Richard is gearing up for the Arran Cycle Challenge!

Our fundraising hero Richard Kent has one message for people thinking of doing a cycling challenge: “you’re never too old!”. 

This is because, 10 years ago at the age of 65, Richard decided to take up cycling. At first, he was just looking to exercise more but then he saw a poster for “Spinney’s Dubai 92 challenge”. This challenge was sponsored by a local supermarket and a local radio station with just one simple task: cycle 92KM (57 miles) around Dubai. He wasn’t sure if he could do it but decided to go ahead and try anyway; what’s the worst that could happen?

Since he hadn’t ridden a bike since leaving school some 46 years ago, Richard bought a cheap bike as he wanted to be sure he had the willpower to ride a bike consistently and, perhaps more importantly, if he would even actually enjoy it. Thankfully, according to Richard, the answer to both was a resounding “YES!”

Since he was enjoying cycling and willing to take on the challenge, he traded his cheap bike in for a hybrid and then again, as his love of cycling reigned on, he upgraded again to a road bike which was actually with him until last year! In that time, he did quite a few challenges on his bike including cycling from London to Paris, Lands End to John O’Groats, three Chase The Sun challenges – a 200 mile cycle from coast to coast, and the UCI Gran Fondo World Championship in both France and Italy. 

In the past 10 years, on both of his bikes, Richard has cycled a staggering 34,000 miles and now, Richard is cycling around Arran – 57 miles and fundraising for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland. This year he is celebrating turning 75 years old and 40 years of marriage to his wife Hazel. He’s very generously asked that he doesn’t receive gifts for either of these occasions and that instead, his loved ones donate to his fundraising challenge. 

He added that he’s also doing this in memory of his father who died of a stroke in 1995, and a “dear friend” who died earlier this year following previous health issues. Like many of us, he’s known a lot of family and friends that have experienced heart attacks, even at a young age.

You can boost Richard’s fundraising efforts and help Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland support those with chest, heart and stroke conditions: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/richard-kent18

Thank you so much to Richard for choosing to support Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland!

If you’re feeling inspired and would like to change people’s lives by doing a fundraising challenge, sign up for one of our exciting events!