Riders get set for fundraising challenge

Riders Ken Wood, Martin Tillin, Peter Richardson, Andrew Haynes and Steve Robertson will be completing the ride to raise money for Medic Assist International.

The charity aims to develop sustainable healthcare for neglected communities in Africa.

Three of the group attend Peachcroft Christian Centre, in Abingdon, where they met John Earwicker, one of the charity’s executive directors.

Mr Wood’s daughter, Laura, 19, went out to South Africa two years ago to support Aids work, and his wife, Helen, who worked as an NHS health worker, flew out last year to support medical staff.

Mr Wood, 55, an industrial risk director for Ardagh Group, said: “It is about supporting the charity in whatever way we can, and if we can’t go out and work in Africa then completing this challenge is one of the best things we can do.”

The group will set off from Christ Church, in Abingdon, at 8am, and ride through Brackley and Marlborough, before stopping for lunch in Hook Norton.

In the afternoon, they will travel through Eynsham and Long Hanborough, and hope to return to Abingdon by 4pm.

In recognition of the charity, the 100-mile course will be in the shape of Africa, with Abingdon representing Cape Town, Banbury as Benghazi and Chipping Norton as Casablanca.

They are hoping to raise £5,000 to fund the rebuilding of a maternity clinic in Romogi, South Sudan, which was destroyed during civil unrest.

Maternal death rates in the country are one of the worst in the world, and there is only one doctor for every 100,000 people.

Apart from raising money, Mr Wood is also hoping the challenge will help him increase his fitness levels, after losing one and a half stones in six months.

He said: “I have been practising hard and, as a recent covert to cycling, still hold the tag name of ‘Lard in Lycra’, but the practice is changing me inside and out, so hopefully I can soon get a better cycling tag name.”

* To donate, visit my.give.net/rideforromogi