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Bishop's Stortford gym owner and former rugby player ready to ride 960 miles for charities




Koru, Woodside Park, Bishops Stortford. Keith Mullings (in orange) and Tim Foster are cycling John O'Groats to Lands End. .Pic: Vikki Lince. (12299727)
Koru, Woodside Park, Bishops Stortford. Keith Mullings (in orange) and Tim Foster are cycling John O'Groats to Lands End. .Pic: Vikki Lince. (12299727)

A Bishop's Stortford gym owner and a former professional rugby player are setting off on an epic cycle at the end of June.

Keith Mullings and Tim Foster plan to cycle from John O'Groats to Lands End, approximately 960 miles in seven days, for two charities close to their hearts.

Keith, 48, is a former student at the Bishop's Stortford High School, who now runs Koru gym at Peek Business Park, Woodside.

He said: "I'm supporting CALM. It's a great charity that is raising awareness of male suicide in the UK, the biggest killer of men under 45. It not only provides support to men considering taking their own lives, but also helps bereaved families cope with the loss of a family member. Having suffered with depression myself for over 12 years, it's an area that is close to my heart.

"We've taken on CALM as Koru's charity of choice, and have done several events to raise funds for them, including half marathons, and a parachute jump last year."

He lives in Manuden, where he plays for the village's cricket and newly formed touch rugby clubs, with wife Jo, 47, who is a data manager. They have three boys - Jack, 21, a student at Kingston University, George, 18, and Archie, 15, both pupils at Bishop's Stortford High School.

Keith said: "I've been training as much as I can in the gym, and getting in as many rides with Tim as possible, but with both of our busy schedules, it hasn't been as much as we'd have liked. We're confident though that we are more than fit enough."

Originally from Darlington, Tim, 37, lives in Farnham and before he became a property consultant, he played rugby for Leeds, Rotherham and London Wasps.

He is riding for The Brain Tumour Charity, spurred on by the plight of pal Simon Fookes, a married father of two, who was diagnosed with a grade 4 glioblastoma at the start of 2017.

Tim said: "I'm not in any way built for either cycling or endurance, so why on earth put myself through such a challenge?!

"Simon has had numerous rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy here in England and has also been to Germany to try immunotherapy treatment. As things stand he still has cancer in his brain.

"He is one of the kindest people I have ever come across and one of life's true gentlemen."

He confessed: "Prior to March I don't think I'd been on a bike in 20 years. It turns out my upper body acts like a sail and my bum isn't designed for hours in the saddle! Regardless, I've chosen to take on this challenge, one of 125 miles per day over seven days that's roughly nine to ten hours a day on the bike, to raise as much money as possible for the charity of Simon's choice."

While Keith is most worried about the dangers of other road users - especially after JP de Villiers was seriously injured by a hit and run driver while riding the same challenge for the Adie Brady Foundation, Tim's primary concern is chafing.

To support the cyclists, see Tim and Keith's sponsorship pages.

Koru, Woodside Park, Bishops Stortford. Keith Mullings (in orange) and Tim Foster are cycling John O'Groats to Lands End. .Pic: Vikki Lince. (12299671)
Koru, Woodside Park, Bishops Stortford. Keith Mullings (in orange) and Tim Foster are cycling John O'Groats to Lands End. .Pic: Vikki Lince. (12299671)


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