When David Orridge, 63, survived a heart bypass 20 years ago, he took up cycling to try and keep fit. This year will be his 15th London to Brighton bike ride.

“I first discovered I had a heart problem during a bout of flu in February 1988. Lots of people at work seemed to catch it too, but while they recovered after about a week, I couldn’t seem to kick it. Then I began feeling pains across my chest.

“My GP referred me to a cardiologist who told me I had angina. But as time and more tests went by, they found that one of my arteries was blocked and I needed a heart bypass in September 2008. I was frightened but didn’t really have much time to worry. When I came round I was told the operation had gone smoothly.

“It wasn’t until I saw the faces of my wife Linda and my two sons, Richard, 6 and Stephen, 16, that I realised how close to death I had been. It’s true that I had always eaten the wrong food and rarely exercised. I was unfit. This had been a warning, and I was determined to never let it happen again.

“My doctor advised me to start taking up exercise. I used to enjoy cycling and swimming as a teenager, so I decided to get the bike out again and build up my mileage gradually. The first time out I managed two and a half miles before I was whacked and out of breath. Swimming was the same. I managed one length, then next time I made it to two. But I kept on going, determined never to give up.

“I took early retirement from the bank in 1994, so I had more time to exercise. The first thing I did was enter a swimathon, which was three miles non-stop. I trained for it and got through without giving up. I was so thrilled that I had achieved it!

“Then I saw the London to Brighton cycle ride advertised – 58 miles – and entered. I’ve never looked back. Although the training was hard, and I only managed to cycle up to 20 miles in training, the crowds pulled me through on the big day. It starts at Clapham Common, and the atmosphere is electric, with helicopters hovering over, bands playing and cyclists having a friendly banter.

“It’s not a race – it’s a ride – so the start times are staggered with 27,000 cyclists pedalling off over a few hours in the morning. I crossed the start line at 6 am, feeling nervous but excited about the day ahead.

“Stopping regularly at rest stations for a drink, I made progress. At 30 miles I was past the point of no return. Ditchling Beacon is a very steep hill, at 50 miles. But I was rewarded at the top with a glorious six mile downhill route to Brighton.

“As I could see the coastline in my sights I felt an overwhelming sense of elation. I heard people on the beach applauding cyclists who had already finished, so I pedalled a little faster, wanting to be there too.

“As I crossed the finish line, with beads of sweat rolling down my face, I felt so proud – I had never achieved anything like this before. I’d also lost a stone in weight – down to 12.5 stone – and felt fit for the first time in my life.

“That was in 1994. Since then I’ve taken part in every single London to Brighton bike ride. My son Richard has joined me for the last four years and he’s now a very keen cyclist. Although he races off, we always arrange to meet up later so that we can finish together.

“If I hadn’t had flu, I might never have had a wake-up call about my poor health. I was so grateful to have a bypass that since 1988 I have always given whatever money I can spare to the British Heart Foundation, as a way of saying thank you.”

Recycle your mobile phone

Please help raise vital funds for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) by simply recycling your old mobile phones.

For every phone recycled, the BHF receives £3.00 so if you’re lucky enough to receive a new phone as a gift or happen to have an old one lying around in a cupboard, please remember that your old phone could help improve the lives of people affected by heart disease.

The BHF Recycling Appeal has raised an incredible £75,000 over the past two years and we now need your old phones to help the BHF achieve their target of £100,000!

To support the BHF recycling appeal simply return your old mobile phone by Freepost to:
BHF Recycling, CANDIS 2008, FREEPOST, LON17592 CR4 3UZ.