6th-16th February 2015

On 6 February seven CRY supporters took the overnight flight to Delhi to take on the challenge of a lifetime. They formed part of a group of 63 cyclists of all abilities who had one thing in common – to raise funds for heart charities. This was the Big Heart Bike Ride 2015, cycling 390 km in 5 days through rural Rajasthan.

Ages ranged from 15 to 68, and all completed their challenge with nothing more than a few grazes and the odd queasy tummy. They rode through sand dunes and fields of mustard flowers, negotiated camels, cows, goats and boar, all the while cheered on by smiling schoolchildren who appeared from seemingly nowhere.

Accommodation was in the faded grandeur of old Indian palaces – the shower may have had to be fixed with surgical tape, nearby wedding celebrations complete with fireworks continued till the early hours, jackals barked throughout the night, but the food, the laughter and the company made up for all that.

Our party of 7 may have returned with temporary aches and blisters, but with permanent friendships and memories. But more importantly than all of that, together they raised £15,247.01 for CRY.

Alison Howard