Since 2016, Isle of Wight resident Ian Gregory has each year set himself a number of mammoth challenges to raise money for the charity, Prostate Cancer.
This year is no exception, but after tragically losing his son last year, Ian will be splitting any money raised this year between Prostate Cancer and ‘Daddy’s Little Girl Fund’ – a fund set up for his son’s daughter, Esme.
Different type of challenges
We’re used to seeing Ian cycling each year, but in 2022 the events he’s taking part in are a little different. There’ll be three epic cycle rides, two of which are, Ian says, ‘insane’. There’ are also two half marathons and a 10,000ft tandem skydive.
Ian says we’ll be able to hear him screaming Island-wide when he takes part in that one.
A new Go Fund Me page has been set up for 2022 fundraising challenges, with donations very welcome this coming weekend as Ian takes part in an 102-mile cycle ride.
Against the odds
It’s important to understand that all of these challenges are completed against the odds. More than 25 years ago Ian was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, a chronic pain disorder that affects what he can and can’t do. He also has eight damaged discs in his spine, Arthritis and Tempro-mandibular dysfunction disorder. These all make completing the events far more challenging than they would for most people.
Ian says,
“There are some epic events and I hope some epic fundraising for two good causes.”
A year of challenges
Ian sets out below details of the upcoming events he plans to take part in. After reading about his account of the first event further down the page, you’ll see Ian doesn’t give up easily.
If you can show your support please consider donating via the Go Fund Me page.
102-mile cycle ride
So the next event is the all new Ride London Essex, a 102 mile bike ride from Victoria Embankment, out through Epping Forest and on to Chipping Ongar where we turn north east towards Braintree and then south via Chelmsford and back towards London via Chipping Ongar again for a finish line on Tower Bridge.
This all takes place on Sunday 29th May and I would be so grateful to see the odd donation come in while I’m riding this mass participation event of around 20,000 cyclists. So far the weather forecast looks like it will be a glorious day for such an event and I hope it stays fine, at least until we all finish.
Dragon Ride Gran Fondo (132 miles) bike ride
Then comes Wales and the Brecon Beacons! OMG hills and mountains! So on 19th June I will be taking on the infamous Dragon Ride Gran Fondo, a 213km, (132 mile), bike ride up through the closed roads of the Brecon Beacons taking on serious hill climbs such as the The Bwlch 4.4km at 5.8%, Black Mountain 5.3kmn at 5.8%, Rhigos 5.6km at 4% and the Devils Elbow 1.83km at 10.3% gradients to name just a few.
There is a total of 3,488 meters of climbing over the 213km route. It’s going to take me some time to get round this course, if ever there was a time to have an electric bike! This is definitely one ride I’m not looking forward to, I just hope it stays dry and fine.
10,000ft Skydive
On 10th August comes the 10,000ft Skydive out at Sandown Airport. There a quite a few of us doing this idiotic event, including friends and family members and should make for a great day out.
Skydive IOW are putting this event on for the day and will be guiding us every step of the way. All of us will be jumping with an instructor, so at least we know we will be in good hands. However there is still something not right about throwing yourself out of a perfectly serviceable aircraft! Let’s just see what the day brings, some of us taking part hate heights! How crazy is that?
The Big Half Marathon
3rd September sees me back on my feet again hopefully running The Big Half Marathon in London.
I now have a personal time to beat and better socks, so with luck blisters will be a thing of the past. I know this is going to hurt big time again as my body just can not cope with this type of abuse, but I have to see if I can do it. Was Landmarks a fluke? We shall see.
Sidley London Revolution Ultra (157 miles)
Then comes the final event of the year and a close to my fundraising. The Sidley London Revolution Ultra.
157 miles around the M25 in one day. I tried this a few years back and failed three quarters of the way round as I picked the wrong time of year completely.
That said 1st October could prove to be the wrong time of year also. While the sun was up it was nice and warm, but as soon as it set the temperature dropped just far too much and I had all the wrong gear. This is not a mistake I will make this time.
The event starts at the Lee Valley White Water Centre at Waltham Cross and heads directly south cutting right through London over Tower Bridge and out the other side as far down as the M25/M23 junction by Merstham.
We then turn west through Leatherhead and out towards the A3 at Ripley. Turning north we head for Windsor crossing the M4 and M40 and heading as far up as Great Missenden before we start to head east again crossing the M1 and A1(M) heading for the finish line back at the Lee Valley White Water Centre and a well deserved rest.
London Landmarks Half Marathon
On the 3rd April I managed to complete the first event for the year, the London Landmarks Half Marathon. It was a cold and horrible day for the event to have taken place, especially as my body doesn’t work too well in the cold due to my Fibromyalgia and other chronic pain conditions.
I was dreading this event, I have enough pain walking and now I had to try to run! I had already decided before the event to carry out what they call ‘Run Walk’ for the event as I just had not put in the training that I should have. It started out surprisingly well for the first few hundred metres, but I soon got a reminder of my medical conditions. The pain was relentless and soon I was limping my way past the first mile marker.
Sitting on a saddle and letting your legs turn the pedals is nothing like having to run or walk your way round a route, my hips felt like they were bone on bone grinding away, my sciatica was firing away with a vengeance, just as well I had my tens unit on. My body felt like it was crushed by mile five and I was so close to giving it all up, but all I could think about was my son Lewis and how proud he would be if I reached the finish line, not to mention the rest of the family.
By mile nine my body just felt numb with the odd nerve pain firing every few steps, a blister had formed on my heel that seemed to remind me that I was still alive and that it was going to get bigger and bigger just to add insult to injury.
As I came along the Embankment I could start to see Big Ben and knew the finish line was not that much further to go at Whitehall, but Big Ben actually marked a turnaround point and I could start to see participants going in the opposite direction on the other carriageway, my heart sank as I knew this meant at least another mile to go.
I was so tempted to cross the road, so tempted, but knew I would only be cheating myself, so on I went and managed to complete the course and cross the finish line.
I was immediately offered a wheelchair as I obviously looked in poor condition. I turned them down but all I could think about was where were they seven miles ago? I could have pushed my way around the course!
With my medal around my neck I felt very proud of completing this first-ever half marathon even if it did take me three hours and 25 minutes, and while the donations for this event were not huge, every penny counts and I’m grateful for this.
It took some weeks for the blister to disappear finally and for my body to start walking upright once again!
