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Bristol pair cycle to Cornwall on BMXs
Two Bristol gym instructors have undertaken a mammoth 198-mile cycle ride from Bristol to Perrenpoth in Cornwall on BMXs.
Nathan Walsh and Jack Smith are raising money for BrAMS, Southmead Hospital‘s multiple sclerosis centre.
The pair decided to undertake the charity bike ride after working with sufferers of multiple sclerosis at the BS7 Gym, where they both work.
“Everyone does a bike ride on a racer or a super lightweight bike, so we thought we’d do it on BMXs to make it harder,” says Nathan.
The pair set off in the pouring rain on the morning of June 2 from Gloucestershire Cricket County Ground, and made it to Perrenporth four days later, exceeding their £500 fundraising target.
We finally made it.Wat a feeling. Thank u for all who has helped get us here.Let the Party start on the beach 2moro. pic.twitter.com/UNhsEUukdT
— Nathan Walsh (@no1nathanwalsh) June 5, 2015
On their epic cycle ride, Jack and Nathan had to cover between 50 and 60 miles a day, the last day being the hardest. “There’s a terrific hill coming into Cornwall,” says Nathan.
“We’ve worked with patients with MS for years now,” says Nathan. “We’ve made a partnership with BrAMS at the BS7 Gym, and it’s just made us more aware of all the different types of MS there is and the challenges they face.
“Just going to the shops, for me or you, is easy but for them there’s the embarrassment that they might fall over.
“Or young people won’t go out in the evening with their friends, because if they go into a club they’ll get kicked straight out because they look drunk. There’s all those little things people don’t think about.”
The friends work with sufferers of MS up to three times a week at the BS7 Gym, at the BrAMS balance group, and the BS7 Gym-run balance group and hydrotherapy sessions for sufferers of MS.
“The main thing is their balance and their core, so we’ll work on those things with them,” says Nathan.
The pair have beaten their fundraising target of £500, but are hoping to raise more for the BrAMS centre. You can donate on their fundraising page: www.southmeadhospitalcharityfundraise.everydayhero.com/uk/Nathan