On Sunday 10 August Harry Walton defied the wind and rain that lashed southern England in the wake of Hurricane Bertha to finish the RideLondon-Surrey 100 cycle sportive event for PAC.
Four hours and 21 minutes after setting off with the 20,000 assembled riders in London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, a soaked, hungry and cramped Harry crossed the finish line on The Mall.
"Once the klaxon sounded it felt more like a race than a sportive" said Harry. "Riding through traffic-free streets was a rare treat".
Safety concerns due to the extreme weather led to the course being cut from its original 100-mile route.
"The rain was relentless, and at times the ride felt like a solo" said Harry. "I was exhausted but relieved when I returned to London. Seeing familiar landmarks like the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben lifted my spirits".
"I’ve grown up in a close and caring family and never had to think about what it means not to have that stability. My family are the most important people in my life and I would be lost without them. It can’t be easy for anyone affected by adoption and I want to raise sponsorhip so that PAC can maintain its essential work with all those who are in need of expert support.”
You can help Harry to reach his £1,000 sponsorship target and see more photos from his training schedule and the day itself, on his fundraising page.
Cheque and bank transfer options are here and other ways to support PAC's work can be found here.
"Once the klaxon sounded it felt more like a race than a sportive. Looking at my GPS timings, this first section was by far my fastest, averaging 38.27km per hour for the first 17 miles! Riding through traffic-free streets was a rare treat"
"The rain was relentless, and at times the ride felt like a solo slog"
"I was exhausted but relieved when I returned to London. Seeing familiar landmarks like the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben lifted my spirits (though my expression doesn’t seem to reflect this)"
"Soaked, hungry, and beginning to cramp, I endured 4 hours and 21 minutes of hurricane Bertha's fury to cross the finish line on The Mall. For some it was a moment of triumph, but for me, I was just relieved to have survived my first sportive!"
