Nearly there for Ride London

It all began with the loan of a bike. My eldest son was deploying abroad and he lent me his carbon road bike to use ‘if I wanted to’ whilst he was away. With great trepidation, and under his watchful eye, I “clipped in” and tentatively cycled round the park. Almost immediately I was hooked. All those boyhood memories of whizzing down the road on a shiny red bike came flooding back – and I took to cycling in earnest.

A few months later I signed up to cycle Nightrider for a local hospice. All kinds of people got involved – from the cartoonist who designed my #richard100 logo, to the t-shirt printer who printed it on for free. Lots of lovely people sponsored, local businesses sponsored too, with me proudly wearing their logo as I cycled. In the end, over £3000 was raised, which was almost six times in excess of the figure I had expected. Another of my sons then rode it himself in 2014.

Ever since that ride in 2013, I have had my eye on Ride London. To go from Nightrider’s 70 miles to 100 miles is quite a leap. Another son gave me just the impetus I needed – Tommy’s.

As a pastor I get the privilege of stepping into life’s sweetest and most bitter moments. I get to pronounce two people who love each other ‘husband and wife’, I get to hold a new-born baby as parents beam with pride, and I get to give thanks at a funeral service for a life well-lived. One of the hardest pastoral visits I have ever made was to a side room in a hospital ward. There sat a young couple whose hopes and anticipation through all the ups and downs of pregnancy had been dashed by a premature still birth. There was a sadness and disappointment in the room which was palpable – and who could wonder at it?

Tommy’s know all about that room. They know about the sadness when it happens. They know about the crushing fear for couples where it has happened once and they fear it will happen again. They know, and they are doing something about it. They are supporting couples through the experience, and they are funding research to reduce the number of times it happens.

Training for this ride has been tough. I have cycled over 700 miles. I have made some of the steepest ascents (and exhilarating descents!) of my life. I have had to fit in training around many other needs. It has, though, been worth it. To help that couple…or another couple like them, I would willingly cycle another 700 miles – though maybe not this week!

If you would like to help the miles count, please click here. Thank you.