Lee goes the extra mile in a year of challenges

CYCLing from Land’s End to John O’Groats is seen as a pretty big challenge when it comes to fundraising.

But for Lee Richards it just marks the mid point of his nine-month, 21-event charity fundraising marathon.

The computer analyst from Leeds is taking on some of the UK’s most gruelling challenges, including the 900-mile bike ride which started last week.

Lee, 29, is no stranger to challenges, but it is the first time he has tried to do so many in one year.

Having set out with the idea to do 15 fundraising events that has now risen to 21, he set off on a Land’s End to John O’Groats bike ride last week. He expects the trip to take up to two weeks.

He aims to raise vital funds for Wakefield Hospice, which cared for terminally-ill Susan Emmerson five years ago.

Susan, mum of Lee’s best pal Jim Emmerson, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999.

She successfully fought the illness, only to be re-diagnosed six years later.

This time, the cancer spread to the rest of her body and Susan passed away in the care of the hospice, aged 56. Lee was unable to attend the funeral as he was working in Australia at the time.

Now sports-mad Lee is desperate to raise funds for the hospice in memory of Susan and to thank the staff who helped make the final weeks of her life more comfortable.

“Jim’s my best friend. I met him at college 13 years ago and during that time I got to know his mum, Susan, very well. She was such a special lady and made all those around her smile,” explains Lee.

“Her long illness was a terrible and heartbreaking time for Jim and the rest of his family. But I know that during the final, precious weeks of her life, the unique care she received at Wakefield Hospice made that time much more comfortable, for both her and her family.

“I’ve done individual fund-raising events in the past, but as this cause is so close to my heart, I wanted to do something truly remarkable – for Jim, for his mum and for the people at Wakefield Hospice who do such an amazing job every single day.”

Lee’s bike ride is the eleventh leg of a 1,500-mile challenge that’s already taken in the National and Yorkshire Three Peaks challenges, a marathon, a 1500m swim and a handful of other muscle-busting runs and trail races.

After the bike ride, he will take part in further challenges including a triathlon, a further 140-mile bike ride and the Great North Run.

“A lot of my friends think I’m mad attempting so many events but, even though the challenges are starting to take their toll physically, I’m determined to keep going, and even keep adding events to the list!

“I’m hoping to complete the bike ride in less than two weeks, which will mean riding about 100 miles every day.

“But knowing how many people have given generously already is what will keep me going and I’m hoping it will inspire many more people to donate for this very worth, local cause,” said Lee.

Lee is aiming to raise £4,000 for Wakefield Hospice, a provider of specialist palliative care for patients, families and carers.

The purpose-built care facility comprises a 16-bed in-patient unit and Day Therapy Unit, providing specialist symptom management and support for local patients and their families facing terminal illness.

So which of the challenges does super-fit Lee think will the harder?

“I think the Helvellyn Triathlon will be the hardest of all – in just one day,” he says.

“My training regime is do as much different training as I can to keep me interested.

“I’ve done some of the events previously, like the Three Peaks, but wanted this year to be a real challenge.”

Lee says he has received a lot of support from family and friends in his efforts to raise as much money as possible.

Lee’s gruelling schedule

Lands End-John O’Groats Cycle; Helvellyn Triathlon; National Three Peaks Walk 10/07; Wrynose or Bust 115 Mile Cycle; Coniston Marathon; Cartmel Trail Race; Hawkshead Trail Race 07/05; Staveley Trail Race 04/06; Hellrunner Delamere Forest; Coniston Trail Race; Helvellyn Trail Race; Ullswater Trail Race; Hellrunner Cannock Chase; Yorkshire Three Peaks Walk; Belvoir Challenge 16 Mile Run, York 10km Run For All, Great North Run; Coniston Ultimate 50Km MTB; Mudrunner; Brid to Blackpool 140 mile cycle. To donate to Lee’s fundraising efforts, visit www.justgiving.com/2011thechallenge