After spending many years supporting the Solent Devils from the comfort and safety of the Score box, with heating, plenty of snacks and the occasional pizza. With last season behind me and a new one on the horizon I’m taking time for some charity work. On the 28th July I’ll be swapping comfortable seat in the DJ box at Solent Devils HQ for a bike saddle as I take on the Prudential Ride London 100 Mile Cycle from Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park through the Home Counties to the Mall. So far, training is going well and 
any of you hockey fans who have visited Gosport will know how flat it is with only one proper hill that’s behind QA Hospital often visited by many a hockey player over the years. I can tell you I’m not looking to forward to the long climb up the famous Box Hill used in the Olympic Peloton in 2012 in the middle of the course. Its 2.5km 5% climb with some at 8%!
To help with my stamina training I’ve enlisted the help of my brother, former Solent Devils Defenceman and Royal Navy King’s head Coach Jamie Fitzpatrick. I’ve never run in my life and now with help from Jamie I do now and that as a cyclist who communities to work is another challenge. I ached in places I’ve never ached before nor had an ice bath. Also I love to eat but loading up on carbs before a short 30mile ride is interesting and he tells me I’ll burn around 800 calories per hour. So I’m busy focusing 
on my ability to pace my ride and have enough left in my legs to get to the world famous Mall. That’s me in in the blue and white in the middle on a 76 mile ride. So with my brothers help I think I’ll be ok on the day (maybe). My big inspiration to push forward and keep going with the training has to be Devils Team boss my Dad Paul Fitzpatrick. Never gives up and keeps pushing through. Even when the Devils are down 3 goals he’s still looking for the win!
Here is a Why I’m riding 100 miles for Y-Care International,
Y-Care are doing vital work around the world in deprived countries and I feel passionately in championing children and young people, adding value to their lives and giving them the tools to enable them to get out of poverty and secure a future that I take for granted. I can turn on a tap and get fresh water; I have a warm place to stay and don’t have to worry about when my next meal will be. If it all goes wrong I have a government to support me. Many young people and children around our planet don’t. Many are born into extreme poverty without the prospect of bettering themselves. This is the work that I am supporting Y-Care to do. To give these young people and families the tools to get out of poverty to enable them to shape their future, Like in the slums of Liberia, where people who were already poor were devastated by Ebola – Y Care International is there, helping young people teach their peers about basic health and hygiene. Help me break the cycle that must be broken.
Photo: Mulugeta Ayene
I’d like to say a huge thank you to Pro Hockey News for sharing my story and helping me raise the profile of my cause. I know the Ice Hockey community is a family and have seen many clubs get behind some fantastic causes at home and around the world. So I’m hoping you will all get behind me and check out my page http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/TrevorFitzpatrick and support the work that Y-care does. You can follow me on Twitter @Magical_trevor1 for updates on training and maybe I’ll see a few of you at the finish line.
This Feature is presented by intrepid rider Trevor Fitzpatrick
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