UNIVERSITY lecturer Wayne O’Brien has jetted off to America to embark on an epic 6,000 solo bike ride – and simultaneously released a charity single to help promote his journey.
Wayne, from Orford, a senior lecturer in television production at the Warrington campus of Chester University, is cycling across America, Europe and Great Britain to raise money for two charities, Help for Heroes and the Tim Parry Jonathan Ball Foundation for Peace.
His single – The Bike Ride of My Life – has been made with the help of staff and students at the university’s commercial music production programme.
It will be available for download from July 6 on I-tunes, Amazon and other music download sites.
Wayne said: “The song was written by one of the lecturers, Jim Mason, and the whole project was a massive collaborative effort involving many staff and students at the campus.
“It’s a very tongue in cheek look at the adventure that I’m about to embark on, which I hope people will find very funny. All proceeds will go to the two charities, so I’d encourage everyone to download it.”
The trans-American leg of Wayne’s journey will take him 3,500 miles from the USA’s west to east coast, before he flies from New York to Gibraltar. From there, he will ride through Spain and France before returning to the UK and eventually finishing at Peninsula Barracks in Warrington, hopefully on Saturday, August 22.
Wayne, aged 51, added: “Both charities are very worthwhile causes. My son has served in Iraq and is due to go to Afghanistan later this year, so I know all about the work of Help for Heroes, while the Foundation for Peace obviously holds a strong connection for Warrington people.”
Wayne is taking his laptop, camcorder and mobile phone on the trip, and will be providing regular updates via a blog on the website www.thecharityride.com. To accompany the new single, a music video has been uploaded to the site, while a couple of other spoof YouTube videos were produced to publicise the adventure.
Wayne jets off on 6,000 mile adventure
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About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
