Latest news with #BikesforRefugees
North Wales Chronicle
20-05-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Cyclist with rare condition breaks record for cycling length of UK and back
Sarah Ruggins, a Canadian wealth manager living in Gloucestershire, cycled 2,700 km (1,677 miles) from John O'Groats to Land's End and back again in five days 11 hours and 14 minutes. The 37-year-old, who started cycling only two and a half years ago, covered 500km (310 miles) a day surviving on just over four hours of sleep throughout the entire challenge. Ms Ruggins' astounding cycle has beaten the men's record of five days 18 hours three minutes, held by James MacDonald since 2017 – by six hours and 43 minutes. She has also beaten the former women's record of 10 days and five hours – held by Louise Harris since 2023 – by four days 17 hours and 40 minutes. 'This ride was a celebration of life and it was a gift to myself and hopefully a gift to others who need motivation,' Ms Ruggins told the PA news agency. 'It's taught me to believe in myself, and it's taught me that women have a place in the upper echelons of sports, not just as women, but across all genders. 'I'm one of the first women to break a men's endurance record. So it shows that we can take up space in the sport, and we need to be taken seriously.' Ms Ruggins, who grew up in Montreal in Canada, was a promising track athlete as a teenager and had ambitions of representing Canada in the Olympics. However, at 16 years old her dreams were cut short after she was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition called complex regional pain syndrome, which caused her to lose the ability to walk and move her hands without support. 'My Olympic dream and everything I thought my life was going to be basically just evaporated overnight, and it took many years of rehabilitation to get my movement back,' said Ms Ruggins. 'I started exploring athletics again, but I found with my new body I couldn't really run so I turned to cycling.' Ms Ruggins, who moved to the UK 10 years ago, initially began training to break the Land's End to John O'Groats running record. However, after discovering that her body was not strong enough to run after her illness she decided to attempt it with two wheels instead. In 2023, she purchased her first bicycle and with under six months of cycling experience, she took on the Transcontinental Race – a self-supported 4,000 km (2,485 miles) ride across Europe. Ms Ruggins, who discovered her talent for endurance sports, said the John O'Groats to Land's End challenge allowed her to confront her two greatest fears: failing publicly and requiring the help of others. 'I really wanted to make an impact and use my story to help others,' she said. 'For me, even when the ride got really painful, it was a celebration, because it was my choice to do this, coming at it from a place of strength. 'I just really wanted to share through this project that your life can change unexpectedly but it means you just need to pivot and find something new that brings you joy.' Ms Ruggins used this record attempt to raise money for The Bike Project and Bikes for Refugees, two organisations that use cycling to support people rebuilding their lives in the UK. To learn more about Ms Ruggins' challenge and to donate to her fundraiser please visit:
Rhyl Journal
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Cyclist with rare condition breaks record for cycling length of UK and back
Sarah Ruggins, a Canadian wealth manager living in Gloucestershire, cycled 2,700 km (1,677 miles) from John O'Groats to Land's End and back again in five days 11 hours and 14 minutes. The 37-year-old, who started cycling only two and a half years ago, covered 500km (310 miles) a day surviving on just over four hours of sleep throughout the entire challenge. Ms Ruggins' astounding cycle has beaten the men's record of five days 18 hours three minutes, held by James MacDonald since 2017 – by six hours and 43 minutes. She has also beaten the former women's record of 10 days and five hours – held by Louise Harris since 2023 – by four days 17 hours and 40 minutes. 'This ride was a celebration of life and it was a gift to myself and hopefully a gift to others who need motivation,' Ms Ruggins told the PA news agency. 'It's taught me to believe in myself, and it's taught me that women have a place in the upper echelons of sports, not just as women, but across all genders. 'I'm one of the first women to break a men's endurance record. So it shows that we can take up space in the sport, and we need to be taken seriously.' Ms Ruggins, who grew up in Montreal in Canada, was a promising track athlete as a teenager and had ambitions of representing Canada in the Olympics. However, at 16 years old her dreams were cut short after she was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition called complex regional pain syndrome, which caused her to lose the ability to walk and move her hands without support. 'My Olympic dream and everything I thought my life was going to be basically just evaporated overnight, and it took many years of rehabilitation to get my movement back,' said Ms Ruggins. 'I started exploring athletics again, but I found with my new body I couldn't really run so I turned to cycling.' Ms Ruggins, who moved to the UK 10 years ago, initially began training to break the Land's End to John O'Groats running record. However, after discovering that her body was not strong enough to run after her illness she decided to attempt it with two wheels instead. In 2023, she purchased her first bicycle and with under six months of cycling experience, she took on the Transcontinental Race – a self-supported 4,000 km (2,485 miles) ride across Europe. Ms Ruggins, who discovered her talent for endurance sports, said the John O'Groats to Land's End challenge allowed her to confront her two greatest fears: failing publicly and requiring the help of others. 'I really wanted to make an impact and use my story to help others,' she said. 'For me, even when the ride got really painful, it was a celebration, because it was my choice to do this, coming at it from a place of strength. 'I just really wanted to share through this project that your life can change unexpectedly but it means you just need to pivot and find something new that brings you joy.' Ms Ruggins used this record attempt to raise money for The Bike Project and Bikes for Refugees, two organisations that use cycling to support people rebuilding their lives in the UK. To learn more about Ms Ruggins' challenge and to donate to her fundraiser please visit:
Leader Live
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Cyclist with rare condition breaks record for cycling length of UK and back
Sarah Ruggins, a Canadian wealth manager living in Gloucestershire, cycled 2,700 km (1,677 miles) from John O'Groats to Land's End and back again in five days 11 hours and 14 minutes. The 37-year-old, who started cycling only two and a half years ago, covered 500km (310 miles) a day surviving on just over four hours of sleep throughout the entire challenge. Ms Ruggins' astounding cycle has beaten the men's record of five days 18 hours three minutes, held by James MacDonald since 2017 – by six hours and 43 minutes. She has also beaten the former women's record of 10 days and five hours – held by Louise Harris since 2023 – by four days 17 hours and 40 minutes. 'This ride was a celebration of life and it was a gift to myself and hopefully a gift to others who need motivation,' Ms Ruggins told the PA news agency. 'It's taught me to believe in myself, and it's taught me that women have a place in the upper echelons of sports, not just as women, but across all genders. 'I'm one of the first women to break a men's endurance record. So it shows that we can take up space in the sport, and we need to be taken seriously.' Ms Ruggins, who grew up in Montreal in Canada, was a promising track athlete as a teenager and had ambitions of representing Canada in the Olympics. However, at 16 years old her dreams were cut short after she was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition called complex regional pain syndrome, which caused her to lose the ability to walk and move her hands without support. 'My Olympic dream and everything I thought my life was going to be basically just evaporated overnight, and it took many years of rehabilitation to get my movement back,' said Ms Ruggins. 'I started exploring athletics again, but I found with my new body I couldn't really run so I turned to cycling.' Ms Ruggins, who moved to the UK 10 years ago, initially began training to break the Land's End to John O'Groats running record. However, after discovering that her body was not strong enough to run after her illness she decided to attempt it with two wheels instead. In 2023, she purchased her first bicycle and with under six months of cycling experience, she took on the Transcontinental Race – a self-supported 4,000 km (2,485 miles) ride across Europe. Ms Ruggins, who discovered her talent for endurance sports, said the John O'Groats to Land's End challenge allowed her to confront her two greatest fears: failing publicly and requiring the help of others. 'I really wanted to make an impact and use my story to help others,' she said. 'For me, even when the ride got really painful, it was a celebration, because it was my choice to do this, coming at it from a place of strength. 'I just really wanted to share through this project that your life can change unexpectedly but it means you just need to pivot and find something new that brings you joy.' Ms Ruggins used this record attempt to raise money for The Bike Project and Bikes for Refugees, two organisations that use cycling to support people rebuilding their lives in the UK. To learn more about Ms Ruggins' challenge and to donate to her fundraiser please visit:
The National
11-05-2025
- The National
Cycling group setting wheels in motion for women in Scotland
Women On Wheels' Tuesday begins with a morning session for beginners, where riders navigate cones and obstacles, gaining one-to-one advice on how to improve their cycling skills. In the afternoon, another session allows more confident riders to set out on a gentle ride around the surrounding area, through parks or woodland areas, with hills or more challenging terrain. The women attending these sessions are New Scots who have arrived in Scotland from countries including Iran, Nigeria, Tanzania and Ukraine. Some of the women are experiencing cycling as a new hobby, and for others, they are trying to rebuild their lives and navigate an unfamiliar city, looking for connections and routine. The purpose of the sessions is not only to improve riders' skills, but to give the women a better understanding of their local area, improving their confidence to navigate Glasgow. The sessions often cover bike rides in Queen's Park or Kelvingrove, and recently helped one woman build the confidence to cycle from Maryhill all the way to the southside. For some, cultural and religious rules have prevented women from learning to cycle in their home country. Soraya, a young woman from Tanzania, explained how she had cycled as a child before being forced to give it up due to restrictions that prevented women from cycling. She said: 'In my country, as a teenager I had to stop cycling. It is especially difficult as a Muslim and while wearing a headscarf.' Since attending the sessions in Glasgow, she has seen women of different faiths and nationalities take up the activity and says 'cycling now makes me feel free'. Eilidh has run multiple riding sessions with refugees across different charities in Glasgow for almost a decade. She has successfully brought together women from across groups such as Sunny Cycles and Bikes for Refugees, to a space where women are sure to feel welcomed and comfortable. As with many grassroots initiatives, she has hopped from project to project, supporting people until funding has run out. READ MORE: Doctor who grew up in Gaza gives 'emotional' speech at Highlands pro-Palestine march Her informal WhatsApp group chat ''Cycling Sisters' is part of the success of the sessions. This group brings together women from different charities, ensuring that women are never left behind if the funding for projects runs out. Rides and sessions are shared here, as well as photographs and funny videos. Most of the women have heard about the sessions through word of mouth. For many, it is not just a cycling group but a support network, which has allowed them to gain access to more support services in Scotland or even to hear about volunteering and work opportunities. As asylum seekers are not allowed to work, many women are keen to find volunteering jobs that fit around their ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) courses, a college programme that helps refugees to learn English. Women On Wheels helps to put women in contact with other groups and on the most recent Tuesday ride, the session stopped at Urban Roots, a community-led gardening project, where one woman was introduced to volunteering opportunities. The women feel that cycling is not only beneficial for their physical health, but for their mental health and sense of belonging. Edith, from Nigeria, is one of dozens of women who has taken part in the cycling sessions and feels an increased sense of community and friendship since joining. Edith was introduced to Eilidh when she was still living in hotel accommodation in Glasgow and describes the sessions as giving her confidence and happiness in an extremely challenging time. Women On Wheels works closely with the Scottish Refugee Council and will be hosting an event for Refugee Festival Scotland, taking place from June 13-22. Women from across different refugee sessions will be invited to a dinner at the Milk Cafe where they can share delicious food, in keeping with their cultures. For many, hotel food has been unfamiliar and poor, with little opportunity to cook and eat their preferred dishes. In a time of polarised political discourse surrounding refugees and displaced people, Women On Wheels and its refugee sessions are a quiet and powerful network, whose amazing work has mostly gone unnoticed. For the women who take part, these sessions are more than a bike ride. They are a space to grow in confidence, build community and friends and gain a sense of freedom and knowledge about the local area.
