UPDATE -- We had a lot of fun, sunshine, a few mishaps and cycled 60 miles in all... to see how it went head to the bottom of this page where you’ll find some photos and videos following our ride - you’ll need to click on each of the 14 individual posts in turn to view them properly -- UPDATE

We've completed the ride but further donations to these brilliant charities are gratefully received and can be given until this page expires.
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Hi, thank you for coming on here… Kip and I, on his specially-adapted tandem bike, along with Miller and Lee, challenged ourselves to a 60 mile ride over Good Friday and Easter Saturday... the furthest distance we've ridden on the tandem together in one stretch - and we completed it!

We did our Big Bike Ride to fundraise for 4 small charities that help to finance specialist equipment like trikes, buggies and wheelchairs for disabled children - and which all recently helped me to get Kip's adapted tandem that we'll be riding on. They are 'Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation', 'Elifar Foundation', 'AFK' and 'Children Today' - you can click on their logos above to find out more about them. All donations are equally shared between these 4 charities.

WHY DID WE WANT TO DO IT FOR THESE CHARITIES?

Growing up my bike was the best thing I owned (who am I kidding, probably still is), I used to race round our village pretty much every day with my friends. Our teenage son, Miller, likewise loves cycling and rides regularly for his paper round, on long rides to burn some energy or just out perfecting his jumps, wheelies and skids. It’s an everyday activity we take for granted.

Our younger son Kip is 9 years old and has a rare chromosome disorder called 'Phelan-McDermid Syndrome' and is also Autistic. His disabilities have meant that, although when smaller he could sit in a bike trailer, he hasn't had the equal opportunity or means to access cycling himself - that sense of freedom and independence, the camaraderie of riding along with friends and family, the confidence of making an uphill, the joy of freewheeling downhill, the wind-in-your-hair type thrill that cycling for pleasure gives you... I was keen to somehow make it happen for him too.

Understanding Kip’s complex support needs I looked into differently adapted, electric tandems designed specifically for children with significant disabilities to be supported to be on a bike and happened upon one that would meet his variety of needs… invariably an inclusive bike like this had a huge price tag… we were only able to fund part of the cost ourselves so, with fingers crossed, I applied for grants with a number of charities to raise the rest of it...

And that’s where the 4 charities that we're fundraising for here came in, they were each very generous raising funds on our behalf. Together, last October, we were able to present Kip with his innovative, adapted tandem bike that will last him years and he absolutely loves being out and about on it!

It's amazing that small charities like these exist - because of them Kip was able to get a bike that met his needs and for him to experience all the physical, social and well-being benefits that come from cycling. The charities rely on donations to provide financial help to buy highly specialist equipment that enhances the everyday lives of disabled children, that are otherwise unaffordable to most families.

THE RIDE

60 miles over 2 days - 1.5 mile home to station; train to Guildford; 37 miles from Guildford to Shoreham on the 'Downs Link’; 20 miles from Shoreham to Littlehampton on the Coastal Path and some roads; train back; 1.5 mile home.