Two members of the District of East Kent Rose Croix raised money for worthy charitable causes recently by cycling the iconic London to Brighton Charity Bike Ride which takes cyclists on a scenic 54 mile journey from Clapham Common in south-west London to Madeira Drive on the Brighton seafront. The route features country lanes and the famous Ditchling Beacon climb. The two brothers on wheels were III. Bro David Horne 31°, of Swale Chapter 651 and Sitis Pro Scientia Chapter 1213, and E&P Bro Julian Friel 18° of Cornwallis Chapter 444.
Julian’s day started at 2.00am leaving Maidstone and heading to Brighton. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) have a travel service where they transport you back to Clapham Common, with your bike, so that your car is there when you finish. Julian’s ride started later than planned at 7.15am due to some delays getting from Brighton to the Start.
He had completed the ride 6 or 7 times previously and so knew what to expect and still wished he had put some more time in training beforehand! Julian raised a marvellous £825 for the British Heart Foundation and said “I support this charity because I have friends and family members that have been affected by or died from heart disease. Cycling encourages me to exercise and stay healthy, although not always that easy when it comes to the Festive Board!”
Julian intends to do it again next year as it’s the 50th anniversary of the London to Brighton event.
David decided in his 66th year to take on the London to Brighton event as a way of raising money for good causes and as part of his preparation he cycled a total of 1400 miles in training to get himself fit for the task.
He chose two great charities to support, the British Heart Foundation and Prostate UK, both of which mean an awful lot to him personally.
On the morning of the event, David started at 8.30am and was very apprehensive at the Start being a lone rider. He needn’t have worried, he said, “everyone was friendly and the atmosphere was great throughout the event”.
The day itself was the hottest day ever recorded on the London to Brighton ride, a real challenge which he surmounted, to make it up the “Beacon” and to the finish in an amazing time of 7.5 hours! This included a few hydration stops and was, in his own words, “not bad for a first timer”. He was also very pleased that there were many people who supported him to raise money for his chosen charities. His supporters helped him to raise a fabulous £1,454. He has signed up for next year already hoping it may not be as hot!
I would like to thank both Julian and David for giving up some of their time in helping me put this article together. I am sure you will all agree that their efforts constitute an amazing achievement. Well done to you both and hopefully you will get to do it again next year.
Kindly submitted by District “Newshound” – Peter Herbert