Karan’s cross-France ride for ‘big brother’

Saddling up: Karan Coleman has been training on an off road ready for her challenge in France.

Karan Coleman was devastated when David Whyatt died of a heart attack while in New York last November.

The 50-year-old, who works for Futures Advice Skills and Employment in Mansfield, has since channeled her energy into raising money for the British Heart Foundation.

Already she has held a fundraising event at local pub the Black Swan in Edwinstowe.

Now Karan is ready to step up her efforts with her trip from Bordeaux to Narbonne as part of the Breeze Ladies Cycling Network, starting on 19th July.

“The shortest I will cover in a day is 25 miles and the longest is 50 miles, but the big difference to some rides is that I will be carrying my sleeping bag and camping gear,” said Karan, who has been training on road and mountain bikes.

“I’ve done an 80-mile ride to Skegness, but the heat is likely to make it quite tough.”

Karan is planning to complete a bike ride from Cambodia to Vietnam next October if all goes well.

She added: “It’s an ambitious target, but I’ve always believed that you have to aim high and I want to make David proud.

“I’m only going to have one big brother and his passing was hard to take, but the fantastic response I have had to my fundraising has restored my faith in people.”

Karan also hopes to set up a British Heart foundation fund raising group in Mansfield.

A meeting for those interested is being held at the Talbot pub in Mansfield on Thursday 11th September between 5pm and 7pm.

Coronary Heart Disease is responsible for almost 74,000 deaths in the UK each year.

“I’m eternally grateful to the sponsorship of ZR Vinyls who have printed all of the logos on the T-shirts free of charge, GMB Leicester andmy colleagues at Future Advice Skills,” said Karan.

Sponsor Karan by visiting: www.justgiving.com/karan-coleman