Raising smiles by riding miles

Over the past year we’ve been supporting and working with retired police chief superintendant Ian Dodd to help promote his D2D Cycle Challenge in aid of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Ian and fellow American cyclist Richard Slusarczyk took on the challenge to cycle across America, from Disneyland in California to Disneyworld in Florida in under 50 days. The aim was to raise £25k for the leading wish-granting charity for children and young people battling life threatening conditions.

This month he made it – and pretty chuffed we are for him too. It took an impressive 46 days to complete the challenge, throughout which they passed through 14 states and have been from 179 feet below sea level to 10,275 feet above sea level!

They’d made £21,000 when they started out - here’s a few of the highs and lows of the journey:

Week one - they cycled over 425 miles through California and into Arizona. Cycling mostly uphill and getting lost several times in the baking heat they suffered only minor injuries at this stage.

Week two - reaching for the skies they cycled over 600 miles uphill through Arizona into New Mexico and then into their fourth state Texas – where they were chased by a bunch of boarder dogs.

Week three – they were chased by US border patrol, first the helicopter, then the vehicles demanding passports, apparently they look Mexican. Over 1,400 miles and nearly half way through the challenge.

Week four - the first puncture! Not bad considering they cycled more than 1,846 miles.

Week five – it’s goodbye to Texas and hello Louisiana when after having not seen rain for weeks they entered really heavy storms.

Week six – welcomed by Mississippi and Alabama they were guests at the major USA Rotary meeting of the year where the club presented them with a cheque for $500! Turns out sometimes it pays off to talk to strangers after all.

Week seven - they finally arrive in Florida on 7 July and were greeted by family and friends with an impressive story to tell.

Just some of the odd objects spotted on the hard shoulder included:
- 22 spoons
- 15 forks
- 1 knife
- 9 odd flip flops
- 4 pairs of underpants
To name just a few.

Huge congratulations from all at TBG go to both Ian and Richard.

Working on the D2D Cycle Challenge project over the past year I personally have noticed how determined Ian has been to complete this challenge. His drive to raise the money to help Make-A-Wish grant memories for young has been inspirational.

He certainly deserves a medal, even if it is one for madness!

Now onto the final event gala which takes place on September 10 at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall which aims to push the amount raised over the £25k target. And we certainly hope it does.

Roni