JAMES GRAY COMPLETES COAST TO COAST CYCLE RIDE

James Grey BBC Look North Coast 2 Coast Report from

James and Edward Gray, together with Dr Alisdair McMeechan, Head of Science and Biology completed the gruelling Coast to Coast cycle ride in an impressive three days.  Together they raised over £14,000 for the RFU Injured Players Foundation, a fantastic result.  Here is an extract from James’s  thank you letter to his supporters;

“I was joined on all 3 days by my tutor from school Dr McMeechan and my little brother Ed. Day 1 was the longest day but was helped by the fact that it was the first day and so I wasn’t too tired. My Godfather Mike Nelson surprised me and joined us at Keswick and cycled with us for the rest of the afternoon.

After great food and a comfy bed staying with our friends the Bells, Mike Bell and his friend Alastair kindly led the way up Hartside which was really tough. Day 2 was the hardest day by quite a way as we cycled over the Pennines, including the hills Hartside, Garrigill and Crawleyside.

Despite all the hills the spirits were raised as a number of my friends (Ralph, Eddie and Fergus) again surprised me by  joining us with their parents at the top of Hartside and came all the way to Stanhope with us. Some other friends then ran up part of Crawleyside bank with me which was great fun.

After a night at home in my own bed, day 3 was  the easiest of the three days. We started the day by being interviewed by the BBC which was interesting and good fun.

The day consisted of mostly downhill tarmac, which was very welcome as by then we had many sore body parts! We had lunch at Granny and Grandpa’s house and my three cousins Joe, Charlie and Annie and Auntie Caroline were there…another surprise!”