Bike challenge in memory of father

Amy Thorley is taking on the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) London to Brighton bike ride this summer in memory of her father Allen Bower.

Mr Bower died from a heart attack when Mrs Thorley, 39, was 21 years old.

He had recently returned from a canal boat holiday with her mother Carol when he collapsed.

Mrs Thorley has always struggled with her weight but 18 months ago she weighed more than 20 stone and was at her heaviest.

With three young girls to think about and the memory of losing her father still fresh in her mind, she decided to lose eight stone by her 40th birthday this July.

She began running 5km along the coast and took up swimming regularly.

She has now lost five stone and is well on track to being ready for the 54-mile bike challenge.

Mrs Thorley said: “Losing my dad like that at such a young age has had a real effect on my attitude to life.

“Now I just think ‘why not?’. It’s this attitude that’s led me to take on the London to Brighton Bike Ride because why not do something new and challenge myself?

“My friend did it last year and I want to prove to the world that just because I’m overweight, it doesn’t mean I’m not healthy.

“If he can do it, so can I.”

Mrs Thorley, from Worthing, said her first training session on the bike was hard work but she kept telling herself to keep going.

She said: “I think I only covered one or two miles but I was determined to prove I could do it.

“I got back on the bike the next day and the next.

“Five months later and here I am in February able to cycle 16 miles a day.”

Mrs Thorley is determined the London to Brighton ride will be the challenge she needs to lose her last three stone and get to her target weight.

The bike ride has been going for more than 40 years and is Europe’s oldest charity cycling event.

It regularly attracts thousands of riders every year and raises vital funds for the BHF’s work.

Places are still available for this year’s event and more details can be found at bhf.org.uk/L2B.