Run gun Tom Morton is closing in on his £1,600 personal fund raising target after spending a grueling three days in the saddle peddling over 250 miles on the Professional Cricketers' Association charity bike ride from from London to Paris.
The former South Wilts batting record holder, who switched to play for his local side Sarisbury Athletic last May, was among 38 current cricketers who took part in the ride to raise funds for the Professional Cricketers' Trust created to support the lifelong health and wellbeing of members and their immediate families.
The players' charity looks out for players throughout their active careers and long afterwards, funding life changing medical assistance, crisis helplines and educational programmes in England and Wales.
A fitness fanatic who annually participates in triathlons among other events, Morton backed the fund raising bike ride following a nasty brush with cancer three summers ago.
He explained: "Back in February 2018, I walked off a rugby field thinking that a high tackle caused swelling in my neck. It had nothing to do with rugby and two years later I was in Southampton General Hospital successfully being treated for Thyroid Cancer.
"As part of the recovery process I got into open-water swimming which, one year after the operation, developed into training for the Eastbourne triathlon.
"I now see every June as an opportunity to challenge myself physically. 2022 was the Bournemouth Triathlon, which I did before a Southern Premier League match against Bashley (Rydal) - in which he made a century - and in June 2023 signed up to ride my bike from London to Paris for the PCA.
"Cricket has been my life and given me so much, so I'm happy to give something back to the sport I love."
The former South Wilts batting record holder, who switched to play for his local side Sarisbury Athletic last May, was among 38 current cricketers who took part in the ride to raise funds for the Professional Cricketers' Trust created to support the lifelong health and wellbeing of members and their immediate families.
The players' charity looks out for players throughout their active careers and long afterwards, funding life changing medical assistance, crisis helplines and educational programmes in England and Wales.
A fitness fanatic who annually participates in triathlons among other events, Morton backed the fund raising bike ride following a nasty brush with cancer three summers ago.
He explained: "Back in February 2018, I walked off a rugby field thinking that a high tackle caused swelling in my neck. It had nothing to do with rugby and two years later I was in Southampton General Hospital successfully being treated for Thyroid Cancer.
"As part of the recovery process I got into open-water swimming which, one year after the operation, developed into training for the Eastbourne triathlon.
"I now see every June as an opportunity to challenge myself physically. 2022 was the Bournemouth Triathlon, which I did before a Southern Premier League match against Bashley (Rydal) - in which he made a century - and in June 2023 signed up to ride my bike from London to Paris for the PCA.
"Cricket has been my life and given me so much, so I'm happy to give something back to the sport I love."
Cruising along Morton, who is within sight of reaching his £1,600 target, said what a "a great experience" the bike ride was.
"Fortunately, the weather was kind, and the ride went pretty smoothly. We did it in three phases, initially 92 miles from the Kia Oval to Portsmouth then, after the overnight ferry to France, another 92 to Evreux, before the final leg into Paris.
"There were definitely a few hills where I wondered what I was thinking when I signed up for the challenge, but looking back it was all very worth while and I'm delighted to have supported such a worthy cause.
"I would like to thank those people who thank those people who sponsored the ride, but I'm not quite there yet."
After 257 miles and multiple hills, the 38 riders crossed the finish line on the Champs-Élysées in front of the famous Arc de Triomphe in the French capital.
As the riders completed the epic challenge, the flagship event for the Trust in 2023 had raised over £38,000 for the players’ charity which will help fund life-changing assistance through expert advice, rehabilitation programmes and a dedicated 24-hour Confidential Helpline, all vital services that riders will be using as inspiration throughout three day cycle.
Morton added: "It seemed pretty daunting at the start but it was really good fun and the driving factor is obviously the money that we’ve raised for a great cause in the Trust. Having everyone under the Arc de Triomphe was great and I’m sure everyone was extremely sore afterwards.
The link to Tom Morton across the line and achieve his £1,600 fund raising target is www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tom-morton8?utm_source=copyLink&utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=tom-morton8&utm_campaign=pfp-share&utm_term=7a45227ce7774eb7ab9abc4c215459c5
"Fortunately, the weather was kind, and the ride went pretty smoothly. We did it in three phases, initially 92 miles from the Kia Oval to Portsmouth then, after the overnight ferry to France, another 92 to Evreux, before the final leg into Paris.
"There were definitely a few hills where I wondered what I was thinking when I signed up for the challenge, but looking back it was all very worth while and I'm delighted to have supported such a worthy cause.
"I would like to thank those people who thank those people who sponsored the ride, but I'm not quite there yet."
After 257 miles and multiple hills, the 38 riders crossed the finish line on the Champs-Élysées in front of the famous Arc de Triomphe in the French capital.
As the riders completed the epic challenge, the flagship event for the Trust in 2023 had raised over £38,000 for the players’ charity which will help fund life-changing assistance through expert advice, rehabilitation programmes and a dedicated 24-hour Confidential Helpline, all vital services that riders will be using as inspiration throughout three day cycle.
Morton added: "It seemed pretty daunting at the start but it was really good fun and the driving factor is obviously the money that we’ve raised for a great cause in the Trust. Having everyone under the Arc de Triomphe was great and I’m sure everyone was extremely sore afterwards.
The link to Tom Morton across the line and achieve his £1,600 fund raising target is www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tom-morton8?utm_source=copyLink&utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=tom-morton8&utm_campaign=pfp-share&utm_term=7a45227ce7774eb7ab9abc4c215459c5
Tom Morton and his fellow charity bike riders reach the Arc
