Ben Meyer and Judith Russell, looking forward to a 1,00-mile charity cycle ride

CYCLING the 1,000 miles from John O’Groats to Lands End in aid of Jersey Hospice Care is the challenge being taken on by two Islanders later this month.

Staff nurse Judith Russell and IT administrator Ben Meyer will be cycling an average 115 miles a day for nine days in the Deloitte Ride Across Britain which starts on Saturday 12 June.

Judith, who works in the Accident and Emergency Department of the General Hospital, is a keen distance runner, who regularly competes in local cross-country and road races and has completed nine marathons. But she decided that she wanted to try something different, and the cycling challenge caught her eye.

Her training had been going well, with her longest cycle ride being around 100 miles in one day, but a hamstring injury forced her to stop completely for a fortnight leading up to the event. Undeterred, she is looking forward to joining 600 others in the event, in which IT administrator Ben Meyer (27) will also be taking part.

Ben and his wife, Sarah, had been hoping to take on a cycling challenge together and had originally considered the four and a half month cycle challenge Tour d’Afrique.

Eventually, they decided on the more modest 1,000 miles in nine days, but, to her disappointment, Sarah had to withdraw because of a knee injury. She and other members of the family will be there to cheer on Ben as he progresses along the route, however.

Ben, who works for Capita, said that he had always enjoyed cycling and that this was an opportunity to pursue that in an organised event, as well as to raise money for a good cause.

While the Jersey participants will certainly enjoy some spectacular scenery as they make their way from the northernmost part of Britain’s national cycle network to the southern-most, they will also encounter some gruelling climbs – the first stage of 104 miles, for example, will see them tackle nearly 8,000 feet of climbing through the remotest part of Scotland.

The longest cycle is 130 miles on day 4 when they will cycle up and over the Lowther Hills and Scotland Southern Uplands as they head for the Lake District National Park.

At the end of each day, however, they can look forward to a camp where their tent will have been put up, they can rinse and dry clothes and any problems with the bikes will be attended to.

These luxuries will undoubtedly be appreciated increasingly as they make their way down to Penzance and then, finally, to Lands End for a good rest and a celebration party.
Anyone who wishes to sponsor either Judith or Ben can do so via the Jersey Hospice Care website, www.jerseyhospicecare.com