Caton woman rides a trike the distance between Lands End and John O'Groats for Lancaster hospice.

A retired consultant has raised over £4,000 for St John's Hospice in Lancaster by completing a virtual Land's End to John O'Groats trike ride for the charity.
Sue Brown arrives at the hospice at the end of her virtual trike ride for the charity.Sue Brown arrives at the hospice at the end of her virtual trike ride for the charity.
Sue Brown arrives at the hospice at the end of her virtual trike ride for the charity.

Susan Brown, 74, who lives in Caton, wanted to raise money for the hospice because she didn't want the charity to miss out on funding.

Sue said: "My walking ability declined over a few years until I was diagnosed with excess water on the brain and had a drain inserted in 2012.

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"I used to enjoy cycling though I have never been an athlete. When my balance became worse I kept falling off so three and a half years ago I bought an electric trike.

Sue Brown at Jubilee Tower on one of her trike rides.Sue Brown at Jubilee Tower on one of her trike rides.
Sue Brown at Jubilee Tower on one of her trike rides.

"Trikes are rather cumbersome heavy beasts and unless you are very fit you cannot get up the hills round here without a motor.

"Learning to ride the trike was one of the scariest things I have done. Trikes are very difficult to steer until you get used to them!

"During lockdown I have been very grateful to live in such a beautiful area. I have also been extremely grateful to be able to get out on my trike. I have a ride before breakfast every day,

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"I used to rarely look at my milometer but on April 27 I noticed it had reached 3000 kilometres.

Sue Brown's trike which she rides every day.Sue Brown's trike which she rides every day.
Sue Brown's trike which she rides every day.

"I wondered idly how far it is by bike from Lands End to John O Groats.

"Google told me it is 1407 kilometres by roads navigable by bike, I decided to try to get my milometer up to to 44007 kilometres by the end of this year.

"It started as a personal challenge to keep me cycling.

"At first my rides were about seven kilometres but the fine weather and the lack of traffic enticed me to go gradually further.

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"I have gained in fitness, strength and confidence and now I am often going 20 kilometres, cycling up all the local hills, past Halton Park, Littledale Hall, Little Cragg and even up to Jubilee tower!

"I have to get up early now to avoid the traffic and of course recently it has often been very wet but I have not let that put me off.

"During lockdown I have been very concerned about all the charities which are missing out on funding, especially St John’s Hospice which normally receives a lot of funds from its shops and cafe and from events.

"I have had friends cared for in the hospice and I have acted as a volunteer there. It is a lovely place and the work they do is so important.

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"I was going to send them a cheque and then decided that my Lands End to John O'Groats challenge was such a whacky idea that i might be able to persuade people to sponsor me.

"I am so glad i thought of it. People are being very generous. I think they are as amused as I am at the thought of someone so unathletic cycling the equivalent of the length of the country.

"The idea of someone of 74 with slightly limited mobility cycling 14007 kilometres in 81 days has stirred some interest locally and prompted some people to give generously.

"I have raised over £4300 so far but should like to make it to £5000.

"I was delighted and surprised to reach my goal in half the time expected!

"You can still donate to my justgiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/susan-brown61."

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