Felpham man's 1,000-mile trip of love

Garry McGivern intends to spend 19 days in the saddle completing his solo journey.

He will be spurred on during his epic ride through France and Spain by his love for Josie, to whom he was married for 22 years.

She died last Boxing Day from breast cancer aged 42. She spent about the last six months of her life under the care of St Wilfrid's Hospice, for which Garry hopes his bike ride will raise 5,000.

He said: "Although not able to speak French, I am determined to go it alone and reckon I can cover between 80 and 100 miles a day.

"The good thing about France is there are plenty of cyclists who, I am sure, will help out if necessary.

"But I will be carrying my own small tool kit and and spare 'fold-up' tyre just in case."

Property maintenance worker Garry (44) was beginning his trip today by cycling to Portsmouth.

He was catching a ferry to Bilbao in Spain where the real cycling will start. His ride will take him over the Pyrenees and along the Atlantic coast and northern coast of France to Calais. He will sail back to Dover with a scheduled arrival home on July 6.

Josie, who worked in the cigarette kiosk at Tesco in Bognor, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005. She appeared to have made a full recovery but collapsed on June 30 last year. Tests in hospital showed the cancer had spread. "There wasn't anything anyone can do," said Garry.

"She was a really popular person."

Anyone who wants to sponsor Garry should click on to www.justgiving.com/GarryMcgivern or call him on 07990 597141.

What do you think? Click here to send a letter or leave a comment below.

Click here to go back to Chichester news

Click here to go back to Bognor Regis news

Click here to go back to Midhurst and Petworth news

To tell us where in the world you are reading this story click on the link below to add yourself to our readers' map.

MAP