A DEDICATED cyclist is set to undertake a gruelling eight-hour challenge in a bid to pedal up cash for the charity which saved his dad’s life.
Jam Price will take to the saddle on Saturday (January 31) when he rides his road bike on a set of indoor rollers from 9am to 5.30pm in aid of the liver foundation at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.
The 43-year-old had initially set a target of £500 to raise but having eclipsed that total in ten days he then stepped it up to £1,000, which has also been topped.
Worcester Cycle Centre will play host to the event and Jam, who works at the College Street site, told The Observer his ‘six million dollar’ dad was the inspiration behind the idea after he had two liver transplants and a kidney transplant at the Birmingham hospital.
“My dad has been ill since I can remember and the first liver transplant saved his life,” he said. “He only had two weeks to live before he had it.
“Throughout the years I have thought about doing something as my way of saying thank you to the people who have kept him alive.
“I get a little bit blase about it because I have been so close to it I didn’t really take it all in – especially when I was younger – but he is still here and living today. He is like a six million dollar man.”
The cycle centre will still be open for business on Saturday, but along with the challenge there will also be a tombola, a cycling jersey auction, guess the mileage and refreshments throughout.
And Jam, who cycles to the City from Stourport on Severn most days, also said he would be riding the miles for another friend of his, Richard Smith, who has also had to have a liver transplant.
“My dad is the main influence but there is also Richard and he is an inspiration,” he added. “He had his transplant and has been living life to the full after that.
“He has gone on to compete in the Transplant Games in the last few years and has won gold medals, but he actually not manages the cycling transplant team as well which is amazing.”
Readers can visit https://www.justgiving.com/Jam-Price/ to sponsor Jam for the event.
