Intrepid Cyclists Conquer Snowdon

The six men plus two support drivers climbed Mount Snowdon before peddling back to the city over two days to collect a magnificent £2,840 for the Grace Research Fund and Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice. 

The trek was even more poignant for Allan Watts because his daughter, Nicki, works as a nurse in the neo-natal unit at the University Hospital, Coventry and her premature son, Izaak, died in May. 

Allan completed the marathon trip alongside his son, Mark, and colleagues from Whitefriars Housing Association Karl Jhuti, Paul Callender, Trevor Villiers and Aidy O’Docherty plus support drivers Kevin Nugent and Jack Lawler. 

Allan, aged 58, who lives in Lythalls Lane, Coventry, said: “We decided earlier in the year to set ourselves a challenge and raise money for charity at the same time because we all work for the out-of-hours emergency service at Whitefriars. 

“We trained by meeting up in the week and I would take us all out on a few training rides. Some of them had not cycled for 20 years and they realised it wasn’t going to be a stroll in the park." 

“It became more poignant when Izaak died a few weeks before the challenge and it gave us a greater push to raise more money and to complete the walk up Snowdon and the cycle ride back to Coventry. 

“We climbed up Snowdon on a Friday afternoon and then we cycled around 80 miles to Welshpool the following day which was a beautiful ride because we were going up and down mountains and the scenery was lovely, but the weather was atrocious on the final day when we had another 80 miles to cycle. It hadn’t rained for about six weeks and it rained and rained all day. We got back to Torrington Avenue in Coventry about 8.30pm and we all didn’t feel too bad." 

“We would like to thank all our friends, families and colleagues for their generous sponsorship.” 

Dr Andy Coe, Consultant Paediatrician at University Hospital said the efforts of the eight plumbers, electricians and carpenters would benefit babies and their families in Coventry and Warwickshire. 

“The death of Allan’s grandson in the build-up to the mountain walk and cycle ride made the group even more determined to complete the trek up and down Snowdon and the 116 mile ride back to Coventry,” he said. 

“The work his daughter, Nicki, and all the other nurses do on a daily basis is marvellous and it is never forgotten by the families they help. 

“This donation to the Grace Research Fund and to Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice means a great deal.”

PICTURE CAPTION: From the left, Nicki Watts, Sam Watts, Mandy Watts, Allan Watts, Dr Andy Coe, with Robyn Collins and her son Ollie, one of twins, in the incubator