Balsall Common - MND Research

When he heard that a member of Balsall Common Lions and fellow Magistrate had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, Solihull cyclist Rob Turner decided to undertake a gruelling Lands End to John O’Groats cycle ride in aid of MND Research.

Rob raised over £8,000 for the MDN Association, of which Balsall Common Lions Club donated £1,000.

At Balsall Common’s recent meeting Rob gave a talk about the ride to some 40 Lions, partners and friends.

Rob is seen here being presented with a picture commemorating the ride by President David Hickson (centre) and Lion Ross Collins (left).

Rob, who is a member of the Solihull Cycle Club, said he was amazed at the generosity shown by people in support of research into this terrible disease. The 1,001 mile ride, mostly on B-roads, took 14 days to complete. Having to get out of a warm bed each day and do another 50 to 80 miles is particularly mind-numbing, but it helps greatly to know that it’s for such a good cause.

He said that the hills in Cornwall and Devon were very exhausting. In total someone had calculate that the ride consisted of climbing up 36,000 feet of hills! One Lion was reported as asking “ would it have been easier to start at the top of the country and go down hill?”

Amusingly, Rob said that when he reached John O’Groats his cyclometer was only showing 905 miles, but since he had committed to complete 1,000 miles, he had to do another circuit of the lanes.

Well done Rob.