A GRANDFATHER has cycled the length of the A5 from Holyhead to London to raise funds for charity.
Starting at Admiralty Arch and finishing at Marble Arch, 49-year-old Anthony “Rondo” Roberts from Acrefair cycled 268 miles along the old A5, in four days.
He has raised £3,000 for charity – and now wants to raise £2,000 more.
“It was hard, but I didn’t realise just how hard it would be,” he said.
Anthony is no stranger to raising money for charity, having raised thousands of pounds for Hope House with other members his football team Cefn United over the years. He was inspired to share the money with Nightingale House this time after his mother-in-law spent her final days there earlier this year.
Anthony hoped to complete the route in three days, but after cycling 100 miles from Froncysyllte to Lutterworth in Leicestershire on the second day, his leg hurt so much that he couldn’t complete the final 90 miles in one burst, and arrived at Marble Arch on day four.
“It was 20 hours altogether in the saddle, along very busy roads. I don’t think I’ve ever been so tired as I was on the second day.”
Anthony was accompanied on his ride by friends Colin Heyward and Paul Vaughan and the trio are holding a fundraising night at Flexsys community hall at 7pm on Saturday, with bands the Swillers, Shotgun Boulevard, New Start and singer Ricky Vaughan.
“I hope it’ll raise another couple of thousand,” he added.
He said he also wanted to thank Briggs Equipment, Dragon Hydraulics, the Co-op store in Rhosymedre, Dupont, Soluaia, Sue’s Community Café, Josies Chip Shop, Eco Mix Concrete, Phil at A. N. Richards, Gavin Martin at Huws Gray, The Duke of Wellington in Acrefair, Gillian Morris, Matt’s Barbers Shop, Dave’s Cycles and Auto Spares and Deb at The Oddfellows for their support.
Sponsorship money raised has been divided equally between the Hope House and Nightingale House hospices, who received £1,500 each.
For his next charity challenge, Anthony said: “I’ve got something planned for two years from now. I don’t want to reveal too much, but I don’t think it’s ever been done before – but it’ll be a different mode of transport.”