Fair Oak Dad in 100-mile bike ride for baby charity Bliss

Richard Curtis is currently training for this summer’s first-ever Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100, which will see 20,000 riders tackle a 100-mile route finishing on The Mall in the capital.

The ride starts from the new Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and is just one of a series of events taking place in the capital on the weekend of August 3 and4, with an eight-mile FreeCycle around the city’s iconic landmarks also taking place as well as a Grand Prix for aspiring young cyclists and the LondonSurrey Classic featuring some of the world’s best riders.

But 30-year-old Richard,from Fair Oak, is not even thinking about how tough the event will be, instead just seeing it as the perfect way to raise more money for Bliss.

The charity, which provides vital support and care to premature children and their families, was immensely helpful to Richard and his wife in February this year when their daughter Jessica was born ten-and-a-half weeks early.

He insists jumping in the saddle is the least he can do to say thank you.

“When Jessica was born Bliss were so wonderfully helpful and supportive thatI wanted to do something to raise money for them and this seemed ideal,” said Richard, a lead centre manager for the NHS.

“We realised that there isn’t a lot of support out there for parents whose children are born prematurely but Bliss are there to help so giving something back was the least I could do.

“Bliss were great in offering support, advice, literature – anything really and it really helped us along,”

he added.

“I am a keen cyclist after taking it up out of necessity for work six years ago and I reckon I ride 3,500 miles a year.

“But I have done about a 100-mile day once and it killed me so I am not taking this lightly and will make sure I am prepared for it.”

If you are inspired to ride in Prudential RideLondon, visit www.prudentialridelondon.co.uk.