Bike Some Noise For Heart London
Global's 'Make Some Noise' Charity Day is being held on Thursday October 9th. As part of this amazing event, people from around our network of radio stations will be cycling from Lands End to John O Groats on 'static' cycles to help raise money for disadvantaged children and young people across the UK and here in London.
Our 'Local Champion' who will be cycling for us on the day is Roger Maddams who will be raising money for CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young), a charity he has been working with since 2008.
What's your story?
The charity CRY approached me to be the London champion representing them. I first became aware of the charity in 2008 after the sudden, unexpected & tragic death of my youngest son Jack. He was 17 years old, in the prime of his life - he was in the England Schoolboys football squad alongside his Kent Schools teammate Chris Smalling (who has since gone on to play professionally for Manchester United and represented England at the World Cup in Brazil) represented his school in rugby, football and athletics and was off to University to study Fine Art as he was an extremely talented artist.
Jack went to bed one night in a happy mood...and never woke up, he had an undetected heart condition which proved fatal that night and his funeral was 8 days later on what would have been his 18th birthday.
Since then, my family and I have worked as hard as we can for the charity to raise fund & awareness for the charity in order to run screening sessions to test people between 14 & 35 years old for these previously undetected conditions.
What are you hoping to achieve by taking part in Bike Some Noise?
I'm hoping to raise awareness. So far since 2008 we have raised around £80,000 for heart charities including CRY and have heart screened over1,200 people, we know of several instances where these tests have saved lives.
Our next session along with CRY is on 21/22 October at my sons' school in Rochester, Kent, So Our big fund raiser is the bike event Tour de Kent, taking place for the 2nd time next May. Our target is to raise £100,000 and involve at least 1,000 people in the various bike ride distances, family walks & family fun day we are planning now Myself & my wife were fortunate (& surprised!) to be honoured with the "Pride in Medway" award for this last March.
How far are you hoping to cycle?
This summer I cycled from home to my son's in Nottingham (164 miles) one lovely day and I also rode 250 miles from London to Paris in a continual 24 hour charity ride for Scope in July. I reckon I can do 17 miles for each hour, so you want me on the bike! When I leave Heart FM, I'm off to Rome to ride the Gran Fondo Campagnolo Roma on Sunday.
Who's your favourite Heart presenter and why?
Jamie Theakston - us tall people need support sometimes.
What are you most looking forward to about coming down to the Global HQ in London and participating in Bike Some Noise?
I'm visualising the "Get Back" film shoot that was the last time the Beatles ever played together, on the roof of Apple Records in central London. That's my vibe...on the roof!
Who's your favourite pop artist and why?
If I can't have the Beatles collectively I'll have to pick Paul McCartney. Genius. Timeless. The Fabbest of the Fab.
What's your favourite musical decade and why?
1970s - when I was growing up in Sutton (& listening to the likes of Capital 194) What's song would you play air guitar to and why? 'Help!' by the Beatles. Cyclists (especially tall cyclists) need whatever we can get, especially if fundraising.