主播大秀

Just in case you鈥檝e forgotten what a glorious country we live in, there鈥檚 no better way to become reacquainted with the beauty of Britain than a Summer ride on one of the UK鈥檚 many scenic bus routes. There鈥檚 nobody that knows this better than Steve Gibbs, a determined fundraiser from Wigston currently in the midst of an epic fundraising journey across the UK.

Powered on by his pacemaker, 74-year-old Steve is currently en route from Land鈥檚 End to John O鈥� Groats and back again - all by bus! That鈥檚 a two week journey covering over 2000 miles, on 66 buses - and it鈥檚 all for free with a bus pass! With a huge 拢5,000 fundraising target, Steve鈥檚 determined to prove himself a Hero, and we鈥檙e certain he鈥檚 going to succeed.

The challenge is now well underway 鈥� Steve arrives back at Land鈥檚 End on Sunday 17 August.听We were lucky enough to catch up with Steve shortly before he caught his first bus to ask him some questions:

主播大秀 CiN: Hi Steve, can you tell us a little bit about your challenge?

Steve: The aim is to travel from Land鈥檚 End to John O鈥橤roats and return using only local bus services and concessionary bus passes or sponsored tickets, so basically for free. It has been done before but to make it different this time we鈥檙e including the crossing and tour of Ronald鈥檚 way in the Orkneys which will make it much longer - and unique!

The other special part of the trip is that, at 75 on my next Birthday, I will be the oldest person to do it and the first powered by a pacemaker!

主播大秀 CiN: Sounds great! How did you come up with the idea?

Steve: The idea came to me in December last year after a very vivid dream one night.听 In the morning I mentioned this to my wife who just said 鈥渨ell, why not do it then!鈥�

主播大秀 CiN: It鈥檚 a pretty big challenge 鈥� how are you feeling? Nervous? Excited?

Steve: The prospect of catching so many buses is rather daunting but the prize is to pass through so many beautiful parts of the UK and, of course, to cross to the Orkneys, which otherwise would not be possible for me.

主播大秀 CiN: How have you prepared for the challenge?

Steve: I have some fantastic sponsors including the medical company who made my pacemaker, bus companies, work-wear suppliers, not to forget friends and family along the route who are putting me up overnight in Exeter and Derby - or my long suffering wife! I do intend to use this challenge to meet people and to recognise especially the part that the bus drivers will be playing to get me there and back.听 I hope that they will all have a photograph with Pudsey who will be with me all the way and give me some interviews.

主播大秀 CiN: You鈥檙e going to be on a lot of buses 鈥� how are you going to keep yourself entertained?

Steve: There must be so many interesting people to meet during such an epic journey, so most of my time will be spent talking and finding stories to tell afterwards. I hope that Pudsey will oil the wheels and get drivers and passengers to reveal all. I will also be accompanied on some legs by family and friends so I won鈥檛 be a 鈥淟one Ranger鈥� all of the time.

主播大秀 CiN: We hear you鈥檙e taking Pudsey along with you - what part of the challenge do you think Pudsey will enjoy most?

Steve: The best thing for Pudsey will be at the end when he can hand over the money so that the children he loves so much can be made happier.

主播大秀 CiN: Why did you choose 主播大秀 Children in Need?

Steve: We chose 主播大秀 Children in Need as our beneficiary as wherever we are in UK, people will be happy to give knowing that somewhere in their region children are benefitting from their contributions.

主播大秀 CiN: How can people keep updated with your challenge?

Steve: If anyone wants to see our progress we will be updating our website during the travelling with photographs and comments.

听

If you want to find out more about Steve's challenge, you can visit his , or take a look at his and page. And don't forget to follow 主播大秀 Children in Need on and too, for regular updates about all our heroic fundraisers!