Schoolboys on charity bicycle ride get health check up
Wednesday 7 July 2010
A group of young men have been given special medical testing as they prepared for a mammoth cycle trip to raise cash for a charity in memory of their school friends who tragically died young.
Four 16 year olds, James Boyle, Nick Graham, Charles Butler and Sam Lucas will cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats this month.
As part of the preparation for the cycling challenge, James Boyle underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test at the Surrey Human Performance Institute, located within the Surrey Sports Park. This test showed James how fit his heart and lungs were and the Institute team were able to give him practical advice on how to train for the event as well as how to pace himself during the ride. They also offered advice on nutrition and injury prevention.
The cyclists are students from George Abbot School in Guildford and have only recently finished their GCSEs. So far they have raised over £1000 in aid of CHASE Hospice, a local charity. The journey itself will last 19 days in total, and covers roughly 1000 miles, averaging 60 miles a day.
The ride was inspired by their schoolmates Tom Mansfield and Mitch Smith who both sadly lost their lives to leukaemia and lymphoma. CHASE offered end of life support to Tom and his family. Tom's mother Lisa said, "Unbelievably CHASE gave us the opportunity to have some lovely memories at the time of what was and still is the saddest day of our lives. The hospice is clean, homely, and full of fun. It is a comfort both physically and emotionally. CHASE has continued to be there for us with counselling and further opportunities to help us celebrate and remember Tom.
"We are so impressed by the personal challenge these young men have set for themselves and their efforts to raise awareness and useful funds for the fantastic work at CHASE by cycling the full length of this country!"
You can sponsor James, Nick, Charles and Sam on their Justgiving page – www.justgiving.com/gabbot4.
Picture available - Photo caption: James Boyle at the end of his test with Zoé Carroll, Manager of the Surrey Human Performance Institute and Lisa and Phil Mansfield whose son Tom is the inspiration for the epic cycle ride.
Notes to editors:
Media enquiries: Howard Wheeler, Press Office at the University of Surrey, Tel: 01483 686141 or E-mail: h.wheeler@surrey.ac.uk
CHASE is a children's hospice service which provides a network of care to families with life-limited children and young people in South West London, Surrey and Sussex. CHASE focuses on support for the whole family at home and in their communities. Families are also welcomed and supported at our children's hospice, called Christopher’s. With little statutory funding CHASE has to raise £4 million every year to ensure this vital service continues.
For information on CHASE: Please call 01483 454213; Email: press@chasecare.org.uk website: www.chasecare.org.uk
Surrey Human Performance Institute
The Surrey Human Performance Institute is a fitness testing facility located within the Surrey Sports Park. It is able to offer a range of health and fitness assessments to help people understand their bodies, optimise their training or support their weight-loss programme. Heart, lung and metabolic function can be assessed as well as other elements of fitness. The Surrey Human Performance Institute can offer health and fitness tests to everyone and the friendly and experienced team can help with all aspects of health and fitness optimisation