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Brian (71) raises £1,100 with epic ride

Brian Kirby (71) from Belton-in-Rutland cycled from Belton to Boston, Lincolnshire to raise £310 for Chater Lodge care home in Ketton where his wife Ronnie is a resident.
Brian (71) raises £1,100 with epic ride

Brian Kirby (71) from Belton-in-Rutland cycled from Belton to Boston, Lincolnshire to raise £310 for Chater Lodge care home in Ketton where his wife Ronnie is a resident.

He then cycled a further 300 miles from Boston, Lincolnshire to Abbotsbury in Dorset (300 miles) to raise £800 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

He said: "I just got on with it and had no help from anyone which looking back is quite astonishing as people thought I would at least have a support car.

"I had no problems at all but there was one embarrassing moment when the pavements were wet from the rain and I slipped and fell over and two young girls had to pick me up."

Mr Kirby has overcome quite a lot in the last few years. His wife Ronnie has Altzheimer's Disease and Mr Kirby gave up work to care for her, but when he developed bowel cancer a few years ago she moved to Chater Lodge.

Mr Kirby, who cycles to Ketton several times a week, said: "I just wanted to prove that I could do it. You can overcome these things and get through them and I feel as fit as ever now. I can really see the benefits of cycling.

"I think a few people at the bowls club were surprised I was still standing."

Despite the odds being stacked against him and the changeable weather, Mr Kirby completed both legs of his journey in 12 days, stopping at bed and breakfasts along the way.

He said: "There were a few moments I shall never forget. I went into Sherborne Abbey and the girls' school choir was singing. It has a lasting memory and was really angelic.

"The second was in a greasy spoon and I was talking to a truck driver about what I was doing and why. When I got up to leave he gave me £5 and said his mum had had cancer and had been helped by Macmillan before she died. It was quite moving."

Although there is nothing set in stone, Mr Kirby has thought about cycling the Viking Way from Oakham to the Humber in Yorkshire.
He added: "I'm not sure if I'll do it for charity. I might just do it for fun."

The money raised for Chater Lodge which is part of the Barchester Health Care Group, will go into the residents activity fund. Manager, Nikki Cahill said: "There are so many things that we have planned such as a trip to the sea-side and activities throughout the summer.

"We're also saving for a bingo machine. The next activity we have planned is a barbecue so the money Brian has raised will go towards a range of recreational activities."