‘I am not a natural athlete, but am off on 1,000-mile cycle ride’
Instead of relaxing over the Easter holidays, Bosworth Academy head teacher Chris Parkinson will be cycling 1,000 miles to Spain for charity.
He is taking on the endurance challenge not only to show to his students that they can succeed through hard work, no matter how tough it is, but to say a huge thank you to the Midlands Air Ambulance Service for saving the life of a family member.
NO SPAIN, NO GAIN: Chris Parkinson, head at Bosworth Academy, will cycle 1,000 miles to raise money for the air ambulance.
Chris’ sister in law’s brother, Dave McMahon, 46, was working on a roof in Birmingham when it gave way and he fell 80ft onto a concrete floor, suffering massive internal bleeding and breaking several bones.
He was flown to hospital and was in intensive care and rehabilitation in Birmingham for months, but is now also taking part in the bike ride to Spain.
Chris said: “It was the quick actions of the air ambulance which saved his life.
“They got him out of there and to the right place to receive treatment. It was very much touch-and-go so this is one way of saying a huge thank you to them and giving something back.”
The 42-year-old head teacher has been training for the past nine months for the challenge and says it is going to be one of the toughest he has ever taken on.
He sets off on Good Friday, starting the ride by cycling on to the ferry at Dover and off again at Calais before the hard work begins.
The pair will cycle through France for the following 10 days and end their journey in the Spanish village of Port-Bou.
“I’m not a natural athlete so it’s been really hard, especially training in the winter months and having a six year-old daughter and a busy job,” said Chris.
“I’ve certainly become fitter over the past few months, cycling around 70 miles every Saturday morning and 30 on a Sunday. I’ve even braved cycling to work wearing my Lycra twice a week, but the physical and mental challenge of this is going to be huge.
“I was always the last person they picked for the football team, but I’ve always enjoyed a bit of cycling so that’s why we came up with this idea.”
Chris and Dave will have to average at least 90 miles a day to complete the journey.
They will sleep in a camper van being driven by brother-in law David Painting, who works for the ambulance service in Birmingham.
“The van looks huge from the outside, but is pretty small on the inside so just fitting all three of us in is going to be hard,” Chris said.
The trio aim to raise £1,500 and have already reached £1,000.
Anyone who wants to contribute can do so by phoning Bosworth Academy on 01455 822 841 or via Chris’ charity web page at: www.justgiving.com/Chris-Parkinson42