Father and son raise £10,000 for new centre after cycling 400 miles in pink tutus

Halesworth GP Richard Kell (right) and his son Jon in St David’s in Pembrokeshire, ready for their 400-mile cycle ride. (Image: Archant)

Halesworth GP Richard Kell and his son Jon saddled up in St David's in Pembrokeshire and spent six days cycling across the country before arriving in Southwold.

They took on the challenge as part of Halesworth Community Nursing Care Fund's £714,000 appeal to build the Information and Support Centre (ISC). They originally set a fundraising target of £5,000, but pledged to ride in pink tutus if they could double that figure – and reached their target three days into their journey.

Mr Kell, 59, who has been a GP for nearly 30 years, said: 'The ride was exhilarating and an experience, but I couldn't say that either of us particularly enjoyed it.

'I've had arthritis of the spine since I was 13, which made the ride extra challenging and meant I had to stop regularly to stretch. But the hardest part was the endless hills we faced every day until we reached Cambridge – they really took it out of us and we both finished the week feeling really washed out.

'We enjoyed some really beautiful scenery along the route, and it was fantastic to be able to share the experience with Jon. We would like to thank everyone who has sponsored us or helped in other ways.

'Although it was a real ordeal, it made it all worth it to raise such a staggering amount.'

The ISC will offer counselling, bereavement support, financial and benefits advice and complementary therapies to around 50,000 local people who currently have to travel up to 30 miles to access services. The pair's efforts have taken the total to more than £388,000. Anyone who would like to sponsor them can visit mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/richardandjon or www.halesworthhealth.org/information-and-support-centre