Yahoo News Newcastle 1950s rock frontman to complete charity cycle ride in aid of Walker special needs school
A Newcastle-based 1950s rock frontman is set to complete a charity cycle ride in aid of a Walker school.
Jamie Bell, the singer of the Baldy Holly band, will complete a gruelling 1,000-mile journey from Lands' End to John O' Groats.
Jamie has pledged to raise £60,000 to buy a minibus with a tail lift for the Sir Charles Parsons School in Walker. The school caters to young people, aged eleven to nineteen, who have a range of additional needs, including severe learning difficulties and complex disabilities.
Jamie will be joined on the ride, starting on Monday, May 20, by his friends Angus Intini from Throckley, and Steve Charlton from Walker. So far, they have raised more than £32,000, but there is still a long way to go in order to reach the £60,000 target. During his 10-day marathon sponsored ride, Jamie plans to raise additional money by busking, with songs by the likes of Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry and Gene Vincent.
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He said: "I'm used to jumping around a Rock & Roll show stage, but do not cycle, so clearly this is going to be a horrendously hard task, of which I endeavour to tackle with nonstop training and perseverance."
The route will take Jamie up the west side of the UK until he gets to Fort William in the Highlands, when he will head north east to Inverness and then to John O’Groats.
He continued: "We’ve all trained hard, and we have no doubt that the ride will be tough. We are doing it for the school to make sure that no-one misses out on a field trip as they couldn’t get on the bus.
"We will have that in mind with every turn of the wheel and every mile will bring that minibus closer to Sir Charles Parson’s School."
When he’s not raising funds or cycling, Jamie is the frontman of The Baldy Holly Band, whose popularity extends beyond the North East. They also tour in the US, primarily the Midwest, and have performed in iconic venues, such as taking part in the Winter Dance Party tour celebrations in Clear Lake, where Buddy Holly played his final show in 1959 at the Surf Ballroom.
Buddy’s niece, Sherry Holly, remains in touch with Jamie and is set to join the band on a UK tour in early September, celebrating Buddy Holly's birthday. Dates in Scotland and Sheffield will be between a three-night run at the Forest Hall Conservative Club near Newcastle.
To sponsor Jamie, visit his Just Giving page here.
