Edinburgh man to cycle distance to Isle of Wight in support of children’s cancer charity
An Edinburgh man will cycle 478 miles as part of a charity event in support of a charity which supports young people recovering from cancer.
Colin McAdam, who volunteers with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, is set to cycle the distance from his house to the Trust’s base on the Isle of Wight as part of their virtual Round Britain Your Way event, which is running throughout the whole of September to coincide with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
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Hide AdHe said: “During lockdown I got myself a road bike and started cycling. With the weather being the way that it is I then got myself a turbo trainer to put my bike on in the garage to ‘cycle’ indoors.
"The turbo arrived on the same day as the email about the Round Britain challenge, so I figured I could sign up and try and do 150 miles as I got used to indoor cycling.“I got through the 150 miles in 9 days so I’ve reset my challenge and now looking to cycle the 478 miles that Google tells me is the distance from my house in Edinburgh to the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust office in Cowes on the Isle of Wight.”
50-year-old Colin first volunteered with the charity in 2018, setting sail from the charity’s base in Largs, and returned to support young people again twice in 2019.
He added: “This would have been my third summer on the water with young people, but obviously none of us can sail this year because of COVID restrictions. Sailing with the Trust and helping young people rediscover confidence through something that I have a personal enjoyment of is a great experience.“It’s too easy to get caught up in your own dramas of life and work, but volunteering helps put lots of things back in to perspective in the most positive way.”The national charity aims to empower young people aged 8 to 24 to embrace their future after cancer. The Trust has twice sailed around Britain crewed by young people in recovery from cancer in 2009 and 2017. Now Round Britain Your Way invites anyone to run, swim, walk, cycle or create their own challenge to collectively travel the 4,800 miles the young people sailed on those two voyages.Isolation, loneliness, anxiety, anger and fear are all experienced by young people and their families during and after cancer treatment and the effects of coronavirus have only amplified these feelings in young people.
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Hide AdDue to the pandemic, the charity is expecting its income to drop by a third and Round Britain Your Way will raise vital funds so the Trust can still be here for those young people who need support after their treatment ends.Colin said: “The Trust, this year especially, needs our help and support more than ever. It does fantastic work with young people that is irreplaceable. I’ve seen first-hand the amazing impact it has on young people’s lives and that has to continue.”The Round Britain Your Way challenge is all about taking on a challenge of your choice, either on your own or as part of a team within COVID regulations. More information can be found on the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust website.