09/03/13 30 mile bmx charity rideAlan Dee, riding 30 miles to Walsall on BMX for Burton YMCA..A FUND-RAISING cyclist has raised hundreds of pounds for good causes after pedaling 30 miles. . . on a BMX.
Fitness freak Alan Dee set off on the single geared bike for the journey from Short Street Methodist Church, in Stapenhill, to Bescot Stadium, home of Walsall FC, on Saturday morning.
The feat raised £580, which will be split between the YMCA Homeless charity and Short Street Methodist Church.
Alan, 43, of Norfolk Road, Stapenhill, said he wanted to challenge himself to ‘something quite demanding’.
He said: “I just wanted to do something that gave something back into the YMCA because the church supports them quite a lot.
“I also wanted to do something that was quite demanding – it will be a good test of what I’m capable of.
“I’m in my 40s now but I cycle to work every day. I have also been going out on it more at the weekend to try and get used to the distance so I found new parts of my body which ache.”
The route will take Alan down a cycle path along the A38, passed Lichfield and through Walsall to the stadium.
Alan said: “I had been really looking forward to it even though the weather wasn’t great.
“I hope the money really helps out people who need it – I just wanted to put myself out there to help other people.”
Alan added that approximately £580 had been raised so far.
He said: “I’m really glad for all the people who have given sponsorship for it.”
Clare Dee, Alan’s wife, said they decided to donate money to the YMCA homeless project after it provided a relative with housing.
She said: “He wanted to do something that was a real challenge – he could do it on a mountain bike no problem.
“The YMCA homeless project has a personal importance to us because my nephew had a troubled childhood at home but they helped him and gave him lots of support – he has been in secure accommodation for three years now.
“I’m very proud of Alan for doing the trip – I was worried about him being on the main road.”
