Solihull cyclist aims to cycle Britain’s 100 greatest climbs in 12 days for charity

A 62-year-old man is to try and cycle all of the hills that feature in Simon Warren’s book 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs in just 12 days. Richard Burt, who is married to Baroness Burt of Solihull and who only started cycling four years ago, is looking to raise £50,000 for Dementia UK.

The Solihull Observer reports that Burt was motivated to raise the money after learning that funding had been withdrawn from Dementia UK’s Admiral Nurse networks. His mother, Peggy, has had Alzheimer’s for the past six years and is living in Sanctuary Care’s Redhill Court Residential Care Home in Kings Norton.

“This challenge is extremely personal for me – it’s all for my mum, who is a wonderful person. When I visit I’m sometimes her dad, sometimes I’m her husband or sometimes I’m her son but it doesn’t matter to me, it’s enough for me to know she loves me and that’s why I’m doing this for her.”

Starting on August 18, Burt will ride everything from Dartmeet in Devon to Bealach-Na-Ba in the Scottish Highlands, travelling day and night with a team of volunteers in a bid to tick off all 100 climbs that appear in the book.

For many years a committed runner, Burt was inspired to take up cycling by Bradley Wiggins’ Tour de France win in 2012. Since then, he has done everything from racing local hill climbs to completing the 300km Gran Fondo Milan-San Remo and the seven-day Haute Route Pyrenees.

As Burt’s main sponsor, Sanctuary Care is donating £5,000 and also providing branded kit for him and his team of volunteers. Managing director Mark McCarthy said: “We’re delighted to be supporting Richard with his challenge, he’s an inspiration to many and the funds he raises will help provide vital support for a charity so close to his and many of our hearts.”

There is more information about Burt’s challenge on the Sanctuary Care website, and if you’d like to donate, click here.