W Bro Mark Wooldridge reports

I would like to take this opportunity to highlight a supreme effort by W Bro Jason Gaines-Burrill to raise funds for the Woking & Sam Beare Hospice by undertaking the London to Edinburgh to London 2022 bike ride.

His endeavours have captured the imagination of his brethren, companions and friends alike. From an initial target of £2,000, he has raised a total of £3,438.26.

The Woking & Sam Beare Hospice is leading the way in specialist palliative care for individuals with life-limiting and terminal illnesses

Initiated into Sanitarian Lodge No 3458 in 2006, Bro Jason took the chair in 2011, then again in 2015 and now serves the Lodge as DC and charity steward. Since 2015, he is also a Companion of the Sanitarian Chapter No 3458.

Jason took part in the London Edinburgh London 2022, a 1500km self-supported cycle ride between the capital cities of England and Scotland. Although this is not a race, riders only have 125 hours to complete the circular ride. Thirteen points along the route provide them with drinks, hot meals and everything they may require to keep going.

The only thing Jason needed to bring was his bike and no small amount of courage, perseverance and physical as well as mental strength.

His wife Sue also joined the event as a volunteer and provided her husband and, indeed, many other riders great support to sustain them.

The ride is a test of mental and physical resilience.

 The difficulties of riding an undulating terrain were exacerbated by the extreme heat that came over Britain in summer.

Jason started his journey on August 7th in Debden, Essex, and completed in the early hours of the 12th. As secretary of the Lodge, I followed his progress and updated the Brethren through our WhatsApp group. To complete around 250 miles every day, Jason would ride until past midnight before starting again at the early hours of 5/6 AM.

We, in the Lodge, are all immensely proud of his achievement.