A REDDITCH woman is celebrating a ‘big birthday’ by pedalling to Paris in aid of the Royal British Legion.
Sue Edwards’ husband Phil had been thinking she might like to go to Canada or Iceland on holiday and was astonished when she told him her heart’s desire was that they cycle 80 miles a day for four days from London to Paris for the charity.
“We have no military connections but I did the ride once, back in 2011, with my brother-in-law but Sue’s never done anything like this before,” said Phil, aged 57.
“She had given herself two or three challenges for her birthday and had sung with the Solihull Pop Chorus and performed at Birmingham Town Hall and wanted something else.”
The supported ride starts on Thursday, August 31 and finishes on Monday, September 4 under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
“This year they’re also visiting Dunkirk and each morning and evening there’s a memorial service so it should be quite poignant for the riders,” said Phil.
The couple met through running but gravitated to cycling and joined local club Redditch Road & Path CC.
Since then Sue goes out on a Sunday morning spin with the club while Phil, despite being diagnosed with prostate cancer, enjoys the cut and thrust of cyclo-cross and the odd time trial.
Tax manager Sue is rising to the challenge, pedalling from Icknield Street to her work in Kings Heath whenever she can to build her stamina for the big ride.
