Retired businessman with cerebral palsy gets set for fundraising bike ride
Fundraiser Stephen Collins, a disabled retired businessman that has cerebral palsy, has revealed he’ll be doing a bike ride from Huddersfield to the Ruddi’s Retreat caravans at Primrose Valley holiday park near Filey in July or August 2026, almost 100 miles away.
The 66-year-old has done a series of gruelling walks to raise money for several charities, but mainly for Slaithwaite-based Ruddi’s Retreat.
The money will be divided between Ruddi’s Retreat and Milnsbridge-based charity Streetbikes.
Ruddi’s provides free caravan breaks for families with children battling serious illnesses such as cancer, have life-limiting conditions or have suffered bereavement.
Streetbikes collects donated bikes, ensures they are roadworthy and donates them to people who otherwise would struggle to afford one.
The charity, founded by Huddersfield’s Gill Greaves, also organises family cycling, women only rides, bike mechanic training and helps disabled people get into cycling.
The charity needs a large track to give people a chance to have a go on all kinds of bikes and so uses Spenborough Running track on Bradford Road, Liversedge.
Stephen has bought a tricycle and Streetbikes have helped him to set the bike up for his disabilities and the training so far as been at the Spenborough track.
Stephen said: “The most I’ve done so far is 10 miles but that’s on a flat track with no obstacles. When I’m on the road to Filey I’ll have cars, people, crossroads, traffic lights, roundabouts – it will be very different.
“We are going to have to split the journey over two days so are looking for somewhere to stay at the midpoint.
“Now I’ve committed to doing the ride it suddenly seems a very long way but I’ll never give up once I’ve set my heart and mind on doing a challenge.”
A JustGiving page will be set up in the coming weeks and Stephen will start to venture out onto the roads early in 2026, riding from his home in Longwood up to Golcar and, as his confidence grows, to Greenhead Park where he does all his walking training.
“One thing’s for sure, it’s going to be painful,” Stephen added. “In some ways cycling is better than walking but in others it’s not. My arms suffer while cycling and really ache holding onto the handlebars.”
Stephen is married to Sally and their daughter, Rose, has bought a bike and will be accompanying Stephen along with a back-up team.
Over the last two years Stephen has done very long, gruelling walks using his rollator frame to raise more than £10,000 for Ruddi’s Retreat.
These have included walking from Emley Moor mast to Slaithwaite which took 18 hours, Slaithwaite to Castle Hill and 24-hours around Greenhead Park.
Doctors told Stephen’s parents when he was a baby he would never walk but, continually encouraged and supported by his parents.
Stephen was well-known as an entrepreneur, running his own successful mobility equipment business, Lazarus Mobility, and was mentored by Dragons Den star Duncan Bannatyne.
Staff from Drive Medical UK got into the festive spirit and helped to raise money for Focus4Hope, a charity which supports the homeless, elderly, isolated, and vulnerable in West Yorkshire.
