Long-time fundraisers for the Down’s Syndrome Association (DSA), Richard ‘Dicky’ Barr and his trusty sidekick Tom Mouse have done it again. This time, their challenge was a 24-hour, 215-mile cycle challenge, following a route which included the highest points in five counties; Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Essex. As always, Dicky raised money for the DSA and Woolgrove Special Needs School in memory of his son Tom, who died when he was just seven years old.
“I had done a great deal of training and planning, but the challenge was still one of the toughest ones I have taken on, with torrential rain for the last two hours. It was at times magical too; cycling through the night and into the dawn with an abundance of animal nightlife for company. And emotional; it often feels to me that my son Tom is with me on the challenges that I do.”
Tom, Dicky’s son, had Down’s syndrome and was born with congenital heart disease, (AVSD and Fallot’s Tetralogy). Despite his challenges, Tom enjoyed life to the full and lit up the lives of those around him.
“Tom tended to create a tidal wave of smiles and laughter wherever he went, as others were taken by his infectious joy. He had a real slap-stick sense of humour, going into fits of giggles if you were to drop something, or knock into something. We are incredibly proud of him.”
Tom died at Great Ormond Street Hospital in July 2004 and ever since, Dicky has dedicated much of his spare time to fundraising.
“Each year I take on a different challenge to raise funds for the two charities who helped us so much. I guess too there may be something therapeutic for me in the charity adventures; when I was about to embark upon my first charity challenge a friend said he was sure that Tom would be riding pillion with me. This sentiment is comforting and has always rested with me.
I had started my cycle from home in Letchworth Garden City, at 10.30am on a Monday morning in September. I had a number of brief stops, and just under 24 hours later, extremely tired and soaked through, I was back home. I was delighted to see that I had covered 215 miles. It was pointed out to me that with this distance I could have cycled to Newcastle upon Tyne!
I am so grateful to those who have supported me. For anyone who wishes to make a donation then please visit my fundraising page.”
Dicky and Tom Mouse can still be sponsored here.
The route taken by Dicky Barr is shown above. He covered just over 215 miles, with an elevation gain of over 9,000 feet (nearly one third the height of Mt Everest).
The highest points in the five counties Dicky visited are:
- Bedfordshire – Dunstable Downs – 797 feet, 243m
- Buckinghamshire – Wendover Hill – 876 feet, 267m
- Hertfordshire – Pavis Wood, near Hastoe – 803 feet, 245m
- Cambridgeshire – Great Chishill – 479 feet, 146m
- Essex – Chrishall Common, near Upper Langley Green, 482 feet, 147m
Dicky has raised more than £60,000 over the last 16 years for the charities. He has ridden across India on a motorcycle; climbed Mt Kilimanjaro; trekked the Peruvian Inca Trail and to Everest Base Camp; cycled across Vietnam and Cambodia; dog sled over 250km in the Arctic Circle; cycled across Costa Rica; motorcycled the length of the UK in under 16 hours; cycled from Land’s End to John O’Groats; ridden a motorcycle over 10,000 miles from London to Mount Everest; and in 2020 rode a bicycle over 100 miles linking up children’s hospitals in and around London. In recent years charity challenges have seen Dicky with a toy mouse at his side.
And so followed ‘You Can Do It Tom Mouse!’ – the story of a young adventurous mouse following in his grandfather’s footsteps, venturing around the world.
“The story is about knowing that with support from family and friends, you can take on any challenge and succeed. Pre covid-19, I had been taking Tom Mouse into schools, to help inspire children to take on challenges and explore the world, as well as helping them to create, write and tell their stories. The imagination and creativity of the children was fantastic.
Following on from the success of the first book, at the end of September 2021 we will be launching the second book in the series of Tom Mouse books. ‘Tom Mouse And The North Pole Mystery!’, has a Christmas theme and the message remains one of succeeding through help from family and friends.”
Dicky is also the founder of Dads Cry Too (DC2), a bereavement support service at Keech Hospice Care in Luton. The purpose of DC2 is to help dads on their individual journey towards adjusting and better managing their feelings following the loss of their child. It has been set up along with other dads who have also lost a child.
Dicky was a London 2012 Olympics torchbearer and also appeared on the Independent’s Happy List 2019. Dicky was a finalist in the Comet Community Awards 2019, receiving a lifetime achievement certificate.
Further photographs and commentary can be found here.
Find out more about the Tom Mouse books and purchase here.
Follow Tom Mouse on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Thank you to Dicky and Tom Mouse for your extraordinary fundraising efforts over the years
Feeling inspired? Find out how you can raise money for the DSA and become part of #Team21