A RETIRED firefighter went the extra miles when he completed a static bike ride in aid of Acorns Children’s Hospice.
Simon Baker initially set out to complete an 11 hour ride as part of the build up to his epic four-day, 311-mile cycle this summer from Solihull to Paris.
However he decided to go the extra hour in a bid to boost funds for the hospice which cares for sick children and supports their families.
The Shirley resident said: “My legs were shot after seven hours, and it was purely mental grit and the thought of not letting Acorns down that pushed me to the finish.
“Twelve hours of cranking out the pedals, with no let up, as you attain out on the road, being able to free wheel down the hills or get on someone’s back wheel and get sucked along.
“This was one hard slog and most definitely the hardest thing I have done in life.”
Simon has challenged himself to raise funds for Acorns, a charity he has supported for more than 20 years, to mark his 60th birthday in August.
So far he has raised more than £2,500 online but he said the sealed charity buckets which he had with him during the static ride have yet to be tallied up.
The challenge came about after Simon was inspired to get back on his bike after 40 years when the 100-mile Velo Birmingham and Midlands pedaled past his home in Solihull.
The event inspired him to take on his own 100-mile cycle from his home to Gloucester Quays, which saw him raise over £3,000 for Acorns.
Since then, Simon has completed two other long-distance rides in just the last 12 months.
Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care for life limited and life threatened children and support for their families from its three hospices, based in Birmingham, Walsall and Worcester, and in the community.
For more or to donate visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/simon-baker50
