A SOLIHULL schoolteacher is joining with his brother and cousin to cycle 650km from Aberystwyth to the East Suffolk coast in six days to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK.
The trio are taking on the cross country task in memory of their grandfather ‘Grandpa Colin’ who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and subsequently died from the disease.
“We watched the entire process,” said Calum, who teaches History at Tudor Grange Solihull.
“I took him to hospital sometimes and it was difficult to see how he deteriorated, becoming someone who could no longer communicate.”
Eventually Grandpa Colin went into residential care where his family could see the benefit of specialist care for those suffering from Alzheimer’s, until he eventually succumbed to the disease.
That was two years ago and Calum, his brother Alex and cousin Luke decided they would do their bit to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK.
“We wanted to do something that was meaningful, something challenging and got in touch with the charity,” said Calum, who lives in Dickens Heath.
The initial plan was to cycle the length of the Pyrenees but then the pandemic happened.
“We had to postpone everything and lost a bit of momentum, but we still wanted to do something for the charity and so decided to do it in the UK instead,” said Calum, aged 23.
The trio have since been training hard for their coast to coast challenge and are due to set off from Wales this Tuesday coming, August 24.
Mum Yvonne will be driving the support vehicle with Luke’s parents also joining in as they progress further east.
The trio have set up a Just Giving page and have set themselves a target of raising £2,000, although Calum would love to make it £3,000.
“We have had individual donations and pledges and we really just want to raise as much money as possible to fight this terrible disease,” he said.
To help the team in their efforts and combat Alzeimer’s, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/caluexchf
