Your stories

Carl, 31, will join thousands of other cyclists in the annual Ride to cycle the challenging 54 miles from London to Brighton. The Ride is the largest cycle event in Europe and the British Heart Foundation (BHF) has already raised £millions to help fund pioneering research into the causes and treatment of heart disease among men, women and children.

Carl, an Engineering Officer, currently OC Engineering Flight in the Electronic Warfare Avionics Detachment (EWAD), is taking part because he has a history of heart disease in his family and wanted to do something to help the BHF's work.

Prior to Waddington, Carl served at RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire and spent Christmas 2007 in Afghanistan as the Detachment Engineering Officer for the C-130 Hercules aircraft. He hopes his friends and family will get behind him to raise over £1000 in sponsorship money.

"My Dad died at the Manor House Hotel, Killadeas in Northern Ireland and I was with him when he died, I just happened to be at home on holiday, this was the end of the first week. We had just been swimming and decided to have a steam. My Dad collapsed in front of me after spending a few minutes in the steam room showing no sign of illness whatsoever. I cried for help and fortunately there were a couple of nurses who happened to be there who helped me. I started to resuscitate him and we continued until the paramedics arrived. By this time I had called my Mum and she arrived shortly afterwards, unfortunately we couldn't do enough to save my Dad and he slipped away from our grasp, he was only 61 years old. That is a day I will never forget."

"The main reason for us taking part and raising money for BHF is that the Manor House, where Dad died, did not have a defibrillator on site which may have saved him. We would dearly like to raise enough money to fund the placement of a defibrillator at the Manor House and hopefully prevent this from happening to another family. Perhaps one day all sports and leisure facilities and sports clubs will have a defibrillator on site."

Carl Fivey at work

Carl has done similar events in the past "I cycled Land's End to John O'Groats in 2006 for charity during the Easter holidays whilst I was going though Engineering Training at RAF Cranwell. My Mum and Dad came over from Ireland to support me for the final few days in Scotland. I was glad they did as I was a bit tired by then!" Carl will be doing the London to Brighton Bike Ride with his mother and brother and has heard a bit about the course. "My cousin did the event last year and tells me there are a few tight hills towards the end! I'm sure we can do it though and thanks Rod for the advice." He adds "Thanks to everyone for their support in what has been and is a very difficult time for the family."

Julie Sorrell, Head of Events at the British Heart Foundation adds: "Thanks to Carl and his supporters the British Heart Foundation will be able to continue to its lifesaving work, improving the lives of those suffering from heart and circulatory disease. Good luck to Carl with his training. We look forward to cheering him on at the Ride."

Sponsor Carl

To sponsor Carl, please log onto his BHF online sponsorship page at:

Or call 07979 797129.