Mike Brown from Plymstock – who is currently living in Mystic, Connecticut, USA – is cycling over 17 miles a day for 188 days to raise funds for Children’s Hospice South West.
His marathon effort is in memory of his son Oliver who died in November 2019 at the age of 11 after a three year journey with a rare blood cancer.
Oliver and his family were supported by Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) at its Little Harbour children’s hospice in St Austell.
Following Oliver’s death his dad Mike, along with mum Nicky and younger brother Benjamin, started to help raise funds for, and awareness of, CHSW to help give back to the charity which supported them through this unimaginable time.
His daily bike ride – which started on January 1 – will end on July 8, the start date of CHSW’s Ride for Precious Lives. In that time he will have covered 3215 miles – the equivalent distance between his current home in Mystic and CHSW’s base at Charlton Farm in Bristol.
In July 2021 Mike and 10 friends took part in the charity’s Ride for Precious Lives. The three day cycling event saw them complete over 200 miles cycling between the charity’s three children’s hospices; Charlton Farm near Bristol, Little Bridge House in Barnstaple and Little Harbour in St Austell.
Since the ride Mike and his family have moved to Connecticut, but still do all they can to support the charity, including Mike signing up to cycle in Ride for Precious Lives 2022, this time with 13 other friends.
After reading about an eight year old boy who cycled a mile every day in November to raise money for the charity, Mike decided to take his training for the July event to a new level by cycling every day for 188 days.
When he started his daily rides at the beginning of January he had to cope with temperatures as low as -12C and also battle with snowfalls. But he is determined to complete his 3215 mile marathon.
“This exceeds by some margin more miles than I’ve ever cycled in any year,” said Mike.
“Including last year when I was cycling to work every day for the first half of the year, cycled in Ride for Precious Lives and entered a number of sportives!
“I feel Inspired by my boys Oliver and Benjamin, both whose lives were and are, intricately linked to Little Harbour now and forever.
“I want to do all I can to raise as much funds for, and awareness of, this vital charity which during such a horrendous time in our life, they were there, they held our hand, wrapped their arms around us and they just took us through it.”
Anyone wishing to donate to Mike’s fundraising in memory of Oliver can do so at the following link: www.justgiving.com/LordOliverBrown
