Alan embarking on virtual ride from Stafford to Paris
Childminder and foster carer Alan Francis has travelled around New York, London and Harrogate in a virtual world as he attempts to complete a 500-mile cycle challenge in aid of Prostate Cancer UK.
Father-of-four Alan, aged 57, from Stafford, now plans to visit Paris while he "journeys" on his exercise bike.
Four years ago he actually walked the Camino de Santiago route, a 500 mile journey across northern Spain, to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.
He said: "On May 14 I will be 58-years-old and would have dearly loved to do the walk in Spain again but because of Covid-19 and restrictions everywhere I cannot do this.
"My wife, Maxine, and I are now foster carers for an eight-month-old baby girl and taking time out to undertake such a challenge is now out of the question.
"Given that being away from home would make life awkward for my family, I bought an exercise bike and, in combination with the occasional ride on my road bike, I will be cycling 500 miles in the month of May.
"I know that it is not the same but I need a challenge and to give me an incentive to keep going I have set a challenge to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK.
"I did something for Parkinson's UK because of my daughter's partner's father and the Camino in memory of my stepmother who died from cancer.
"This time I have chosen Prostate UK as my charity as I suffer from related issues, as did my father and uncle as well.
"I am pledging to raise at least £300 but hope to reach £500 which would be the equivalent of £1 for every mile cycled.
"I must admit I find cycling is a lot easier on the legs but it is harder on the bottom.
"To make it more enjoyable on the exercise bike I have connected up to a Zwift system, a virtual online platform, and have so far 'visited' New York City, London and Harrogate and am looking forward to seeing Paris.
"I began the challenge on May 1 and hope to complete it on or before May 31 and will be logging all my miles so that if anyone wants to donate can do so via my JustGiving page which is associated directly with Prostate Cancer UK."
