COTSWOLD Feature
Saddle up for a cycling challenge
Want to lose a few pounds and get healthy? What does TV doctor Dawn Harper prescribe?
Words by Marianne Sweet. Pictures by Thousand Word Media
FOR TV doctor Dawn Harper cycling started as a prescription to recover from a hit and run accident. That was a decade ago and now
cycling is a passion. Every year she sets herself one cycling challenge which has seen her saddle up for Cardiff, Paris, Brussels and Land’s End. This year’s challenge is closer to
home – and closer to her heart. She will take part in the 100km Harvey 100 Star Cycle Challenge on April 27 to raise money for National Star. The event is named in honour of
Dawn’s son Harvey who has cerebral palsy. Forget TV success and all the trappings that go with it. For Dawn the true inspiration and joy in her life is her son’s steely determination to be charge of his own life. While chatting to Essence,
Dawn, who hosts Channel 4’s Embarrassing Bodies, receives a call from Harvey telling her he has passed his driving test. Her face lights up. “I’m a better doctor and a better
person because of Harvey. Of course, like every parent, I would do anything for Harvey not to have cerebral palsy. But he is so incredibly positive and determined.” Harvey attends mainstream
school. He is taking his A-levels and plans to attend university in the autumn. When Dawn was asked to attend
a fundraising ball for National Star she decided she needed come and see the facility firsthand. “I met a student who had complex disabilities who, thanks to eye- recognition technology, could control his wheelchair, ask for a drink and have some control of his
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life. It was then I fell in love with National Star. “Harvey has true grit – as do all
the students I meet at National Star. What National Star provides them with is the confidence, skills and education to take control of their lives and to make their own decisions, to do the things the rest of us simply take for granted.” So when the discussions started
about holding a 100km cycle challenge through the Cotswolds to raise money for National Star Dawn was ready to be part of the team. “In the past she has held the
Harvey 100 to raise money for charity. She decided now was the ideal time to combine it with National Star to create something special. The route includes some steep
climbs at Bisley, Sapperton and Caudle Green and takes in scenic routes around Kemble, Chedworth, Bibury and Cowley. It is, she says, the perfect
challenge for anyone who wants to shed those extra Christmas pounds and to get fit for spring. “I am no athlete. If I can do it,
anyone can. You have 16 weeks to prepare so that you can have a sensible training programme and build up slowly. “Use the challenge as a
motivation to get fit. It’s perfect as you can see the goal you are trying to reach – and more importantly it is a realistic one.” On average Dawn cycles 50-100
miles every week, trying to include a couple of good hill rides. It is not just about aerobic fitness she says with a smile – it’s about being “saddle fit”. That’s a delicate way of saying one’s backside needs to get used to the bicycle.
| March - 2014
What are the doctor’s top tips for getting fit?
1. Sign up to the Harvey 100 Star Cycle Challenge and convince a friend to do it with you. “If you have someone who is doing it with you then you urge each other on and are more likely to stick to it.”
2. Tell everyone that you are taking part. “That way you can’t back out. I am terribly competitive, not with others but with myself, so when I decide I am going to do something then nothing can stop me.”
3. Be realistic in your training. “You have 16 weeks to prepare so build up slowly”.
She suggests to start with short rides, between 5-10 miles,
three times a week for the first month and then gradually build up to one or two 30-35 mile ride a week. Mileage should be built up slowly to avoid injury and to establish a good base fitness on which to build the stamina you will need to complete the event. Most importantly of all says Dawn is to enjoy yourself.
“There’s no point doing something if you loathe it. Find what you love to do and stick at it.” National Star is a Gloucestershire-based charity working with
people with severe disabilities and acquired brain injuries. Through the charity’s support they access opportunities which improve their life chances and enhance their quality of life. “I have seen how National Star transforms young people’s
lives. But they can’t do this amazing work without community support,” says Dawn who also still works as a GP in the Cotswolds. It costs £20 to register in advance and cyclists are being asked
to raise a minimum £80 in sponsorship. To register call National Star on 01242 524478 or email
fundraising@natstar.ac.uk
www.cotswoldessence.co.uk
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