4 minute read
Tackling Mountains
Russell overcomes health scare to ride the world for charity
RUSSELL KESLEY (OC 1988)
Anear-fatal health scare might have stopped many people from taking part in the 3,069 mile Race Across America in Revolve24 (RAAM) cycling event, but not OC Russell Kesley. Having made a great attempt in 2018, he is now gearing up to ride again in 2020.
Russell, who attended Caterham School from 1986- 1988, suddenly collapsed in 2015. Hospitalised and in intensive care, he was found to have a resting heart rate of 165 and a resting blood pressure of 250/120. A diagnosis of pheochromocytoma, a rare tumour of the adrenal gland tissue, was delivered. The news was a huge shock. Russell, a father of two girls, while training as an accountant and working in the City.
“At the time I didn’t know I was suffering from a pheo, which was insidiously impacting my health. To say I’m lucky to be here is an understatement,” said Russell.
His illness placed a lot of strain on him but, with the love and care of his wife, Sandra Roscoe, who is a doctor, and his two girls. Russell has made a full recovery.
“Cycling played a massive part in my being able to survive and also in it being discovered. If I had not just started cycling, and kept myself reasonably in shape, I would not be here today. Many thanks to Mr Lavery, my former rugby tutor, for encouraging that!”
Russell describes his entry of the RAAM 2018 event as like ‘Mallory taking on Everest’. “I was the proverbial ‘middle aged man in lycra’ at that point, looking to achieve a 3069 mile event, twice the distance of the Tour de France in half the time, riding through 45’ hot deserts and climbing over higher peaks, all just two years after coming out of intensive care.”
The six months of preparation was harsh. Training, organising a support crew, fundraising and more training all while maintaining a job.
Whilst the wheels did not come off completely, bearing in mind 50% of soloists failed to complete the race, nearly all of them on the first day, Russell made it to 1,250 miles before being pulled out.
Since then, Russell has had a nagging itch to return to RAAM and complete it. “I have re-entered RAAM2020, being allowed a continuation of my qualification as I had made it so far across, at one point I was close to pressing the top ten of the field.”
With the return set for this year, preparation began as soon as the last ride finished. The goal has now extended beyond RAAM to bigger things. “I’ve had to attain some credibility, to do this. Talking about doing something and doing it are very different things.” His achievements have included: – riding solo from London to Rome in seven days – the Doddie500 ride between Murrayfield and Twickenham with Mark Beaumont, Rob Wainwright and Tom Leefe from (this year they will ride the other direction with ex-Scotland and England internationals helping them set off from Twickenham) – riding more than 400 miles twice in 24 hours at the National Mersey 24 TT rides, finishing 25th overall and winning gold in the veterans team event – riding 401.44 miles at Revolve24, finishing fifth and coming the best placed veteran
We have some big goals set and hope to raise a lot of money for research into MND. Please watch this space!
– finishing 1st in ‘No Country for Old Men’, an ultraendurance race in Texas which is both a qualifier and a training ride So far Russell and team have raised in excess of £65,000 for the Doddies charity, which supports research into motor neurone disease, through Doddie500 and RAAM. Russell said: “It’s been a very pleasing year. Now the hard work really begins. We’re hoping to raise more money and aiming for a top five finish in RAAM2020. This would set us well on the way to raising a significant sum of money for Doddie’s Foundation.
We’ll continue to raise money for Doddie5 Foundation, and RAAM2020 will be a massive step in that direction, as is the two world records, one of which will involve being on the bike for 167 days and the other being on the bike for at most 78 days. It will involve lots of time zones and a few miles.” If you would like more information about the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation or make a donation please visit myname5doddie.co.uk
Russell can point to his school years as inspiration for his sporting accomplishments. He followed his sister Alison to Caterham, she was at the school six years earlier, one of the first girls to attend it. “Academically, she was a hard act to follow.” But a certain Mr Lavery opened his eyes to the possibilities of rugby. “Consequently, I enjoyed my time at Caterham greatly, but possibly spent more time and attention on the rugby pitch then that which my ability and academic needs warranted.” Russell also remembers the Old Cats fondly, especially Baxy, Dockery, Banger, Stocksy and Rocky.
Russell is funding his cycling himself, supported by his wife and with the backing of Portal Security. A website for donations will go live shortly, and the team are on Instagram, Strava, Facebook and Twitter. So you are able to follow this Old Cat on his journeys.
