Birthday boy Hugh Porter marks milestone with 80-lap spin - in pictures
Cycling legend Hugh Porter was joined by more than 50 people to take on a challenge to mark his 80th birthday.
Mr Porter was joined by dozens of other riders – including Wolverhampton Mayor Claire Darke – as he took to the track at Aldersley Stadium for Compton Care today.
The Commonwealth Gold medal winner organised the 80-lap event to celebrate his 80th birthday which is tomorrow.
The venue was chosen as it was where the broadcaster trained ahead of his World Championship successes.
Before the event to cycle roughly 22.7 miles began, Mr Porter said he had already hit the £3,200 mark.
He said: "We had a test ride in December to do the exact distance.
"I woke up this morning and I felt nervous – I felt just like the day I got married.
"We're over £3,200 at the moment which is good, and spinners are coming to support me too.
"I'm amazed at the amount of people who have turned up.
"It's typical that I'm known for starting at 9.30am and it was nice weather then but now it's starting to rain.
"But we had to do it later as there are people travelling from up and down the country."
Mayor Darke started off the event at 11am and then jumped on her own bike – while donning her mayoral chains – and joined in with the challenge.
She said: "I've brought my bike so I'm going to do a few laps too to show a bit of willing.
"I like to be a bit more hands-on.
"It's a great opportunity to promote cycling as well as being to raise money for a good cause."
Louis Johnson and his mother Teresa turned up to support Mr Porter.
Teresa said: "We've known Hugh for years so we wanted to support him and Compton Care.
"Louis has raised money for Compton in the past."
Compton Care helps support people with complex and incurable diseases.
Ruth Brown, head of fundraising, said over the years Mr Porter has raised more than £100,000 for the charity.
She said: "He's already beat his target which he set himself, he originally wanted to raise £1,888 to get all the eights in there.
"He's amazingly fit for his age, he still goes out cycling regularly.
"Compton Care hold a Sportive event Round the Wrekin and he supports it every year. He does the Hugh Porter Challenge every year.
"Over the years he's raised more than £100,000 for Compton by supporting the Round the Wrekin challenge.
"He's been a patron for many years.
"All the money will go towards supporting patients and their families with complex and incurable illnesses in the Black Country.
"We need to raise £10 million a year.
"We'd like to say a huge thank you to Hugh and a very happy 80th birthday."
To donate, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/hugh-porter80
