THE head of one of the UK’s largest private healthcare groups is gearing up for a gruelling 95-mile cycle challenge which will end in Worcester. Rob Roger, chief executive of Spire Healthcare, will be saddling up for the bike ride starting at St George’s Park National Football Centre in Burton upon Trent on Sunday , June 15, in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support.

Mr Roger, who last year gave the go ahead for the multi-million pound investment programme into the group’s Spire South Bank Hospital in Worcester, will cycle the distance in one day with friends and colleagues on a route which will pass the group’s other hospitals in Sutton Coldfield and Solihull, before finishing in Bath Road, Worcester.

An experienced cyclist, he is also tackling five other routes throughout the UK this summer starting from London and taking in Brighton, Cardiff, Warrington and Edinburgh. On two of the legs, he will be joining the British and Irish Lions to help support their Ride of the Lions initiative which is raising funds for Walking With The Wounded.

Mr Roger said: “I enjoy cycling and have tackled some tough routes in my time. The challenge I’ve set myself this summer is no different but I am looking forward to it. Training has been going well despite a busy work schedule and with the challenge only a few weeks away, I can’t wait to get going. I’ve chosen this route to take in various Spire hospitals along the way. The National Football Centre in Burton, where we support the Football Association through our Perform sports medicine facility, gives a great starting point as we make our way through Staffordshire, down into Solihull and wind our way towards the finishing line in Worcester."

Ben Nicholson, hospital director at Spire South Bank Hospital, added: “The summer cycle was all Rob’s idea and we think what he is doing is fantastic. We look forward to welcoming him to Worcester with some suitable refreshments after what promises to be a tough but fun challenge.”

Mr Rogers can be supported through virginmoneygiving.com

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