way as the incredible journey passed through Holme Moss in Holmfirth to Bwlch-y-Groes in Wales, before finishing on Box Hill, where the 2012 Olympic Road Race took place.
Richard said: “Simon Warren’s account of the climbs really inspired me.
“I’ve done some tough endurance challenges before and every one of them has been very different so I was conscious that I wouldn’t find out exactly how tough this one was until I did it.”
“From the rain in Wales, the traffic in the West Country and the wind on the first stormy Saturday that stopped us opening the car door at the summit of Bwlch-y-Groes – we had it all in the challenge.”
With the full support of Sanctuary Care, Richard is well on the way to achieving his £50,000 target – and he was chuffed to know every penny of his efforts went to the cause which means so much to him.
He added: “My body is deeply tired in a way that only those who have done marathon endurance events can appreciate.
“But it’s been a privilege and I wouldn’t do it for any other cause, it’s wonderful to know every penny raised is going towards improving dementia services.”
