Cyclist takes on 1,100 mile challenge for Stroke Association in memory of his father

A young Bridgend graduate is taking on a solo cycling challenge of 1,100 miles for charity.

Tom Williams lost his father to a stroke in 1999 when he was just seven years old. Now he’s 22 Tom is determined to complete an incredible fundraising challenge for the Stroke Association, that will see him cycle from Calais to Rome in 14 days.

On Friday 8 August Tom began his journey by train and ferry to Calais. Early Saturday morning he set off from Calais to his first stop in Saint-Amand-les-Eaux. Over the 14 days he’ll cycle to Luxembourg and back through France to Switzerland. Tom will then cycle into northern Italy and down to the coast where he’ll pass the Tower of Pisa on his way to Rome.

Tom explained; “I've just graduated from Cardiff University in Geology and I’ll be doing a conservation internship next year in America so this is my best chance to do the trip. It’s been 15 years since my father passed away and now I’m old enough I can do something really meaningful in his memory and help raise funds and awareness for the Stroke Association. Had my father lived, I know the Stroke Association would have been there to help. They do absolutely amazing work from research and prevention to family support.”

Bridget Stadden, Community and Events Fundraising Manager for Wales, said: “We are so pleased that the Stroke Association will benefit from Tom’s spectacular challenge. We hope that his journey will help us to raise awareness of stroke as well as much needed funds to continue our work.

“There are over 11,000 people across Wales who have a stroke each year and over 65,100 people living with the effects of stroke. Across the UK there are approximately 152,000 strokes every year. That is more than one every five minutes.”