Two spectacular coastlines and one 152-mile cycling challenge…there have to be easier ways to spend your day off.
But Craig Harrison raised more than £1,000 for St Luke’s when he signed up to take part in the tough Sportive HQ Coast to Coast in a Day cycling challenge.
Craig entered the cycle adventure as a tribute to mother-in-law Christine Britland, who was one of our Community patients.
“She had a terminal cancer diagnosis and deteriorated quickly but the really good thing was that because of the care of St Luke’s, my wife and her sister could spend some quality time with her instead of always being carers,” said Craig, who lives in Stannington.
The route of the cycle challenge sets off from Seascale in the north west and then covers a 152-mile route with 4500m of ascent road ride from the mountainous Western Lake District, through the Yorkshire Dales, across the flat Vale of York and finally the Northern Valleys of the North York Moors, finishing by the North Sea in Whitby.
It’s a journey that would usually take up to four or five days to complete on two wheels but which the Sportive HQ Coast to Coast in a Day cycling challenge aims to finish in less that 24 hours.
“The weather was pretty grim when we set off and was rainy and cloudy but things cheered up by the time we got to Kendal,” said Craig, who completed the event in a time of 11 and a half hours.
“I’ve done some cycling in the past but I have to say this was really hard work, especially the first 30 miles, then through the Lake District and then the final 30 miles were hard as we approached Whitby.
“There are some really tough climbs, more than I have done previously, but I am so pleased I did it and it was great to see that so many people had supported me and helped so much for such a great cause.”
There’s still time to support Craig by visiting Cycle Challenge