Lady Blomefield gets on her bike

7:33am Monday 21st January 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

SHOP owner Gina Blomefield from Chipping Campden is more use to peddling her wares than pedaling her bicycle.

But the redoubtable Lady Blomefield, 53, who runs Direct Import, which sells ceramics and gifts at its two shops in Campden and Burford as well as online, is getting on her bike in aid of servicemen and women injured in Iraq and Afghanistan.

She will be joining 300 other amateur cyclists taking part in the Big Battlefield Ride for the Help the Heroes charity in May.

She will be cycling up to 75 miles a day for five days through northern France, visiting the sites of major battles of the First and Second World Wars.

"I have just started my training in earnest," said Lady Blomefield.

"So far the most tricky part has been getting used to my new road bike with its array of gears and strange pedals into which you have to clip your shoes. The Cotswolds are certainly giving me plenty of opportunity to practice hill climbs.

"It sounds really fun but I hadn't realised quite how far it would be. I shall want to be able to enjoy it and not for it to be a complete misery," she said.

Her ladyship should be up to the challenge and is used to keeping fit. She has run two marathons in the past but says she is no longer up to running long distances.

Lady Blomefield has also chosen to support the Help for Heroes and the locally-based Kate's Carers charities for her annual bargain Sale of Sales charity fair at the British Legion Hall at Bourton on Tuesday, February 12 from 10.30am to 3pm. Entrance costs £3 to include limitless coffee, tea and biscuits.

More details of the Help for Heroes charity can be found on the HelpforHeroes.org.uk website.