Ryan's Pedal for Plymouth
Published on 01 July 2024 11:31 AM
We are constantly blown away by the lengths our incredible fundraisers go to raise money for our cause and we are so delighted to share that local resident and long-term supporter of our work, Ryan Barwick, is set to embark on an extraordinary cycling journey from London to Paris to raise vital funds for Age UK Plymouth.
We were lucky enough to receive the support from Ryan and the team at Sky when they very kindly delivered our quarterly Prime Magazine, exclusively made by Age UK Plymouth. The team delivered Prime to over 290 locations in Plymouth and the surrounding areas, which was extremely invaluable as this enables us to inform more local people about our work, but also advertise our services to those who need it most, who otherwise might not know where to turn.
Setting off in London on July 7th, Ryan’s 300+ mile pedal to Paris will support our efforts in providing essential services to over 50’s, individuals living with dementia and their carers in Plymouth, where his commitment to our cause is deeply personal. “My step mum Eilish has Lewy Body Dementia and Age UK Plymouth were there to help and support our family so I thought I would try and raise a few quid for them. I’ve also seen the other great work they do with the elderly, veterans and people within the community first hand.”
Ryan fondly remembers the impact of our services had: “She really loved it with all the games and music etc and I would highly recommend it for anyone with a family member with dementia and it also offered much needed respite for my Dad. Since then, I have also done some volunteering along with some colleagues as part of my job working for Sky. We got to see how much help Age UK Plymouth provides in other areas as well and I decided I would like to try and raise some money for this worthy cause.”
The journey will see Ryan travel through scenic countryside’s, steep hills and busy city streets arriving at one of the most iconic landmarks in the world, The Eiffel Tower. We managed to catch up with Ryan before he sets off to know how he is gearing up for his journey ahead.
How you have been preparing for your journey?
“I have been trying to get outside on the regular training rides around Plymouth and Dartmoor when the weather is good. When the weather is not so good or I have less time then I use my bike in my garage on a smart trainer on an app called Zwift. This is able to replicate real cycling and is kind of like a PlayStation style game for cyclists. It’s fun and lets you cycle virtually with other people around the world. I have also been losing some weight which is an added benefit and makes it so much easier to cycle up hills.
What are you most looking forward to?
“I’m most looking forward to finally cycling into Paris on the last day and seeing the Eiffel Tower in the distance for the first time. I’m a big fan of the Tour de France as well and riding down some of the same famous iconic roads will be amazing.”
What do you think your biggest challenge will be?
“I think the long distances and the consecutive days of cycling will be the biggest challenge. This will test my stamina and physical fitness and I know it can be hard mentally as well. Knowing it’s all for a good cause though will give me the motivation I need.”
How can people support and cheer you on from home? (fundraising page, social media etc)
“If anyone wants to support me they can go to my JustGiving page and any help would be greatly appreciated. I will also be posting daily updates of my ride on Instagram and Facebook, people can follow my route on my Strava page where I track all my rides.”
A true patron for loving later life in Plymouth on tour! Ryan will be sharing frequent updates from his journey on his social media, so you can be sure to help motivate and cheer him on from home.
Instagram: ryan_barwick
Facebook: Ryan Barwick
Strava: Ryan Barwick
You can also donate to his JustGiving page, where he hopes to raise a staggering £1,000 for us! All money raised remains in Plymouth, which is exactly where it matters most to Ryan. Your support enables us to continue supporting our community and making Plymouth a place where people love later life.
“We support many people who want to show their thanks in a number of ways, from a very kind donation, to taking part in a half marathon or even a trek across the Sahara. Ryan is taking on a wonderful new challenge to show his support of the charity and we cannot thank him enough. The challenge itself will be incredibly tough, that’s without all the training hours that have gone into preparing for this! We know he will do an incredible job and wish him all the best – stay safe and we cannot wait to hear all about it when you are back. Good luck from the entire Age UK Plymouth team – you can do it!"
Tara Dale - Head of Fundraising, Age UK Plymouth.
We truly wish him the best of luck on his journey where he will be wearing his Age UK Plymouth t-shirt proud. His heartfelt personal story and connection to our work makes this fundraising effort even more special and we are so fortunate to receive the support from people like Ryan, who are so determined to make a local difference for older people in Plymouth.