Ken’s Charity Cycle Challenge
Ken’s Charity Cycling Challenge
Do you fancy riding a bicycle solo the 1300km to Palamós from the most westerly point in Spain, climbing hills one and a half times the height of Everest along the way, all in aid of charity?
No?
Well don’t feel bad because Calonge resident Ken Spratley is intending to do all the hard work for you. All you need to do is donate.
Ken wanted to set himself an extraordinary challenge in this extraordinary year; however, it was important for him not simply to do it for his own benefit. That’s why he decided to use the opportunity to raise money for a good cause.
Palamós Hospital are raising funds to purchase new equipment for their Ophthalmologic Department that will allow eye treatments to take place within the unit, and avoid patients being sent to Girona. Ken has recently benefited from the excellent care provided by Dr Lopez and her colleagues in Palamós, as have a number of other Costa Brava residents so he was happy to support this fundraising effort as his adopted good cause.
So who is Ken Spratley?
71 year old Ken is no stranger to combining physical challenges and fundraising, having completed the Eastbourne marathon on England’s south coast 23 times, as well as the London marathon 5 times. Despite having retired and relocated from the UK in 20??, Ken was one of the 250,000 applicants chosen to be a Games Maker Volunteer during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London. Widely recognised as essential to the success of the events, Ken and his thousands of colleagues have received accolades such as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award for Volunteering, and an Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award. The event had such a personal impact that Ken and his team from that memorable summer remain in close contact to this day.
What’s the details of Ken’s ride?
Cabo Finisterre was believed by the Romans to be end of the known world, and even today, many pilgrims on the Camino Santiago make this the final destination of their pilgrimage to Saint James’ shrine in Santiago de Compostela.
This is therefore a sufficiently auspicious start point for Ken’s Charity Cycle Challenge back to the Costa Brava.
The route will be via Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, León, Burgos, Logroño, Zaragoza, Lleida, Manresa and Girona before arriving in Palamós.
Ken will be providing updates of progress on social media so it will be easy to follow his progress, and hear first hand his challenge is going.
Target departure date is the 12th September, though may require a little flexibility closer to the time dependent upon the local weather……remember, Ken is starting in Galicia where it rains more often than the rest of Spain!
How can I support Ken’s Charity Cycle Challenge?
The hospital fund raisers will be grateful for any donation, large or small.
Keeping in touch
Ken will provide updates on Facebook and Instagram ahead of the trip to let everyone know how the planning, training and fundraising efforts are going.
During the challenge itself you’ll be able to follow progress of the journey, and to offer support and encouragement, and to share details of his efforts with others.
