GOLDEN HEARTS

Cyclists ride to secure life-saving surgeries for children

Anastasia Cunningham, Senior Gleaner Writer

Allan Barnes hopes to raise $4 million to save the lives of eight young children who desperately need heart surgery. When he starts his marathon cycle around Jamaica on May 7, he hopes to do the 440 miles in 36 hours without sleep.

It will be his second year attempting this feat, and as far as the managing director for Red Stripe Jamaica is concerned, it is a small price to pay for a worthy cause.

Last year, Barnes withstood cycling in the same uncomfortable, painful position for 32 hours and 40 minutes, with few short breaks in between, and no sleep.

He fought against the heat of the merciless, blinding tropical sun, sometimes gusty wind, straining with weary legs to climb steep mountains, while trying to force back the already flowing tears that told on his 43-year-old body that felt pain in the strangest of places.

His almost next-to-impossible dream of cycling 440 miles around Jamaica, without any rest, seemed like madness several times on the journey. This feat definitely wasn't for the faint of heart. In fact, when he first came up with the idea practically everyone, including professional cyclists, told him it could not be done.

staying focused

He had to force himself to stay focused on the mission. To raise J$3 million to save the lives of seven young children in the Chain of Hope programme who needed heart surgery.

Leaving Kingston on August 15, 2010, six cyclists bravely rode out but only three barely managed to complete the islandwide marathon the following day.

The journey took them from the Bustamante Hospital for Children, Kingston, through Morant Bay, Port Antonio, Annotto Bay, Ocho Rios, Falmouth, Montego Bay, Negril, Black River, Mandeville and May Pen, before heading back to Kingston.

"The Spur Tree Hill [Manchester] was the biggest challenge," said Barnes, an East England native who has been heading the Jamaican beer company for two years.

"I couldn't stop the tears, as I was feeling pain in places I didn't know I could feel pain. I kept telling myself it was a little sacrifice for such a great cause. I was motivated by the fact that what I was doing would make a difference in the lives of seven children," he said.

He recalled that despite the tears, he had to smile when a motorist slowed to drive alongside him to cheer him on and commend his efforts.

In the end, despite being sore all over his body for longer than he can remember, he said it was all worth it.

"We finished our ride on August 16, and two days later two of the children had their surgeries. A week later, another two, and so on. It was great! We had fun," he beamed.