Rustington home joins in Route 66 cycle challenge

Residents at Leonard Cheshire home St Bridget’s worked together with those at three of the charity’s other homes to cover 2,500 miles, raising money for inclusive cycling equipment to use indoors and outdoors.

All full-time wheelchair users, the cyclists used specially-adapted static therapy bikes and accessible bikes at the home.

Susan Uncles, physiotherapist, said: “People at St Bridget’s loved the Route 66 Challenge. Lockdown was a very difficult time for us all and it was great having a diversion from the extra pressures of the virus.

“It brought everyone in the home together – those participating and those supporting all kept track of progress along the route.

“As a passionate cyclist myself, I know cycling brings great health benefits and we need access to new specialised bikes. The two existing bikes are easily the most popular physio equipment. Being pretty old and very well used, they desperately need updating, so the funds raised are very gratefully appreciated.”

The virtual journey from the east coast in Chicago to the west coast in Santa Monica, California, took two months and raised £763.

Daphne Allsop, a St Bridget’s resident, said: “This challenge was a really good idea, involving a lot of people who were able to take part. Now I’m glad to get to the end!”

The challenge was organised by Dave Evans, who lives at Gloucestershire House in Cheltenham, and the key contributions from his home, Fryers House in Hampshire and Symonds House in Hertfordshire enabled the residents to form new friendships during lockdown.

Dave said: “The achievement from people who face so many daily challenges cannot be underestimated. People have enthusiastically embraced the team spirit and have felt more in touch with people across the country, too.

“We wanted to create new connections and boost morale. We wanted to improve our physical fitness and have a bit of fun. And it’s working really well. It has been an honour to ride alongside so many champions.”

He checked in remotely with his cycling friends and tracked the progress on a virtual map, pointing out key landmarks along the way.

Sarah Grout, regional fundraising executive at Leonard Cheshire, said: “The teamwork provides great motivation, with friendships being formed across the country as a direct result.

“The project shows the importance of physical activity and the joy of cycling, whether on static therapy bikes or adapted accessible bikes. This specialist equipment is costly and needs constant servicing and replacement.

“Funds raised through the challenge will help buy and maintain cycling equipment for all the homes involved, meaning in future more people can experience the benefits of cycling.”

Visit justgiving.com/route66virtualcycle to make a donation.

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Stay safe, and best wishes.