Stranraer man John Stead is on an epic and charitable mission to cycle the coastal route of the UK, a journey of 5,000 miles in total. His trip began on February 18th leaving his home town in the west of the region, travelling across to Dumfries and across the border to England, This Saturday John should be arriving back in Portpatrck, and the public are being encourgaed to come and cheer him on.
After three months of battling storms, headwinds and traffic, John is on course to return to Portpatrick on Saturday June 1st at 4pm. John is taking on this heroic ride to support two charities dear to his heart, Encephalitis Society, his partner is a long-term sufferer, and Dumfries and Galloway Blood Bikes. To add to the challenge,John will have no support crew and will be carrying everything he needs on the bike.
The aim is to raise £13,000 to provide funds towards a new Blood Bike and towards Encephalitis Society. Along his trip, John has battled severe storms, Deirdre gave him a real beating in Wales, a swollen ankle along the south coast forcing him to take a short break to recover, and after facing winds from the south down the east coast and looking forward to a tail wind up the east coast, the weather changed 180’ and gave him a northerly headwind for the 400 miles up to Scotland! John has been joined at various points by friends, family and a few Dumfries and Galloway Blood Bike riders to keep his spirits high, including a motorcycle escort across the Scottish border at Berwick.
To celebrate the end of a truly amazing journey, John will be escorted by a fleet of Blood Bikes back into Portpatrick to a rapturous welcome and celebrations at the Mount Stewart hotel.
The public are most welcome and encouraged to come along to help support John’s return and of course his wonderful fund raising efforts. John’s partner Linda is providing regular updates on Facebook.
If you would like to donate – Johns JustGiving donations page can be found at :
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/dumfriesgallowaybloodbikes
