Ken Reid Returns 750 mi bicycle fund raise for RNIB

Thu, Oct 13th 2016 at 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Ken Reid tells of 750 mile bicycle tour fund raise for RNIB Talking Books


FOCUS ON AN AMAZING ACHIEVEMENT

There was a particularly warm welcome by members of the Bridge of Allan and Dunblane Rotary Club for the return of Ken Reid.  In April of this year, Ken had visited the Club to talk about his blindness and the work of the Royal National Institution of Blind People (RNIB).  As members learned then, Ken hasn’t allowed blindness to stop him living a full and active life.

This year, being the thirtieth anniversary of being diagnosised with retina pigmentosa leading to his loss of sight, Ken decided that he should mark it by taking on a special challenge. He settled on raising money for one of his favourite causes: Talking Books. For all of us, books are a means of opening up new worlds; for blind people, the ability to access books through the RNIB Talking Books gives them an opportunity to explore and share in a wide range of experiences. Each adult Talking Book costs some £2,500, with children’s books costing £1,500.  In addition to supporting Talking Books, Ken had another aim: he wanted “to show what blind and partially sighted people can achieve.”

Ken Reid (centre) holding Haggeye (his mascot on the journey) with President Nick Rawlings (left) and Speaker’s Host Glen Montgomery.

Having a lifelong love of cycling, Ken decided to do an epic sponsored cycle journey from Edinburgh to London.  But not satisfied with that being sufficiently challenging, he decided that he should extend the route to include the capital cities of the British Isles.  So his route became from Edinburgh to Belfast, to Dublin, to Cardiff and then on to London – a total journey of about 750 miles, to be undertaken in some 17 days.

To succeed in this venture, he needed volunteers to take the front position on a tandem – known as the “pilot”, while he would act as the power-house, the “stoker” on the rear seat.  Willing volunteers soon came forward, and Ken set off from Holyrood on 29th July with the good wishes of representatives from the media, RNIB and the Provost of Edinburgh.  Ken was accompanied throughout by Haggeye – a mascot for junior members of the RNIB.  [See the photograph.] But he also received a very treasured tribute: good wishes from Sir Chris Hoy written on Ken’s helmet.

In planning the route, Ken had tried to avoid roads with heavy traffic and extremely steep hills; not always successfully as experience proved. But the crucial element that ensured the success of the challenge was the encouragement from the volunteer “pilots” and from other cyclists and the general public.  Wherever they stopped for the necessary top-ups – particularly tea and cakes to boost their energy - or at overnight stays and ferry crossings, people were enormously encouraging, and very generous in giving donations.  Other cyclists, hearing about the trip, rode with Ken for part of the way to give him support.

Having passed successfully though Scotland and Ireland, Ken came to his greatest trial: a route through Wales which involved a 1 in 4 gradient and a climb of 6,000 feet in the course of a 70 mile journey.  So much for his initial hopes of flattish country!  At one point he admitted “I was not too proud to get off the tandem and to walk up a particularly steep hill.”

However, all went well, with the finish of the journey – in which he had actually covered 810 miles – at the Houses of Parliament, 17 days after leaving Edinburgh.

Ken’s achievement in terms of sponsorship has far surpassed his initial target of £7,500.  To date he has raised just over £11,500, and sponsorship is still coming in. Ken’s progress on his journey can be followed on www.facebook.com/cycle750.  Donations can be made to www.justgiving.com/cycle750 or by texting CCLE £n to 70070.

Following some questions to Ken about his experiences on his marathon journey, Glen Montgomery, Speaker’s Host, congratulated him on an inspiring achievement.  His comments were enthusiastically endorsed by members.

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