A FROME man is planning to cycle from Hengrove in Bristol to Weymouth, to raise money for a children’s hospital.
Local bus driver, Luke Harris, will cycle approximately 90 miles in April as part of a fundraising event organised by his employer First Bus. Luke will be raising money for Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal, the Bristol Children’s Hospital charity, helping to transform the lives of sick children in the South West.
Luke explained, “I have a personal connection to the children’s hospital charity that First Bus have chosen to support as my wife was treated as a baby for a heart condition. She had to have heart surgery.
“I’m so grateful for the outstanding work carried out at Bristol Children’s Hospital. It is the central hospital for the South West and South Wales Congenital Heart Centre, providing a comprehensive congenital cardiology and cardiac surgical service for patients in the South West of England, as well as a cardiac surgical service to South Wales.
“The treatment of cardiac conditions often starts with diagnosis before birth and can last through to adulthood. In my wife’s case this also happened in 2017 when she had to undergo open heart surgery again to repair some damage that had occurred and even though this was as an adult, the care she received was still amazing and all the medical teams we met were fantastic. So please help others to make their journey in life too.”
Luke has begun training for the big event, and so far is showing no sign of any nerves. “I’m quite fit and I go to the gym 2-3 times a week. I used to cycle every day and I once competed in the Bristol Half Marathon, so whilst I know the cycle ride will be a challenge, I feel that I am capable of completing it.”
Luke has set himself a target of £500. To give a donation, visit his Just Giving page: www.justgiving .com/fundraising/luke- harris182
