Donald's story

A Colerne newsagent is gearing up to ride his sixteenth Action 100 Bike Ride after completing Action Medical Research’s tough London to Paris cycle ride as the oldest rider earlier this year. Now Donald Thompson, 70, has set his sights back on the more local challenge - the Action 100 charity bike ride from Bristol and Bath to London (100 miles) on 28th August 2005 (this weekend) in aid of the same charity.

Thompson will be forming part of an international team of riders from Switzerland, the United States and the UK. Team mates - and friends - Wayne Fisher, Michael Marchesani and Bill Thiele will all fly in for the weekend to participate. Thompson first cycled with his team mates on a 300 mile Tour de Maine ride last year in the States.

He was first attracted to supporting Action Medical Research in 1987 when he saw an advertisement in a Bath bike shop asking for riders to cycle 100 miles to London. He is also keen to support the wide variety of conditions and disabilities that are helped in the process.

“The four day London to Paris ride, which we completed last month in aid of Action Medical Research, finished in Paris in time to watch Lance Armstrong take his fourth Tour de France title, which was a huge thrill,” said Thompson. “It was a completely different challenge to the Action 100, which goes further in a day and passes through some of England’s most beautiful countryside, and has the most incredible sense of camaraderie. I wouldn’t miss it for the World!”

So if he can do this at 70.... I'm worn out just thinking about it.