Dedicated fundraising physio Kevin Harvey has officially put Acorns on the map – with a mammoth cycle ride which forms a giant Acorn.
Kevin has been clocking up the miles as he gears up for Europe’s toughest cycling challenge next month in aid of Acorns Children’s Hospice.
And today (Wednesday 29 May) the 44-year-old, who is a physiotherapist at Acorns, embarked on his biggest training session yet – a 300 mile cycle across the West Midlands.
If that wasn’t tough enough, using route mapping app Strava, Kevin’s journey drew out a giant Acorn.
Kevin said: “It’s been a difficult ride. I got up very very early to start and that was pretty hard. I’ve had some bad spells and the weather turned so it was a bit wet, but it’s nothing compared to the challenges our families face every single day.”
The Race Across Europe is the ultimate test of endurance and will see Kevin travel nearly 3,000 miles through six different countries, cycling up to 180 miles per day.
Beginning on Sunday 30 June in Boulogne sur Mer on the north coast of France, the Race Across Europe sees participants cycle 2,933 miles to reach Southern Spain.
The route crosses the Alps twice, the Pyrenees once and climbs the Alps’ third highest paved road as cyclists make their way to Gibraltar.
Kevin, from Coleshill in North Warwickshire, is hoping to complete the challenge over three weeks, aiming to cycle 150 miles per day.
The tenacious fundraiser will complete the challenge unsupported, facing an emotional and mental battle as well as physical hardship.
Kevin is no stranger to tough feats; he’s completed a single and double Ironman and was formerly the Guinness World Record holder for the fastest marathon runner dressed as a nurse.
Along with Acorns, Kevin is also raising money for the Warwickshire Search and Rescue team, which he supports as a volunteer.
Acorns Children’s Hospice offers a network of specialist palliative care for babies, children and young people with life limiting and life threatening conditions, as well as support for their families.
In the past year, Acorns has cared for over 870 children and more than 1,140 families, including those who are bereaved.
The charity relies on fundraising and donations by the local community for 70 per cent of the £10million it needs each year to run its services.
You can sponsor Kevin by making a donation to his Virgin Money Giving page: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/kevinharvey6
