FE Week’s editor Nick Linford and publisher Shane Mann will be joining a team from South and City College Birmingham to cycle the 100-mile Velo Birmingham and Midlands and raise funds for the charity Cure Leukaemia.
FE Week editor John Dickens and the principal of South and City College Birmingham Mike Hopkins will be two of the riders joining them in May on the trip from Birmingham to Coventry, then back.
“As a college, we are really pleased that we are involved in this year’s Velo Birmingham and Midlands ride,” said Hopkins.
The college has chosen Cure Leukaemia as their nominated charity this year, as a number of students and staff have been affected by the disease – including one manager, who died of it over a year ago.
Hopkins added: “We are extremely proud to be supporting Cure Leukaemia and helping to raise vital funds to help beat blood cancer.”
The team also includes Dave Heeley, who calls himself “Blind Dave”, the first blind person to complete the seven-marathon challenge in 2008; and they are aiming to raise £50,000 for charity.
To donate to the efforts, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lsect-team
The Velo is not the only gruelling cycling challenge being undertaken by a member of the FE community this year.
Chief executive of Askham Bryan College Catherine Dixon is stepping down from her role to try for the Guinness world record as the fastest woman to circumnavigate the world on a tandem bicycle, with her cycling partner Rachael Marsden.
“This is the opportunity of a lifetime,” Dixon said.
“It is incredibly exciting and it will be amazing to set the world record.”
This summer, the pair will have to cycle up to 100 miles a day to cover 18,000 miles across five continents within 320 days, which Dixon acknowledged will be “tough”.
Catherine and Rachael are also using their cycling challenge to support charitable causes: Oxfam and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
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