Cycle and climb to Ben Nevis in aid of Norwich Cots for Tots

Tim Cave, husband of Julie Cave, Director of Resources at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) has set himself the challenge of cycling from the NNUH to Ben Nevis – a trip of 500 miles and then walking up Britain's highest mountain at the end for good measure.

His previous cycling experience amounts to the odd trundle to the corner shop and a few days out of 25-30 miles so he looked to legend Lance Armstrong for motivational words … “If you worried about falling off the bike, you’d never get on.” “Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever.” and was suitably discouraged!

Tim Cave said “The plan is to do the ride in a six day period and I'm reliably informed that this is the equivalent of running 5 marathons with the added attraction of spending 6 days on a pointy bicycle seat. I hope the sadists amongst you will donate especially generously”.

NICU nurse manager Amanda Williamson said: “We’re very grateful to Tim for getting behind our appeal and organising this fundraiser. Every donation, no matter its size, will make a real difference to us and the babies we look after. We are keenly aware how difficult it can be for families who sometimes have to travel long distances to enable their baby to receive care because all our high dependency and intensive care cots are in use. The expansion of cots will mean that more families are able to stay locally while their baby receives the care they need. We are very excited about allowing this improvement to care that families receive.”

The Norwich Cots for Tots appeal is raising money to pay for an additional 4 cots in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), which will increase the number of cots from 28 to 32. This means more babies can be cared for locally. The NICU is one of only three specialist neonatal units in the East of England. When we are at capacity babies have to be sent to the nearest unit in either Cambridge or Luton. The demand for specialist care is rising; NICU currently cares for over 850 premature and critically ill babies in a year. Supporting our appeal means local babies can be cared for locally.

The ride will take place between 3rd and 9th July 2011 and will follow the following itinerary:-

Day 1 – Norwich to Lincoln 102 miles
Day 2 – Lincoln to York 77 miles
Day 3 – York to Hexham (Northumbria) 84 miles
Day 4 – Hexham to Gorebridge (S.Edinburgh) 92 miles
Day 5 – Gorebridge to Lochearnhead 78 miles
Day 6 – Lochearnhead to Fort William 68 miles

Anyone wishing to support Tim can do so at www.justgiving.com/tim-cave or give a donation in person at the NNUH Open Day and Fete on Saturday June 18th where Tim will have a darts competition to funds for the appeal.