A canine-crazy Cannock couple has embarked on a 10-week cycling challenge with their two-year-old pup in a bid to raise £10,000 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity’s Star Appeal. Richard Buka and Holly Necchi are setting off on Barney’s Big Bike Ride – a 2,000 mile fundraiser from the Arctic Circle to the Alps with Barney their King Charles Cavalier-Bichon Frise aboard his very own dog trailer.
Inspired by their close friends, Jacky and Dan, whose five-month-old son Thomas is being treated at Birmingham Children’s Hospital for Oesophageal Atresia – a defect which means his oesophagus is not connected to the stomach meaning he is unable to swallow or feed properly – the couple have chosen to temporarily quit their jobs to show their support for the hospital and spend a ‘gap year’ with their much-loved pooch.
Richard, who will begin work as a doctor in August at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, said: “Thomas is receiving exceptional care at the children’s hospital and this is our chance to say thank you on behalf of our friends, whilst also riding off on the adventure of a lifetime!”
His partner Holly, who will be taking a career break from her role as teacher at King Edward VI Five Ways School, added: “We’re so excited to get started on this wonderful venture. We barely spend any time with our little Barney at home, so this will be the perfect opportunity to make it up to him.
“The plan is to blog, vlog and slog our way from northern Norway, through to Finland, the Baltic States and Eastern Europe, before ending in the Alps – just two bikes, one trailer and a dog!”
Richard and Holly hope to cycle 50 miles a day to raise the much-needed funds for the hospital charity’s £3.65 million Star Appeal, which aims to build the UK’s first centre for children with rare diseases.
Every year Birmingham Children’s Hospital treats more than 9,000 children with over 500 rare or undiagnosed conditions and this new centre will provide a single place within the hospital for all assessment, diagnosis, treatment, information, research and also valuable peer-to-peer support.
To follow their journey, search for @barneysbikeride on Twitter and Barney’s Big Bike Ride on Facebook. Alternatively, to donate or sponsor their epic trip, visit Barney’s blog: www.barneysbigbikeride.com.