Gruelling cycle fundraiser for Bethesda 23/2/12
Cycling 130km is tough enough, especially when some of it’s over hilly terrain. But
award-winning writer Kevin MacNeil is making a gruelling bike ride even more of a
challenge by doing it on a fixed-gear bike. That means he can’t change gear to go
uphill, or even freewheel downhill – he will be pedalling every centimetre of those
130 kilometres.
Lewis-born MacNeil, author of cult bestseller The Stornoway Way and the critically
acclaimed A Method Actor’s Guide to Jekyll and Hyde, decided to embark on the epic
cycle from Ness, in North Lewis, to Leverburgh, in South Harris, to raise money for
the Bethesda Hospice in Stornoway.
Mr Macneil said: ‘My mum, Peggy MacNeil, spent her final weeks there last summer.
“She loved Bethesda. The staff were amazing: tireless, good-humoured and kind. It
was such a comfort to us all to know she was happy there. The hospice helps so many
in the community – not just patients, but also their friends and family. I wanted
to show my gratitude and hopefully do my bit to help Bethesda provide the same incredible
care to someone else.”
MacNeil is currently in training for the challenge, which will take place on 7 May
2012. It’s not the first time he’s taken on an ambitious ride – in September 2009,
MacNeil cycled 1400km from the source of the river Danube, in the Black Forest, to
Budapest, on that occasion raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support and Cancer
Research UK. But the Lewis-Harris ride represents a different sort of test.
He said: “The Danube ride pushed me close to my limit. But I think this ride will
be even more challenging in some ways. Riding that sort of distance and terrain on
a fixed gear is highly intense and very tough, even for an experienced cyclist like
myself.
“I think the most difficult part will be the hills in Harris - especially the Cliseam,
the highest hill in the Outer Hebrides - and the wind - I'm going against the prevailing
wind. But I’m working hard on building my strength and stamina. And my aim of fundraising
for Bethesda will keep me going. Well, that and the thought of a hot bath at the
other end!’
Kevin MacNeil’s Justgiving page can be found here: www.justgiving.com/Kevin-MacNeil
