I'm a double cancer survivor, cyclist and walker who does various challenges for different charities, mainly cancer-related.

In 2016 I climbed every single 'Birkett' in the Lake District - all 542 fells over 1,000' within the National Park, including all 214 Wainwrights. I've also done a three-week cycle tour of Tasmania in February 2015 and amongst other things, I've cycled from Land's End to John o'Groats (2003), Rotterdam to Lemvig (Denmark) (2005), walked the Pennine Way (2008) completed (my first) ascent of all 214 'Wainwrights' in the Lake District in only 55 days (2009), cycled 4,500 miles around the coast of Great Britain (2011), cycled all 42 of the accessible Western Isles of Scotland in under a month (2012), twice abseiled 230 ft from the top of The Big One in Blackpool, cycled the WWI Western Front from London to Compiegne via Ypres and Arras (2014), cycled 750 miles in the Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton (2014), done a bit of sky-diving and cycled Australia's Great Ocean Road - just before lockdown in 2020.

Altogether I've raised over £120,000 for my charities including The Christie, Cancer Research UK, the Rosemere Cancer Foundation, and ABF (The Soldiers' Charity) and I was mightily chuffed to receive the British Empire Medal in the 2014 New Year's Honours List.

I'm a Rotarian and give illustrated talks about my adventures in exchange for a donation to charity, so if you're looking for a speaker leave me a message. I am also Event Organiser for the Ribble Valley Ride Cycle Sportive, to be held this year on Sunday 5 September 2021 - more details at www.ribblevalleyride.org

You can also follow me on Twitter - @CancerBikeMan and on Facebook - just search for Bill Honeywell

Cancer Research UK is the world's leading charity dedicated to beating cancer through research, whilst The Rosemere does fantastic work for patients in Lancashire and South Cumbria.

Friday, 6 May 2011

A Word About Twitter


I had my doubts about Twitter.  Last year I spent a couple of weeks with my brother (@captgreybeard) and felt that perhaps he was becoming a little obsessed with his new-found Tweeters.  Somehow it seemed to be a step too far into the world of social networking.  My modest efforts on Facebook were quite enough, thank you.

But a few weeks ago I decided that the 'immediateness' of Twitter would be perfectly appropriate for my Bike Ride Round Britain's Coast - I could send a quick 'Tweet' whenever I arrived somewhere interesting, or had a few moments to spare. And so I signed up, completely unaware of what would happen next...

Five weeks later I find myself with several hundred 'followers' - some of whom are so supportive of my Cancer Research UK charity that they have already made donations; many others offer encouraging words of support; some have arranged to join me and cycle a few miles en route; @Wiggys, aka Paul Sanders, the Picture Editor of The Times newspaper, sent me his second hand bike-GPS without even knowing who I was (and included a Times cycle shirt!) - trusting me to pay him if it was OK (it was, and I have); @JOG900LE (aka Sharon) gives me loads of encouragement and I suspect is as mad as a box of frogs, but who cares - she will soon be riding to beat blood cancer - Mark Beaumont, the Round the World cyclist, sent words of support, BBC's Sophie Raworth joined the party, and so it goes on...

So I'm definitely a convert. I need to make sure it doesn't get obsessive. But it is a great, immediate form of communication, and if you haven't already tried it, then I can recommend you to.

And if you do sign up, please follow @CancerBikeMan !!
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2 comments:

  1. AlisonF6 May 2011 at 20:42

    I did..........and I'm still not sure what it's all about! It's all your fault.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bill Honeywell7 May 2011 at 08:26

    Remember the old saying Alison - If at first you don't succeed... then hang gliding probably isn't for you! x

    ReplyDelete

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