Bob ‘inspired’ to cycle 100 miles for school

A fortnight ago he set off from Winchester through the hilly climbs of the Downs finishing in Eastbourne.

He is aiming to raise £350 for the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee School in Comptons Lane, Horsham.

The school caters for 80 pupils aged from two years to 19 all of whom have severe, profound or multiple learning difficulties.

During the two-day challenge, Bob climbed a total of 11,000ft cycling six hours on the Thursday and eight hours on the Friday.

He did the whole journey on his own.

The father of four, who has been a keen cyclist for about 25 years, said: “It’s not that bad. It’s all sign-posted. It’s bit remote, but you can always shout.

“It’s like an adventure. You don’t realise that it’s just a few miles from home.

“It’s a different way to see the countryside. I was dead lucky with the weather.”

Kay Tyler from Mayfair Hair in East Street, a keen fundraiser for the QE II school, spurred him into doing it.

Bob said: “I have always wanted to do the South Downs Way and then Kay came along and said ‘what about a bike ride’.

“If you are going to do something like that, it’s a good thing to help someone else out.

“As with any school of this type, it always makes you inspired to do things.

“There’s always someone who’s worse off than yourself, so if you can help, people should.

“My colleagues and myself go out on a Sunday mornings and we did a charity ride last year in France for the Chestnut Tree House and British Heart Foundation.”

Bob is still taking sponsorship for his challenge. People can sponsor him online at www.justgiving.com/Bob-Thompson-123SDmtb.

Anyone who prefers to donate by cash or cheque can go to Mayfair Hair in East Street, Horsham.