Fareham man gears up for 3,500-mile charity cycle

The 58-year-old will cover 3,500 miles in the seven-week challenge to raise money for hospices Naomi House and Dorothy House.

The dad-of-one has picked two causes close to his heart and hopes to ‘be an inspiration to others’.

Ian, from Stubbington, chose Dorothy House in memory of his mother-in-law, who died at the hospice in Bath, from cancer in October 2013.

He said: ‘My mother-in-law Dorothy was 82 when she died, and at the other end of the cycle of life there are young children with life-threatening illnesses and I’d like to ride for them too.’

Naomi House is a children’s hospice in Sutton Scotney, near Winchester, which looks after youngsters from across south Hampshire.

Ian added: ‘Knowing that each mile on my journey will be raising much-needed funds will drive me on and will also be a reminder that the pain and suffering I’ll no doubt experience is nothing compared to the pain and suffering of losing a loved one.’

Ian has completed a cycle challenge before.

In 1997, inspired by his father who had completed the ride nearly 10 years previously, 
he pedalled from John O’Groats to Land’s End and raised £600 
for The Winged Fellowship charity.

Although those 900 miles will seem like a drop in the ocean compared to this mission.

Ian has brushed the dust off his bike, which had spent nearly 20 years in the garage before he decided to get fit in 2014, and he’s been training hard.

He starts his journey on May 8, when he will take part in a commemorative wheel dipping ceremony in the Pacific Ocean, California.

Seven weeks later, after passing through 15 state lines, he’ll take part in a second wheel dipping celebration, in the Atlantic Ocean in Massachusetts.

He said: ‘I’m not underestimating the magnitude of this challenge but I’m quietly confident and looking forward to the end of June when my wife Sarah and my son Ben will fly into America to join me.’

To donate go to virginmoneygiving.com/usacoast2coast