A banker from Sandown is gearing up to cycle to Reading this Friday (7th October) to raise funds for charity.
Anthony Donohue, 43, is hoping to raise £1,500 by cycling 85 miles from his home on The Fairway in Sandown to the Reading leg of ‘Byte Night’, an annual sponsored sleep out in aid of Action for Children which takes place every October across 10 UK cities.
Anthony, Natwest’s Head of Corporate for the Solent said:
“For the past five years, I have given up my bed for one night in the year to sleep rough in a park in Reading and I thought this year I really should try something new to help the sponsorship.
“Assuming I don’t get lost, the route is 85 miles and I’m hoping to do this in under seven hours, though there is 3,500 feet of climbing involved!”
The charity supporter has been training hard in recent weeks, peddling increasing distances around Ryde every Saturday and squeezing in the 20-mile round-trip route to his office in Chandlers Ford several times a week.
Setting off from home at 07:30 on Friday, Anthony plans to hit the car ferry at East Cowes just an hour later and be away from Southampton’s Town Quay at 09:30. His route will take him through Stockbridge, Whitchurch, Kingsclere and Aldermaston before arriving at Forbury Gardens in the centre of Reading between 15:00-16:00.
After a few hours’ rest, Anthony will join the other 150 ‘sleepers’ for a night of fundraising and speeches before bedding down for the night under the stars.
Anthony added:
“Please sponsor me if you can and help me raise as much money as possible for Action for Children. And please pray for accommodating weather, both for the ride and the sleep out!”
Senior fundraiser at Action for Children, Kellie Chater, said:
“Good luck Anthony! A truly epic effort all round.
“The funds Anthony and others sleeping rough in Reading are set to raise will help Action for Children continue its vital work in ensuring children and young people have a safe and loving home.”
To sponsor Anthony, visit www.justgiving.com/Anthony-Donohue.
