Monthly Archives: September 2012
very sad news
We start September with very sad news. Mike Baker, who joined us for the ride and was part of our core team, died last Friday. He organised our Wales itinerary and cycled with us for 2 of the days of our mega ride. Much more than that, Mike was one of the first people to respond to Réka’s posting of information about the ride and his enthusiasm and positive spirit really encouraged our preparations. By the time we met Mike in Holyhead, we felt he was already a friend and we laughed and talked continually during these 2 days. I have an overriding memory of Mike at the top of a steep hill, cycling down past me at high speed and weaving in and out of the other cyclists to reach the bottom of the hill. As e rode he told me he would try to keep cycling to the end as on his bike he had a feeling of being untouched by cancer and free from being someone with cancer. We wanted him to be invincible and although we could see he was having a really tough time, I think we all somehow believed he could get through all his treatment and come through the other side. I read his education postings too and found them insightful and intelligent. You could read in his postings the depth of his understanding as the BBC Education correspondent for over 20 years. I felt so sad to read on Friday that he had died www.mikebakereducation.co.uk/beatingcancer . It feels as though we have lost a friend. We have some film footage of him laughing as we all pushed our bikes up the hill we couldn’t ride up and Carl recited Racine in French! My thoughts are with Chrissie and Mike’s daughters and I feel privileged and very happy that he was able to share those magical days with us in July. You can see a lovely photo of Mike and Chrissie earlier on this blog, as Mike rested and picknicked during the ride.