Double the challenge for Danetre Hospital fundraiser

June 25 sees Steve Brooks take on his second major challenge of the year for Cawthorne Ward at Danetre Hospital.

His first big challenge was to cycle Coast to Coast from the Severn to The Wash and in April, exactly 6 months after his father local plumber Ray Brooks passed away.

He set off from Severn Beach, the last crossing point of the Severn Estuary. After cycling back up the Severn/Avon Valley to Badby, he continued the following day down the Nene Valley to The Wash. A total distance of 233 miles and 20 and a half hours travelling time doesn’t tell the entire story; which included torrential rain storms, cycle paths that were fields, wrong turns and punctures.

“Although it was much tougher than expected, I made it with Dad spurring me on when things got really tough.

“Whenever I’ve ridden any long distances before there’s been an arrow at every junction. Having to stop and check my maps, along with actually missing some turns, really affected my pace so on both days it was almost dark before I finished.”

In February Steve started his monthly challenges to raise money for Cawthorne Ward who cared for Ray during the last two months of his life and since the completion of the Coast to Coast cycling challenge has run the Clumber Park Trailblazer Half-Marathon in preparation for his next big challenge the 52 mile Race to the King Ultra-Marathon.

“When I first started running, just over two years ago, I couldn’t comprehend why anyone would want to run more than 5km. Then I ended up entering a 10km for Helen and Douglas House followed by half marathons later that year.

“I’ve still never entered a marathon but instead jumped into a double marathon on finishing the Clumber Park Half Marathon uninjured. The latest news-letter from Race to the King finished with a T.S. Eliot quote ‘If you are not in over your head, you’ll never know how tall you are.’ and I guess that just about sums up this year’s challenges.

“When I think back to the care that Patsy and her team provided for Dad, and the support they gave us through that difficult time, a little bit of discomfort for me is the least I can do to show how much we appreciated their hard work.

“Towards the end of day one of the Coast to Coast, when I was so cold I couldn’t feel my feet, the thought of letting everyone down just kept my feet spinning and gradually got me home.

“The Cawthorne Team truly are an absolute inspiration.”

If anyone is able to support Steve and Friends of Danetre Hospital his Just Giving Page has details of all the challenges.