Midwives gear up for charity China cycle ride

Dereham midwife Eve Brady, left, and student midwife, Rachel Holman get prepared for their part in the Women for Women Cycle China ride for charity.

KATHRYN CROSS

10 March 2010

Bringing new life into the world has to be one of the most rewarding jobs in the world, and probably one of the most challenging.

But two Dereham midwives are gearing up for what could be the most challenging experience of their lifetimes - a 450 kms cycle ride in China.

Eve Brady, a midwife for the past 15 years, and student midwife Rachel Holman are taking part in the Women for Women Cycle China ride to raise funds to improve the health of women and babies through the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Trust.

Television presenter Fern Britton has taken part in four of the rides in previous years in Egypt, India, Cuba and Jordan and is expected to take part in China.

The pair, who are with the Peddars Team of midwives, will fly to Beijing on Saturday, October 16 with around 80 other participants before setting off on bikes through the beautiful countryside of the region, visiting sights such as the Great Wall and the Ming Tombs. They will average around 100 kms a day over five days before returning to the UK on October 25.

But before they go they have to raise £3300 each just to take part and are appealing for help to get to reach their target. All the money goes towards the charity and will be spent on research to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a range of devastating conditions affecting women and their babies, including brain injury, miscarriage, infertility, cancer and genetic diseases.

Mrs Brady said she had been wanting to take part for some time after seeing a leaflet in the delivery suite at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and was spurred into action when another midwife completed the ride in Cuba.

“She said it was a life-changing experience and a real privilege,” she said. “I have never done any cycling before though. I have only been on a bike about four times in my whole life. But my first objective was to lose some weight so I have lost two-and-a-half stone in the past year.

“There is a training weekend in August and I have been told that as long as I train for three months I should be fine.”

Miss Holman is not so worried about the fitness as she is always out on her bike and goes to the gym regularly.

“My main concern is raising the money,” she said. “It is difficult doing fund-raising while I am a student because it is such a lot of work in itself. I saw Fern Britton talking about it and really wanted to do it but never realised I could until Eve told me she was going. I am really going to enjoy it and take my time and see the scenery.”

To sponsor Eve and Rachel visit the webpage www.justgiving.com/evebrady and for more information about the cycle ride visit www.women-for-women.org.