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Cyclist Jim Sonerson, 88, vowed he had at long last retired from marathon bike rides in aid of charity, but the Warkworth RSA’s desperate need for a lift has persuaded him to get back in the saddle.
Jim plans to ride a stationary bike for 400km outside Warkworth New World next month in a bid to raise $5000 to go towards the RSA’s lift appeal.
He will ride on Friday, September 10 and Saturday, September 11, between 10am and 4pm. He hopes to cover 200km each day, with an average speed of 33.3km/h.
Despite his age, Jim has few qualms about the attempt.
“If it was up over 40km an hour I would be worried,” he says.
Jim says one of his motivations is his wife, Judy, who suffers from fibromyalgia and struggles to access the RSA without a lift.
The proposed lift will take visitors from the downstairs carpark up to the bar and restaurant area and will cost $100,000.
RSA district president Bob Harrison says a fair percentage of the RSA’s older members, many in their mid to late nineties, find the absence of a lift a major problem when visiting the RSA.
“When you consider what they have done for the RSA over many years and what they have done for their country, a lift is way overdue,” he says.
Jim’s previous marathon bike ride was two years ago. He covered 1000km over five days and raised $10,000 for Harbour Hospice.
To support Jim’s bike ride for the RSA lift, visit www.givealittle.co.nz and search for “Warkworth RSA Big Ride.”
