Press Release
Free B+B for Charity Cyclists at Europe’s No1 Hostel
Two groups of charity cyclist and their support teams have been given a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast free of charge by the Islesburgh House Hostel and Community Centre to help them on their way.
They are embarking on remarkable journeys that cover the length of the British Isles and between them, they will be raising money for Deafblind Scotland, the Invicta Foundation and the Colonel’s Fund,( two charities that aim to care for military personnel) and the Back Up Trust, (a charity for people with spinal cord injuries).
Bob and Louise Nolan began their 1000 mile tandem bike ride yesterday to raise money for Deafblind Scotland. They cycled from Underhoull in Unst to just outside Lerwick and will continue on to Sumburgh today before catching the NorthLink to Orkney this evening.
Bob was born deaf and has gradually become blind and his wife Louise is profoundly deaf. Whilst riding, they communicate by lip reading in a rear-view mirror attached to the handlebars.
Bob said, “Because I have such narrow central vision, when I’m on the bike the close scenery always appears to be rushing by and I can feel out of control. If we’re cycling directly towards the sun I cannot see at all and am completely reliant on Louise. On the upside, in the right light, I can look around and admire the scenery a long way away.”
The intrepid duo are cycling 1000 miles in 15 days from Unst to Sumburgh, through Orkney, the Outer Hebrides, the Western Isles and Arran before finishing in George Square in Glasgow on June 16.
Bob’s dream is to raise a massive £20,000 to build a new, national, custom-built Training and Resource centre for deafblind people. The £1.4 million Field of Dreams project will offer a resource where deafblind people in Scotland can be enabled to reach their full potential.
To follow Bob and Louise’s progress, visit their blog at www.bobstandemride2.zoomshare.com
To donate, visit Bob’s Justgiving page on www.justgiving.com/bobstandemride2
Darren Heaton, Luke Hall and Sam Treloar are taking part in a month-long cycle challenge in aid of wounded soldiers. They are cycling 1300 miles from Shetland to the Scilly Isles as part of Bertie Bear’s Long Way Down Challenge, (they are accompanied by Bertie Bear, a teddy that has seen active service in Afghanistan).
Darren Heaton is using a specially built bike to travel as he is paralysed from the waist down after an accident. He is cycling to raise money for the Colonel’s Fund, used by the Grenadier Guards and the Scots Guards, and the Back Up Trust, a charity for people with spinal cord injuries.
He is joined by Luke, Sam and Stephen Hall, their support vehicle driver, who are from the Invicta Foundation, a charity which also aims to care for military personnel. They hope to raise £500,000 for a home to accommodate wounded soldiers before rehabilitation.
They are also catching the NorthLink to Orkney tonight where they will cycle through the night to Scrabster, then through the mainland to Penzance, and plan to be in St Agnes, the most southerly part of the Scilly Isles, on 3rd July. Donations are being collected on route by Invicta and will be split between their charity and Darren.
To find out more, track the challenge’s progress or to make a donation go to www.theinvictafoundation.co.uk and click on forthcoming events, Bertie Bear’s Long Way Down Challenge.