An epic bike journey from the UK to the Algarve has raised nearly €4,000 for cancer research. The 21-day father-daughter trip saw Garry Clark, 50, and his daughter Abbey, 24, embarking on a 2,800km ride through four countries before arriving in the picturesque village of Ferragudo in the Algarve on Friday (June 22).
The bike ride saw Garry and Abbey travelling through Peterborough, Rochester and Folkestone in the UK; Calais, Dieppe, Le Mans, La Rochelle and Biarritz in France; Pamplona, Villodrego and Salamanca in Spain; and Sabugal, Lisbon and Aljezur in Portugal before finally arriving in Ferragudo.
Enjoying a cold beer under the unrelenting Algarve sun after the impressive feat, Garry told us that the weather was perhaps the toughest part of the journey.
“It really threw everything at us,” he said.
“Torrential rain, a lot of stormy weather throughout Northern Spain, and then through central Portugal we got a lot of heat and were getting off the bike while the temperatures were at 38ºC. The weather played a big part. Physically we were okay, it was more mentally, keeping your mind on the job, and then your body just does what it tells you to do,” Garry explained.
Surrounded by friends and family at the main square in Ferragudo, Garry and Abbey told us that the amount of support that they received even before their journey began was heart-warming.
“You always want support, but you never know if you’re going to get it. It’s always nice when it happens,” Garry said, adding that friends in Ferragudo have also been selling wristbands to add to the total tally.
When asked if they planned to enjoy some time off in the Algarve following the trip, their answer was quick: “Definitely! We’ve now got 10 days to lay back and enjoy ourselves.”
Before they embarked on the journey, Garry explained that his life had been affected by cancer and thus he wanted to do something to support cancer research.
“Thirty-eight years ago, when I was just 11, my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer. Since then my mum has fought and thankfully won several battles with the disease, along with my dad who a few years ago underwent major surgery to remove cancer,” he said.
The money is going towards Cancer Research UK, described as the “world’s leading charity dedicated to beating cancer through research”.
michael.bruxo@algarveresident.com
Photo: MICHAEL BRUXO/OPEN MEDIA GROUP
