Sheffield TV star Charlie's road to Rio almost at an end
Charlie has pedalled through monsoons, blisters and a road known as ‘death highway’ as part of the Ride to Rio! team raising money for The Jane Tomlinson Appeal, which helps children’s and cancer charities.
Among those joining her on the ride, which began in London’s Olympic Stadium on June 27, are former Sheffield Eagles player Keith Senior, and Mike Tomlison, husband to Jane, who started a 4,200 ride across America while battling cancer. The Jane Tomlinson Appeal was set up to carry on her legacy.
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Hide Ad“What Jane achieved was truly inspirational,” said Charlie, a Sheffield United fan and former ambassador. “She wouldn’t be beaten and she showed what the human spirit could do once it’s put to the test and hopefully we’re continuing a little bit of what she did.”
The ride, which has taken the team through France and Portugal as well as England and Brazil, has been timed to coincide with the Rio Olympic Games. It has been a huge challenge.
Charlie said: “You have to be mentally strong because each morning you have to tell your body that it doesn’t hurt and that you can do it. You get to the point where you go beyond being tired.”
One particular road threw up a number of challenges.
Charlie said: ““We had to change the route on one occasion because it was just too dangerous. We Googled this road and it’s known as the ‘death highway’ because three people die on it every day. We’ve had to use dirt tracks and at one point we had to cycle for 20 miles through sand.”
Donate at justgiving.com/RidetoRio.
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