Rochdale man to cycle across America

Jan Harwood and Louis Suttmann

A Rochdale man is making the final preparations for a 4,000 mile bike ride across America to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.
 
Jan Harwood, 24, who works at a boarding school in Salzburg, Austria, will spend his summer travelling from the West Coast in Oregon to New York City.
 
Mr Harwood, an avid Rochdale AFC fan, will be joined by his friend and colleague from the school, Louis Suttmann, 23, from Ohio.
 
The duo will set off from the West Coast in Oregon and head east along recognised bike trails through Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York before finally reaching the Atlantic Ocean.
 
Mr Harwood, said: “I used to love going on bike rides with my dad when I was younger and had always loved the thought of going on a longer biking adventure.
 
“I grew up watching the Tour De France every summer and the idea of a bike ride that would take weeks to finish always appealed to me.
 
“The longest bike ride I ever did was with my dad when I was about 15/16 and we rode from home in Rochdale to Southwell in Nottinghamshire where my grandparents were living, which is just over 100 miles. It took all day and I was so tired I fell asleep at the dinner table and had to be put to bed that night.
 
“By the end of our ride across America we will be doing close to 100 miles every day so I'm under no illusions as to how hard it is going to be.”
 
The pair decided to raise money for the British Heart Foundation to increase awareness of heart health. Mr Harwood has set a fundraising target of £1,000.
 
Mr Harwood concluded: "I would just like to thank everyone for their messages of support and of course for any donations to our chosen charity.
 
“Your kind words will keep us going on the difficult days and I know that every pound you have raised will help drive us all the way to New York City."
 
To sponsor Mr Harwood visit: http://www.justgiving.com/HeartOfAmerica