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Biking for Bowels; Henley-on-Thames to Annecy cycle ride

£6,000

My stepson, Edward Unwin, often has crazy ideas of things we should do for “fun”. Usually, they are so crazy I don’t even consider them. However, when he suggested back in 2009 that he and I should ride our bikes from our home in Henley-on-Thames to our holiday apartment in Annecy in France, I thought I’d surprise him by saying yes, booking the dates and the hotels to stay in on the way. With the news of our 4th family member or close friend having a bowel cancer, we decided to change our “fun ride” into a fundraiser, hence “biking for bowels” was born.

We set off at 8.30am on Wed 31st March from Henley Town Hall, well supported by my wife and brother in law in the car. My friend and colleague at the Royal Berkshire Hospital joined us for the first leg to Portsmouth. A chilly 65 miler rewarded with a beer in Portsmouth before a smooth ferry crossing to Caen.
 
Our first 3 days in France covered 180 miles into a 25 mph headwind with a little rain thrown in. This took us down to Orléans and along the Loire valley – a hot cup of tea was preferred in Sancerre to the local better known brew! The last 2 days took us from the Loire in Nevers, through Macon to the Rhone valley and then up to Annecy – 250 miles in 2 days with a couple of hills thrown in. Fortunately the better weather kept us in good spirits and helped with the increasing pains in parts of the legs and just a little higher.
 
It was a fantastic feeling cycling into the beautiful old town of Annecy to our support team’s welcome in front of the Hotel de Ville in the evening sunshine. The passing cars all hooted their horns as we held our bikes aloft in triumph. A tremendous experience and we are very proud of our donors who have supported the BDRF to the tune of just over £6000.
 
Richard Dodds
Orthopaedic Surgeon
Royal Berkshire Hospital
May 2010

This page was last updated on 11-05-2010