OAP gets back in the saddle for charity (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

OAP gets back in the saddle for charity

7:00am Friday 24th August 2012 in Local By Cadisha Brown

SPRIGHTLY pensioner Graham Bolton has set out to prove you are wheel-y “never too old” to achieve a goal by cycling 50 miles on an exercise bike – to celebrate his 75th birthday.

Mr Bolton, of Bewdley, has set the wheels in motion to complete the bike ride, which he will do in stages of 10 miles, in aid of Kemp Hospice .

Despite suffering from a weak left leg following a stroke a few years ago, Mr Bolton is determined to finish the ride by the end of this week.

He has already done more than 20 miles since starting the ride at the Sebastian Coe Health Club, last Saturday.

Mr Bolton, who had not ridden a bike in 30 years, had originally planned to cycle the 50 miles to Stafford but abandoned the idea as it would have been “too dangerous”

for him to do.

“I wanted to do a bike ride because way back in my youth I did lots of rides on my bike,” said Mr Bolton, who keeps fit at the health club at the Mercure Kidderminster Hotel three times a week.

“I thought if I did it then I could do it now. Everybody talked me out of it because I haven’t been on a bike for 30 years so I’m having to do it in stages. It’s going well. It’s going according to plan.”

He added: You’re never too old to do something. Those lads who have lost limbs in the conflicts – it don’t stop them doing the Paralympics. For those who think they can’t do it – they can.”