7:00am Friday 30th July 2010
By Amanda Williams
AN Oxford bus driver is to cycle the length of the country to raise money in memory of radio presenter Ali Booker.
Geoff High, 53, from Wood Farm, drives the Oxford Bus Company’s airline coaches from Oxford to Heathrow and Gatwick.
But in just eight weeks he will be riding from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise money for Sobell House as a tribute to the popular broadcaster, who spent her final days at the hospice.
Mr High said: “I have been training for a ride like this for a while now and my brother-in-law mentioned my plans to Phil Tynan, a colleague of his.
“I was delighted to hear he was planning something similar.
“I was a big fan of Ali’s on Radio Oxford and Jack FM and so we thought that raising the money for Sobell House was a fitting way of remembering a remarkable lady.
“We hope the ride will raise around £10,000 for Sobell House.”
Mr High and Mr Tynan will set off on the 874-mile journey on September 9 and hope to complete the ride by September 18.
Mr High added: “We get a lot of jokes about whether it’s up or downhill to John O’Groats, but the prevailing weather means that doing it this way we should have most of the wind and rain at our backs.
“We have a support van with us and we will be staying in youth hostels, camping, or with friends wherever possible.”
Mr Tynan, 40, from Grove, added: “We’ve set ourselves a gruelling schedule. We have to average 100 miles a day.
“Some parts like Cornwall and Devon and Scotland are particularly challenging, so some days we will have to do more than 100 miles.
“We’ve been tough on ourselves in the hope that people will give even more money.”
Louisa Weeks, Oxford Bus Company’s operations director, said: “Geoff is a popular guy and I am sure his colleagues will help him meet his target. We wish both Geoff and Phil every success.”
Sobell House fundraiser Kevin Game added: “Ali Booker was a great friend of Sobell House and a real inspiration to many people. She is sadly missed but it is great to know that Geoff and Phil’s Land’s End to John O’Groats ride will be dedicated to her memory.
“We’re all right behind the guys and their challenge, quite a long way behind them in a comfy chair admittedly, but right behind them nonetheless.
“Their generosity is much appreciated and will help us continue the invaluable work of Sobell House.”
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