Mark Griffith, a 35 year old care manager from Bristol, will be riding this year’s Action 100 bike ride again this year after last year’s ride inspired him to lose over four stone and helped him to beat depression. 

Less than 14 stone of Mark will be riding in this year’s Action 100 ride on Sunday August 28, 2005, compared to a super-sized 18-stone in 2004.  The ride annually challenges amateur cyclists throughout the UK to cycle 100 miles from Bath and Bristol to London to raise funds for Action Medical Research.

Challenged by a friend, and with just a few days notice, Mark, who rides 10 minutes each way to work and back daily, managed to raise nearly £120 for the charity.  But he feels he was the one who gained the most:

“It really boosted my confidence,” said Mark.  “I was stressed and depressed, but the camaraderie, the set up, the organisation of the whole ride with breaks, refreshments etc made it a real pleasure to be involved.  Beforehand, at 18 and a half stone, I felt like a fat lump.  Being able to ride 100 miles like that was such a sense of achievement that it spurred me on, gave me the confidence to start losing weight, change my eating habits, see a counsellor to help get back some of my old positive self and ultimately also to sort things out at work.”

Originally designed to persuade 100 riders to raise £100 each for the charity, which uniquely funds medical research projects at the point of breakthrough, the Action 100 team this year aims to better 2004’s performance, when 450 cyclists raised over £52,000. 

Cyclists have all day to complete the ride which follows the old A4 coaching route to London through the picturesque rolling Wiltshire landscape in the morning and the flatter route towards Windsor Great Park and Ascot Racecourse in the afternoon.  Riders are fully supported with plenty of refreshment stops, a pub lunch and hot showers and beer available at the finish in Chobham. 

St John Ambulance and Avon Valley Cyclery (for bike repairs) patrol the route to support riders. Return transport to Bristol and Bath is provided for both cyclists and their bikes.

If you would like to the Action 100 Bike Ride, there’s still time to register. Visit the website at www.action100ride.org.uk or telephone Roy Clarke on 0117 973 6993.

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