After winning £500 in a raffle organised by Amanda Cambridge at Kettering General Hospital that was raising funds for the Twinkling Stars appeal, Tom Pike made a spontaneous decision to attempt the Land’s End to John O’Groats virtual cycle challenge!
That’s a whopping 874 miles within 80 days!!
A huge thanks to Tom who raised a fantastic £1,201 for the appeal for a new bereavement suite at Kettering General, supporting parents who lose a baby.
He began the EPIC 874-mile virtual cycle challenge on 6th February just 3 days after winning the raffle prize.
“I was never a cyclist or runner.
I played football every now and again but didn’t prepare myself for the challenge as such,” explained Tom, “During the first few rides I remember thinking to myself ‘what have you got yourself in for’, it was snowing and I was riding in shorts, my chest felt like it was going to explode and this was only on an easy 12 mile ride.”
Mixing up different routes, a friend suggested that he try a circuit of Pitsford Reservoir and after just 2 hours they’d completed 3 circuits covering more than 20 miles.
“I thought this was long until day 42 came along!” adds Tom.
That was when Tom and two friends took on the Brampton Valley Way and he completed his longest distance.
This is an old rail-road now turned into a 15-mile track from Market Harborough to Northampton.
“We cycled to Northampton and back twice, totalling a distance of 62.20 miles in just over 5 hours.
The mud and rain was brilliant and good fun.”
Day 79 saw Tom complete this EPIC journey, meeting his family at the ‘finish line’ with a few party poppers and a very well-earned beer.
We’d like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who sponsored Tom on this virtual challenge.
Donations kept on coming in so that he well and truly smashed the initial £500 target he’d set.
What an incredible achievement, Tom!
Thank you so much for supporting Twinkling Stars so the hospital can create a new bereavement suite for parents to support them at such a difficult time.