Caring doctors and hospital staff got on their bikes as part of a 1,000 kilometre cycling challenge to raise vital funds for research into heart disease.<\/p>\n
Cardiologist Dr Richard Cowell was among the medics who were put through their pedalling paces during a charity bike relay at the private Spire Yale hospital in Wrexham.<\/p>\n
The team were challenged to complete 1,000 kilometres in a week to raise \u00a31,000 as part of a UK-wide event at all 39 Spire Healthcare hospitals and support centres around the UK.<\/p>\n
The overall aim was to complete 40,000 kilometres which is equivalent to one lap around the world.<\/p>\n
The Spire Yale staff used two static exercise bikes on loan from Total Fitness and as part of the challenge, a team from the hospital, including consultant orthopaedic surgeon Mr Ibrahim Malek, also completed a 10 mile walk on the Llangollen canal. Meanwhile,\u00a0orthopaedic surgeon Mr Raminder Singh completed a separate bike ride.<\/p>\n
Half of the money raised in Wrexham will go to Spire Yale\u2019s chosen charity the British Heart Foundation (BHF), to fund vital research into heart disease and support for patients.<\/p>\n
The other half will go to Spire Healthcare\u2019s national charity the Tropical Health Education Trust (THET), which sends UK healthcare volunteers to improve care in hospitals in Asia and Africa.<\/p>\n
Dr Cowell, a cardiologist who has been treating heart patients at Spire Yale for 24 years, is a keen cyclist in his spare time.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cCardiovascular disease is the biggest killer in the UK so this is a fantastic cause.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s also a great way to raise awareness of heart health, with a fitness challenge.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we have an increasingly aging population it is important that everyone takes what measures they can to look after their hearts.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe obesity epidemic is what is driving this, and unfortunately this is because people are leading sedentary lifestyles.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would encourage everyone to take regular exercise, cycling is a great way to do this and also try to get your 10,000 steps a day in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Malek said: \u201cIt\u2019s been a great event and a great thing for the team here at Spire to do together to support a good cause\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s good to be able to give something back to the community\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe would encourage everyone to take regular exercise to support their heart health and their bone health and cycling is a great way to keep fit while taking the pressure off your joints, as is swimming.\u201d<\/p>\n
Heidi\u00a0Parker Jones, Business Development Manager at Spire Yale hospital said: \u201cWe have really enjoyed being part of the challenge\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe chose to support the British Heart Foundation locally as heart disease is something that has touched many of our staff, their friends and relatives.\u201d<\/p>\n
Every hospital in the Spire Healthcare group was aiming to complete 1,000 kilometres during the course of this week.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere around the UK teams got involved in a Spire to Spire cycle challenge, with a team of colleagues including Spire CEO Justin Ash and CFO Jitesh Sodha cycling 333km from Spire\u2019s office in London to Spire Bristol hospital.<\/p>\n
They were in the saddle for 15 hours and were accompanied by Mark Beaumont, the record-breaking long-distance British cyclist, adventurer, broadcaster, documentary maker and author who holds the record for cycling round the world in just 79 days.<\/p>\n