A former student has just completed his final preparation session at the University of Worcester ahead of a 200-mile cycle challenge across some of the UKs most challenging terrains.
55-year-old Tony Frobisher already counts the London Marathon, a cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats, climbing Kilimanjaro and a trek to Everest among his accomplishments, and in the coming weeks he’ll be climbing Scafell Pike and then cycling 200 miles to climb Mount Snowdon to raise money for Acorns Children’s Hospice.
Tony came to the University last year for a professional ‘bike fit’, where experts examined his riding goals, his history, his anatomy, and his position on his bike to optimise his performance, and since then he has been taking part in tests to see how much of a difference his training has been making.
Tony said: “I’ve been coming along to have analysis done on various physical aspects of my body, from my respiratory system to my blood, to assess my fitness. Then that data has been used to give me the right pointers for fuelling myself and carrying out my training.”
He continued: “I’ve definitely noticed my stamina is much improved thanks to a better fuelling strategy, and following this round of treadmill testing I’ve learned my overall body fat has decreased.”
While he has been at the University, he has been speaking to students and staff and giving presentations on what he’s doing. He said: “I’ve been a case study for nutrition students, and I’ve given a lecture on my fundraising to sports business students too.”
Tony began fundraising in 2007, after his triplet daughters were born prematurely. Sadly, his daughter Jewel passed away at just 17 days old.
Mila had severe cerebral palsy and often received respite care at Acorns Children’s Hospice. Sadly, in 2016 she became ill and passed away at the age of just 10.
Tony’s other triplet daughter, Louisa, is now 18. Louisa is blind in one eye and autistic, and she has raised more than £3,000 for Acorns by running around Worcester’s Pitchcroft Racecourse and climbing the Malvern Hills.
Looking ahead to his challenge, Tony said: “I haven’t set a firm date yet, there have been niggles here and there, a few injuries, but I’m hoping to go in the middle of June now. I’m feeling confident in terms of my fitness, but the challenge is really, really tough.”
Tony’s well on his way to his fundraising target, and if you’d like to help make a difference to the work Acorns Children’s Hospice do, follow this link to donate: https://www.justgiving.com/page/twopeakstwopedals
For information on courses at University of Worcester visit www.worcester.ac.uk or for application enquiries telephone 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk