Well-Mad Ride website goes live

Posted by pt91 at Dec 06, 2010 10:50 AM | Permalink

You might think that anyone who plans to cycle right round the world may well be mad, even to raise money for charities, but that is exactly what Ian Reeds, in the School of Archaeology and Ancient History at the University of Leicester plans to do.

His aim is to raise £100,000 to be divided between two charities, the MS Society and the Leicestershire and Rutland charity Hope Against Cancer, which funds fourteen cancer research projects at the University, with four more currently advertised.

The website for this crazy venture has just gone live on wellmadride.org and that’s the place to look if you would like to follow Ian’s progress before and during the ride, or sponsor him or donate to the charities he is supporting, or set up a school link – or even if you’re just plain curious.

In fact, the 'Well-Mad' title of the cycle challenge refers, not to Ian’s state of mind, but to the opposing points on the Globe which he will cycle through – Wellington in New Zealand and Madrid in Spain.

Built into this amazing adventure will be 20 countries, 20,000 miles and establishing school links around the world, in addition to Ian’s aim to raise £50,000 each for the two charities.

I have lost a number of work colleagues and cycling friends from cancer,” Ian said, “and with MS, I have seen the damage that the disease can cause, and was shocked by the lack of treatment or cure available. I wondered how – or if – I could cope in a similar situation.”

A number of events are coming up to raise money for the ride. A raffle for a £500 bike, supplied by Websters Cycles of Leicester: tickets are £2 each. Contact Ian on ijr4@le.ac.uk. There was e a Well-Mad area at the Clarendon Park Christmas Fair on Queen’s Road on 5 December; and on 23 December the Leicester group Bandjaxed will perform a charity gig at The Musician in aid of the Well-Mad cause, where the raffle draw will take place.

Ian’s challenge will start on 2 April 2011 and he will be away for around 180 days. You can follow his progress through the blog on his website.

Ian added:

My employer, the University of Leicester, has been incredibly supportive of the ride and offered their help in many different areas, from sponsorship to printing. I am particularly grateful to my colleagues in my own department – the School of Archaeology and Ancient History – for their support from day one of this project and for allowing me the leave to do the ride.”

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Well-Mad Ride website goes live