Little Shelford news headlines

Villager who lives with Parkinsons completes Land's End to John O'Groats cycle ride

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Hetty Bell, who lives with Parkinson's disease, has just completed the iconic cycle ride from Land's End to John O' Groats. She is not aware that anyone with Parkinson’s has accomplished LeJog before.

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Hetty Bell has lived in Courtyards, Little Shelford for 25 years. ​Three years ago, she was officially diagnosed with Parkinson’s, a development which she has taken in her stride as one more physical challenge. Despite significant tremors in both legs and one arm, she has continued to cycle everywhere at impressive speeds. After retiring, Hetty and her husband Dominic took successive summer breaks carrying their bikes by train and ferry down to Bordeaux and then to the west coast of Ireland. They are also regulars with the Shelford Spokes cycling group.

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Last year, on a whim, she announced that she fancied cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats. Older brother, Paul, said, ‘Yes, let’s do it, but in stages’ with sister in law, Liz, in support in a camper van.   So last year, all three of us cycled in July from Land’s End to Bristol wearing our Team Parkinson’s strip, raising money for Parkinson’s research. The route was idiosyncratically mapped for minor roads, cycle paths and canal towpaths.  Navigation was a challenge and they often took the wrong turn.  The frequent steep hills of Devon were killers for which Cambridgeshire does not prepare you. The canal paths through Gloucester, Worcester and Kidderminster a massive relief as well as scenically outstanding with nesting swans, barges and locks. They wound up in Wigan where an illness to their beloved dog Jingo put paid to the trip for that year.

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On May 19th, they set out to finish LeJog, leaving from Wigan Pier.  The sun mostly shone as we skirted the Lake District, past wild ponies and sheep. For 11 days they cycled between 50 and 60 miles a day.  It was special to reach Gretna Green and stop for a photo opportunity in front of the Scotland Welcomes You sign, but there was an awful lot of Scotland still to cover. At Queensferry in Edinburgh they stopped for coffee overlooking the Forth, where a lone piper was serenading a newly married couple outside a pub. Then over the long, windy bridge.

There were plenty of hills, but the drags were longer and more manageable over moors and along rushing rivers. Then on, skirting lochs with oyster catchers, finally reaching the north coast and the beautiful dunes and beaches at Betty Hill. Hetty took an early morning dip in the sea on the final day’s ride, the only person on the wide beach. After a long final day’s slog, they cycled in V formation with Hetty at the head down the hill to the sea at John O’Groats where they enjoyed a very welcome bottle of John O’Groats beer. They are not aware that anyone with Parkinson’s has accomplished LeJog.

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Throughout their journey, they were touched by the kindness of so many people who were moved to donate to the Parkinson’s cause. She has already raised over £2,000.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/dominic-bell-1721488032030?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=019

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Dominic Bell

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* Shelford man Steve Pearce is cycling Land's End to John O'Groats in July for local charity SSYI. 

www.justgiving.com/page/steve-pearce-lejog-ssyi

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Posted June 29 2025