The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Mark Le Sage and Graham Ridley during one of their previous fundraising tandem rides.
A pair of fundraisers has had to admit defeat after injury forced them to give up plans for a charity cycle ride.
Mark Le Sage and Graham Ridley had planned to take part in a “top to bottom” challenge to cycle from John O’ Groats to Land’s End on a tandem in 2012.
But an accident at work left Mark requiring surgery on his knees and the pair’s effort was postponed.
More than a year later and Mark is still on crutches and facing further surgery – prompting the pair to give up on their plan.
Mark said: “Graham and I had done a couple of previous tandem rides and raised more than £30,000.
“In 2008 we were going to do the top to bottom challenge but we were advised that, because of prevailing winds, we would be better to do it the other way round – from Land’s End to John O’Groats – so that’s what we did.
“Then in 2011 we decided to go back and do the top to bottom challenge and take in the three peaks challenge as well, but then I was injured in an accident at work and damaged both knees and we had to postpone it.
“Unfortunately, practically I am still not able to do it so we have decided that for the time being – although never say never – we are going to have to admit defeat.”
But it’s not all bad news, as the pair had raised £800 in sponsorship money before disaster struck, which they now intend to hand over to good causes.
Mark’s £400 will be split four ways.
A quarter will go towards a sensory garden for the Priory and Garth schools in Spalding, £100 for a garden project at St John’s Primary School, £100 to LIVES and £100 to sponsor Sally Booth, who is running the Seabank Marathon in aid of South Lincs Blind Society.
Graham’s £400 will go to the cardiac ward at Bristol Royal Children’s Hospital which looked after his grandson.
Oscar was born on December 18 last year with a congenital heart condition which meant his two main arteries in and out of the heart were the wrong way round, pumping deoxygenated blood round his body.
Oscar underwent surgery two days after his birth and is now recovering well.
Mark said: “We are very disappointed to have to make this decision because we really enjoyed our previous rides, but we decided it is time to hand out the money that was pledged by our donors rather than it just sit in a bank account.”
