Bradford College’s own Tour de Yorkshire

The pedal power of students and staff at Bradford College was put to the test in a charity bike-a-thon inspired by the arrival of the Tour de Yorkshire in their city.

With the third day of the prestigious cycling race starting off in Bradford last Sunday, the college held its own indoor tour.

The college set itself the target of cycling 304 miles – the equivalent distance of the Tour de Yorkshire – over two days in college.

With students and staff hopping on and off static bikes they smashed the target ahead of schedule and raised hundreds of pounds in the process for the Alzheimer’s Society which is the official charity of the 2017 Tour de Yorkshire.

Student Shahid Hussain was deserving of a yellow jersey after clocking up more than 50 miles on his own.

The Public Services student pushed himself to his limit for very personal reasons.

“My grandmother passed away in 2014 aged 63 because of Alzheimer’s,” he said.

“I saw her go through the stages of dementia and it is heartbreaking and overwhelming. As soon as I saw that money was being raised for the Alzheimer’s Society I knew I had to get involved. It is a cause very close to my heart.

“I told myself to just keep going until my legs couldn’t go anymore.”

Health lecturer Claire Holliday organised the event, and added plenty of miles to the total too.

She said: “The response from staff and students has been brilliant. There has been a lot of competition between riders. They seemed really up for the challenge.

“Some people have done short distances, others have done miles and miles.

“Even people who didn’t feel able to get on the bike have supported and donated.”