Cycling into History

On Thursday, April 30^th, Carnforth Rotary Club was honored to welcome guest speaker Martin McLeavey from the Furness Rotary Club, accompanied by his wife, Gill. The evening was further enriched by the presence of three members from the Appleby Rotary Club—Bill, John, and William—who joined us after collecting a generator from Fleetwood.

Martin delivered an engaging presentation about his participation in a group cycle ride across Israel in February 1999. The purpose of the ride was to raise funds for Action Research, supporting Medical Research for Children for Life.

The first day consisted of a challenging 65-mile ride over the Galilean Hills, travelling alongside the Lebanon border. Riders climbed 3,000 feet to reach the summit before enjoying a lengthy descent toward the Sea of Galilee. During the descent, the group faced danger when large stones were thrown at them, and a car attempted to knock Martin off his bike.

On the second day, the cyclists covered 74 miles from Ginnosar, crossing the River Jordan and heading toward Sachne Springs. They had to remain on the road to avoid landmines. At one point, upon rounding a bend, they encountered guards with rifles pointed directly at the group.

The third day involved a rigorous 103-mile journey from Kfar to Rupin, then onward to Jericho and the shores of the Dead Sea, which lies one mile below sea level. Along the route, the cyclists witnessed widespread poverty and saw missile launchers in the background, though the roads themselves were excellent.

Day four presented a 97-mile ride in temperatures reaching 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The day began with a 2,000-foot uphill climb from the Dead Sea, a body of water known for supplying Bromide worldwide.

The final day of the challenge saw the group cycling a comparatively modest 68 miles, heading toward Jerusalem and ultimately reaching Bethlehem.

All participants displayed remarkable effort, successfully completing the 407-mile journey and raising £150,000 for Action Research.