Jim Windass, 63, to cycle 2,500 miles of America's Route 66 in memory of wife Christine
A HULL man is preparing to cycle almost 2,500 miles of Route 66 in America in memory of his wife.
Jim Windass, 63, aims to raise £10,000 for Dove House Hospice in Chamberlain Road, east Hull, where his wife, Christine, passed away in July 2010.
Christine battled breast cancer for 18 years before losing her fight for life, aged 58.
Now, Jim is raising money for the hospice to show his appreciation for the care she received and the kindness staff showed the whole family.
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He will fly to Los Angeles on August 3 before spending three weeks cycling through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and finishing in Chicago.
Jim, of east Hull, said: “Christine was one of those people who never complained once and never blamed anyone else.
“If I can gather a small amount of the strength she showed, this challenge is going to be easy.
“My experiences of Dove House over the four days we were there were excellent.
“When people are so professional and friendly, it makes that journey that bit easier.”
Jim will begin his trip at Loving Heart Hospice in Los Angeles and finish at Rainbow Hospice in Chicago, cycling 2,451 miles.
He is training six days a week, cycling 30 to 60 miles on his bike three or four times a week, taking part in four spinning classes and having sessions with a personal trainer.
Jim will face varied terrain and temperatures and plans to stay in a motor home overnight. He said: “The Rocky mountains will be a bit hilly.
“Arizona is pretty arid, so that will be warm.
“There is only about 85 per cent of Route 66 remaining that is road.
“Some of it is turnpikes or motorway and some of it has disappeared altogether, so we will just do as much of it as we possibly can.”
Jim’s friend Stephen Horncastle will drive the motor home and Jim’s youngest son Andrew, 25, will fly out to meet him in Oklahoma.
“The biggest challenge will be mental,” said Jim. “Focusing every day and going through the mountains and deserts won’t be easy. “I aim to average 100 miles a day in three two-hour sessions at 15mph.
“If I achieve the goal of raising £10,000, Dove House can carry on providing that service which I found so very helpful.
“Christine went through 18 years of pain with cancer without complaining, so doing a bike ride is nothing.”
Jim has raised £7,400 so far.
Visit www.cycle66.co.uk or donate via Jim's Virgin Money Giving page.
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