Old Colwyn fundraiser puts charity on map

Aug 7 2008 by Richard Evans, North Wales Weekly News

AN OLD Colwyn cyclist will brave a 600 mile journey to raise money for a children’s charity.

Cartographer Roy Chape, 39, will begin his ride from Land’s End in Cornwall to John O’Groats in Caithness in Scotland to raise funds for the Ty Gobaith children’s hospice.

Roy, of Llysfaen Road, hopes to raise at least £1,000 for the charity by completing the epic journey in between six and 10 days. Before setting off today Roy said he had spent months preparing for the fundraiser.

“I wanted to do this before I was 40, so I thought I may as well do it for charity. T Gobaith is a great charity, it is for kids who are poorly so you can’t find a better charity,” he said.

“I’ve been training for six months now and I’ve been doing 150-200 miles a week, but I am going to be sore as I’m hoping to do over 100 miles a day.”

Roy has lost nearly a stone and a half in weight preparing for the race and says his colleagues at work don’t understand his determination.

“My workmates think I’m mad, a lot of them go bike riding and think 10 miles is a long way,” said Roy.

“I’ve gone down from 11 stone 4lbs since Christmas to 10 stone dead. I’ve done a few rides round Snowdon in preparation, but I’m told the hardest part of the ride is the Lake District.”

To donate funds to Roy’s cause, contact him on 07795 345280. Alternatively call T Gobaith on 01691 671671.