Property developer and TV personality, Rob Lloyd, will visit Bangor on Sunday, 5 December, as part of his latest challenge for the Sense charity.

 

Rob, who has previously appeared on Channel 4’s ‘Secret Millionaire’ and ITV’s ‘Real Housewives of Cheshire’, is walking and cycling more nearly 380 miles across Wales to raise donations for the disability charity.

Now living in Rhos-on-Sea, Rob’s Grand Tour of Wales from Wrexham to Newport started on Friday and will take 10 days.

In March this year the 57-year-old revealed he had been treated for lymphoma and launched his year-long series fundraising challenges for Sense, which supports people with complex disabilities.

He had been touched by the story of a brave brother and sister, three-year-old Charlie and four-year-old Mia Clucas, who were born with a rare genetic condition and are unlikely ever to walk or talk. They will need 24-hour care for the entirety of their life and are supported at a Sense Family Centre.

The 379 route will see Rob travel from Wrexham to Denbigh then Rhyl, Llandudno to Bangor, Dolgellau to Aberystwyth, Aberystwyth to Cardigan, Cardigan to Merthyr Tydfil, Merthyr Tydfil to Ebbw Vale and Newport, before finishing in Barry. He will make overnight stops at hotels along the way.

Rob explained: “After having lymphoma and then undertaking really physical challenges at least once a month has been tough,” he said.

“But this challenge, which is 10 consecutive days of running, walking and cycling, won’t give me any recovery time so it’s going to be especially hard on my body which has been severely punished since March when I started Rob’s Sense-Less Challenge.

“I will be covering 379 miles starting in Wrexham and following the coast down to Newport. However, now that I’m bald I might go faster and make it in 9 days!”

Mr Lloyd has already raised a total of £75,000 following previous challenges such as shaving his trademark locks at An Evening with Bruce Grobbelaar, skydiving James Bond-style, joining the SAS for a gruelling weekend of physical activity, scaling the Three Peaks and abseiling blindfolded down The Orbit, the UK’s tallest sculpture, dressed in his ‘uniform’ orange tights and a purple tutu.

Sense gives families hope 

Rob continued: “During the toughest times, I remind myself why I’m supporting Sense. It’s people like four-year-old Mia and three-year-old Charlie. They were both born with rare genetic disorders which affected their vision, hearing and mobility. It also caused lots of other complex health issues.

“The news was devastating for their parents, Andrew and Nikki, but through the support of the Sense Family Centre in Peterborough, they found out how to play with their children and experience new activities, together as a family. 

“I have a family myself and can only imagine how challenging it must have been for Andrew and Nikki. And how important and vital it was that there was specialist support available right from the start.”

 Rob will visit the Sense Charity Shop in Bangor at 1pm on Sunday 5 December.

To find out more about Rob’s fundraising challenge or to donate visit: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/robschallenge