Brian Maddison celebrated his 80th birthday in memorable fashion by cycling 80 miles in aid of the charity Railway Children and so far, he has already raised more than £2,200, exceeding his original fundraising target.
The challenge took place on Thursday 2 July, with Brian setting off from Bingham before making his first stop at the Nottingham offices of his former employer, Bridgeway Consulting. Former colleagues welcomed him with coffee, birthday cake and a photo opportunity before wishing him well for the remainder of the journey.
Brian then continued through Castle Donington and Ashby-de-la-Zouch, following country lanes towards Leicester. He was joined for part of the ride by his old friend, Nick Spurr, whose company helped make the milestone challenge even more enjoyable.
After completing the full 80-mile route, Brian crossed the finish line at Leicester Speedway Stadium, where family and friends were waiting to celebrate his achievement before enjoying the evening’s speedway meeting together.
The ride was organised to support Railway Children, a charity that works to protect vulnerable children around the world. Donations have so far reached £2,200, comfortably surpassing Brian’s target, although his JustGiving page will remain open for a few more weeks.
Reflecting on the day, Brian said: “I’m delighted to have completed the challenge and grateful for the support he received from friends, family, former colleagues and everyone who donated to Railway Children.”
Railway Children will be at Nottingham Railway Station on Friday 31 August, from 9.30am to 2.00pm, meeting members of the public and raising awareness of the charity.
If you’d like to donate, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/brian-maddison-3