60-year-old fundraiser completes 60-hour challenge

A fundraiser has marked his 60th birthday by completing a gruelling 60-hour challenge in aid of charity.

Chris Hall, from Redditch, Worcestershire, pedalled 12 hours a day non-stop on a stationary bike for three days, spending the nights sleeping on the street.

He was doing it to raise money for local charities which support people facing homelessness.

"I'm not important really," said Hall, not stopping pedalling at his spot outside Redditch Library. "It's more a case of raising money to benefit local people. If I've got a little bit of pain, they've got it daily. So you think about that and you just get through it."

By the time his challenge came to an end, Hall had raised more than £2,000 for three different charities. Christians Against Poverty Redditch (CAP) which supports people facing financial difficulty, Acts of Kindness (AOK) which aims to alleviate hunger and poverty, and BENS, which helps children who are struggling with their mental health or education.

"They're three charities which benefit local people day in and day out, whether that's food, advice, support, kids going back into school, family," said Hall.

"Everybody knows somebody who is in poverty or has lost a job. Young people are struggling in schools.

"So it's important that the people of Redditch have access to these support services that are badly needed."

Hall - who is unable to ride a traditional bicycle - spent 10 weeks in training for the challenge, using an exercise bike at home and by sleeping in a sleeping bag.

Over the three days, he estimates he pedalled the equivalent of more than 450 miles.

Emma Marshall, who runs CAP in Redditch and AOK, said Chris had made an incredible effort.

"To have somebody who's willing to put the time and effort into it is just amazing.

"The three main issues that Redditch is facing are homelessness, joblessness, and addiction issues. Unfortunately, they all follow each other and you tend to find that one leads into the other."

After his challenge, Hall said he could definitely feel the effects on his body, but it was all worth it.

"I was aching and I've got one or two strains. I was tired, because it's been a long time, not having a proper bed or sleeping properly.

"But like I said, it wasn't about me, it was about the charities."

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