A district councillor who last year underwent surgery for a brain tumour has challenged himself to cycle 274 miles around West Oxfordshire in August to raise funds for cancer research.
Carl Rylett, West Oxfordshire District Council cabinet member for planning and sustainable development, has pedalled everywhere from Eynsham to Shipton-under-Wychwood and most villages in between.
He chose 274 as the target mileage because £274 represents 10 per cent of the cost of a day of research at one of the Brain Tumour Research Centres.
Mr Rylett’s longest and toughest ride so far was 33 miles which took in Eynsham, Witney, Old Minster Lovell, Asthall, Burford, Shipton-under-Wychwood, Leafield, Ramsden and North Leigh.
Another outing saw him riding through Bampton, Clanfield, Black Bourton, Alvescot, Carterton, Brize Norton, Minster Lovell and Witney.
Another day he rode 26 miles through numerous villages including Sutton, Stanton Harcourt, Northmoor, Standlake, Aston and Ducklington.
All the rides have been documented on his Facebook page.
The challenge is due to be completed on Wednesday August 31 having raised over £1,500 from a Just Giving appeal and Facebook pages.
Mr Rylett said: "Last summer I had an operation to reduce the size of a brain tumour and then radiotherapy to treat the rest. The technology to treat brain tumours is advancing and there is some good research to go further, but it needs funding.
"I’m taking on the Cycle 274 Miles in August Challenge for Brain Tumour Research to help them get closer to finding a cure for brain tumours, the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40."
He added: “The challenge is also a chance to discover more of West Oxfordshire on bicycle, including this past weekend the longest trip of the month with WODC Cycling Champion Ruth Smith, going from Eynsham, via Witney to Burford then up to Shipton and Leafield, and back to Eynsham.
"It's pushed me to go further and to places on bike I probably wouldn't have otherwise. Cycling is a great way to get around and at the same time appreciate the beautiful countryside and villages of West Oxfordshire.
"It's also, of course, good for the environment and personal health."
Brain tumours can affect anyone at any age, according to Brain Tumour Research, and kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer yet just 1 per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to the disease.
Brain Tumour Research is building a network of experts in sustainable research at dedicated Centres of Excellence while influencing the Government and larger cancer charities to invest more nationally.
The charity said: "We are the only national charity in the UK that is dedicated to raising funds for continuous and sustainable scientific research into brain tumours and we are a leading voice calling for greater support and action for research into what scientists are calling the last battleground against cancer."
You can donate at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Carl-Rylett-Cycle274 or through Facebook.
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