Teacher to ride 100 miles a day for children's hospital

Jul 16 2010 By Rupert Basham

ST lands

THE DEPUTY head of a Sunbury school will be starting his summer holidays by cycling over 1,000 miles across the country from John O' Groats to Lands End.

Stephen Norwood, a teacher at Chennestone Primary School, will be setting off from the Scottish village on Monday (26) and will be cycling an average of 100 miles a day, to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Mr Norwood wanted to raise money for the famous London hospital as his 11 year old son James is a regular patient.

Mr Norwood, said: "My son has Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. It's the type of illness that's dormant at times. He can struggle to put weight on his legs and it can affect his ability to hold a pen. He can become quite ill. It lasts about 12 weeks with a series of different ailments then he'll be totally clear. This happens about two to three times a year. As a parent visiting Great Ormond Street Hospital I have been so impressed by how supportive and understanding staff are in dealing with children who are anxious, upset and in pain."

Aiming to complete the mammoth trip in 12 days, the deputy head is hoping to cover 100 miles a day by cycling for 10 to 12 hours and then pitching a tent and sleeping on the roadside.

During the cycle Mr Norwood will be celebrating his 44th birthday, and as a treat he will be taking time off when he reaches York, to spend the day with his wife and children.

In preparation for his trip he held a special assembly for his pupils at the school, in Manor Lane.

Claygate resident, Mr Norwood, said: "Everyone at the school is excited. I threw an assembly the other day in which I showed the pupils all the equipment so they can see what I'm taking. They've also learnt the geography of where John O' Groats is and where Lands End is. It is not going to be easy cycling so many miles day after day but I'm really looking forward to the challenge of it and seeing the changing landscape of the British mainland along the way."

Hoping to raise £2,000, anyone interested in sponsoring Mr Norwood, visit www.justgiving.com/Stephen-Norwood