Leamington marathon runner is cycling as well to remember a loved one

Brian O’Sullivan’s brother-in-law Geoff Bullivent died at the age of 56 after suffering a brain haemorrhage in April last year - and because the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance was involved in his medical care, Mr O’Sullivan has decided to raise as much as he can for the charity one year on.

Not only will the 45-year-old self-employed plumbing and heating worker take part in this year’s London Marathon in April, but he is also organising a team cycling challenge later this month to cover the distance between John O’Groats in Scotland and Land’s End in Cornwall over two days on exercise bikes at the Nuffield Gym in Leamington.

Mr O’Sullivan, who has run half marathons before but never a full marathon, said: “I wanted to mark the one-year anniversary of Geoff’s death by doing something in his memory.

“After deciding to do the London Marathon, I was trying to come up with different ways of fundraising. I spoke to one of the instructors at Nuffield who suggested I do a distance challenge. Then it grew into cycling the equivalent - 850 miles - of the distance from John O’Groats in Scotland to Land’s End in Cornwall on exercise bikes in the gym.”

With three exercise bikes at the gym, Mr O’Sullivan is hoping to recruit a good number of friends to take part, while members of the air ambulance crew have said they will come along over the weekend of the challenge - February 22 and 23 - to help gather sponsorship.

Mr O’Sullivan said: “The more people I can recruit, the easier it will be! I can normally cycle between 20 and 25 miles per hour, so I think that over the two days we will be able to cover the distance.”

To sponsor Mr O’Sullivan, visit virginmoneygiving.com/brianosullivan