Cycling 25 miles for 25 days hasn’t been easy under lockdown, but on-call firefighter and Engagement Officer for Warwickshire County Council’s Library Service, Alison Insley has completed her l...
Cycling 25 miles for 25 days hasn’t been easy under lockdown, but on-call firefighter and Engagement Officer for Warwickshire County Council’s Library Service, Alison Insley has completed her last 25 miles of her 625-mile charity bike ride today.
Alison cycled her last 25 miles on a static bike outside her home in Kenilworth this evening and was cheered on by Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Services Chief Fire Officer, Kieran Amos, Kenilworth Lord Mayor, Richard Dickson, her neighbours, who have supported her throughout the challenge and her family and friends.
A Kenilworth resident since 1990, Alison works full time for the Warwickshire Library Service and has been an on-all firefighter at Kenilworth Fire Station for four-and-a-half years.
Approaching her 50th birthday, Alison wanted to do something which would make a difference and help her to raise much needed funds for her chosen charities, the Fire Fighters Charity and UCL Amyloidosis Research Fund. This was to support her colleagues in the fire and rescue service and to and honour the memory of her mum, who died 25 days before her 36th birthday, after being diagnosed with Amyloidosis.
Although Alison had been planning the charity bike ride for months, the challenge was almost over before it had started, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Originally Alison had planned to ride her bike for 25 miles each day from the 9th May, to the day before her 50th birthday on the 2 June. However, when lockdown began, she knew that wouldn’t be possible and spoke with the Chief Fire Officer, who offered Alison the use of his static bike, so that she could do the challenge from home. As the lockdown has eased, Alison has switched between riding the static bike and getting out on her bike, travelling across the beautiful county of Warwickshire.
“Talking about her final days, Alison said:
“It’s been a tough few weeks with the pandemic almost putting a holt to the challenge before it began, but I said come rain or shine that I would get out on two wheels and get the miles in and that’s exactly what I have done. I have had huge support from all my work colleagues, my family and my neighbours, they have been fantastic. I really don’t know what I would have done without them. They have been cheering me on every day.
“As a firefighter you would expect me to be fit, but in this heat, it has been a real challenge. The most amazing part of all of this is that I have already exceeded my target of raining £2,500, thanks to the generous donations of all those who have read my story. It been an amazing experience and I want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way.”
Alison has had a few surprise visitors during the challenge, including professional squash player Sarah-Jane Perry, who visited Alison outside her home on day fifteen. Warwickshire’s Chief Fire Officer, Kieran Amos and Lord Mayor for Kenilworth, Richard Dickson, who both supported Alison again outside her home on day ten.
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Services Chief Fire Officer, Kieran Amos said:
“We are immensely proud of Alison and the sheer hard work and determination she has put into this charity bike ride. 625 miles in 25 days is not easy on top of your role as an on-call firefighter and your day job. To date Alison has raised over £3,395 for the Fire Fighters Charity, who support firefighters and their families in their time of need and UCL Amyloidosis Research Fund. This is just amazing!
“To reach a milestone of 50 years whilst doing all of this, is I am sure something that Alison, her family, friends and colleagues will be very proud of.”
For more information on Alison’s story or to support her charity bike ride visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=AlisonInsley&pageUrl=1