Cycle Ride

London to Southend

July 2007

In July 2007 Ray Siggins took part in the annual London to Southend cycle ride. The 60 mile route starts from Victoria Park in east London and then meanders through Essex before finishing in Southend.

"It was one of the most satisfying things that I have done in a long while. I really enjoyed it!" writes Ray. "It was a friend who gave me the idea to enter the event as he had done the same last year, and I thought that it was a good opportunity to raise some funds for PCRF."

"I hadn't known about PCRF until my mother-in-law, Pamela, died in June 2005. She'd been diagnosed in the previous December only five months after her husband, John, had suddenly died. Quite how we coped as a family during those dark months I shall never know. I don't doubt that we must have taken inspiration from Pam's positive attitude, even though she was in so much pain and must have been aware of her own mortality. We love and miss her so much."

"The day itself was ideal for cycling, cool with a little breeze. We set off at 8am and having never done anything like this before I was really quite excited! I was also worried as during the week leading up to the ride I had suffered from a viral infection which had confined me to my bed. Dosed up to the eyeballs, I was oblivious to the breaking news about the doping allegations that were damaging the reputation of the Tour de France!"

"I needn't have worried. The expectation of my donors drove me on and I arrived in Southend feeling surprisingly fresh and very, very pleased with myself!"