Bike ride is something to shout about (From Bromsgrove Advertiser)

Bike ride is something to shout about

1:58pm Thursday 22nd May 2008

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BROMSGROVE'S town crier will swap his familiar green and silver regalia for cycling shorts when he sets off on a gruelling 1,000-mile bike trip along the length of Britain to raise cash for charity.

Operating theatre nurse Kevin Ward, aged 53, from Broad Street, Sidemoor, and his pal Pete Salmon, from Rednal, are preparing to set off from Land's End on Saturday and ride all the way to John O'Groats.

“I want it to be a challenge for me because I am an experienced cyclist and want my sponsors to feel I have worked hard for their donations."

Town crier Kevin Ward

The pair have opted to take a longer route to avoid travelling on busy main roads.

Kevin, who has been Bromsgrove's bellman for 23 years, said so far they have raised £2,000.

They plan to split the cash between Cancer Research and St Barnabas School in Zomba, Malawi.

Kevin's interest in the African school was fired several years ago when he and his wife played host to a teacher from the African school when he visited the town.

Kevin, who works at Kidderminster hospital, is a keen cyclist and has been getting fit by cycling 70 to 90 miles per day.

"I want it to be a challenge for me because I am an experienced cyclist and want my sponsors to feel I have worked hard for their donations," he said.

He hopes to meet fellow town criers en-route on the 13-day trip when the pair will stay in youth hostels and guest houses.

He plans to pack his fancy crier's waistcoat and a small hand bell in case he's called on to do a spot of crying.

"My big bell weighs seven and a half pounds and is far too heavy to carry on the bike," he laughed.

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