Rugby teacher cycles length of Britain in his home to support intensive care nurse wife and her colleagues

Ross Chadwick, a maths and economics teacher at Ashlawn School, has taken on the ultimate stay-at-home challenge to raise money to thank the staff working in the Intensive Care Unit at the University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW).

Ross, whose wife Georgia is an intensive care nurse at the hospital, is around half way through a virtual charity bike ride from Lands End to John O’Groats (LEJOG), taking a slight detour via the hospital.

The course, which covers 983 miles and will take 10 to 14 days to complete, is tackled on an indoor turbo trainer using the virtual training app Zwift.

Mr Chadwick is returning to school after the Easter holidays to help look after the children of key workers, but in the meantime he will be focussing on completing the epic challenge and raising as much money as he can for the cause.

In return for completing an average of 60 miles a day on his indoor bike, Ross is asking people to make a donation, however big or small, to his dedicated GoFundMe page: bit.ly/2XyZRZP.

All proceeds from the fundraiser will go towards a huge thank you to all of the ICU staff at UHCW for all that they have been doing.

Ross said: “My wife, along with all her colleagues, will do a fantastic, selfless job going to work, caring for our loved ones and saving lives in the weeks ahead.

"It's a scary thought, and not one I'd be looking forward to, but I know they do their very best every day.

“I wanted to show, in some small way, how much we all appreciate every single thing that our NHS heroes are doing for us all right now.

"It has been overwhelming to receive such wonderful support from colleagues, parents and students from Ashlawn School as well as family and friends across our local community – we want to raise as much money as we can.

“Every penny raised will go towards a big 'thank you' to the ICU staff once this coronavirus crisis is over.

"I'm not sure at this stage exactly 'what' this thank you will be, but I'm relying on my wife to tell me exactly what everyone in ICU would appreciate the most, both for themselves and their patients!

"I will, of course, let you know what we buy. Thanks very much in advance for your support, it really is appreciated.”