Sights are set on cycle marathon

Apr 4 2008 by Kathryn Quayle, Chester Chronicle

A CYCLING enthusiast will be taking part in a gruelling, end to end, charity cycle ride next month.

Stephen Wainwright, of Gladstone Avenue, Chester, who works at MBNA, is preparing to complete the 1800 mile cycle ride from Lands End to John O’Groats over two weeks from June 6.

He has been training hard, riding 30 miles per day on weekdays and 50 miles per day at weekends in preparation for the challenge. In the race to get to John O’Groats he will be clocking-up a massive 110-130 miles per day.

Stephen said: “A lot of people think I’m nuts, but I fancy a bit of a challenge. I’ve never done this before so it is going to be a learning curve for me.”

Stephen is set to catch a train to Penzance on June 6, armed only with his bike, a backpack and a few spare inner tubes.

Stephen is raising money for the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), a charity close to his heart.

His older brother, Karl, of Buckley, is registered blind with a condition called dominant optic atrophy. It is an inherited disease that affects the optic nerves, causing reduced visual activity and blindness beginning in childhood.

Stephen also suffers from dominant optic atrophy, although it is not as severe as his brother’s. At 17-years-old he noticed a swift deterioration in his eyesight.

He said: “The main limitation I face is not being able to drive as I don’t meet the required eyesight standards, it can be a pain, but at least I’ve got my bike.”

Anyone wishing to support the cause can sponsor Stephen’s challenge by contacting bracken54@hotmail.co.uk