World Distance Record... on a mobility scooter

[Michele Monro]

Spare a thought for Ross Hood, the disc jockey who has interviewed me several times on Care Radio in Australia for he is about to attempt a new world record. Here's the most recent newspaper article.


ROSS Hood wants to break a world distance record ... on his mobility scooter.

The Seaton man, 55, who has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and was recently diagnosed with cancer, aims to travel more than 250km in 24 hours around Victoria Park on his trusty gopher to break the Guinness World Record of 247km.

"If someone tells me I can't do something, I'll go out there and bloody prove them wrong," Mr Hood said.

Mr Hood hopes the ride will raise $400,000 for charity, having raised $300,000 last year after travelling 515km to Broken Hill.

He will aim to ride for 14 hours in one hour intervals and have 10 hours resting time to beat the world record set by a UK woman in 2011.

"I'm going to go for it. With all the support I've had I have a very good feeling I will break it," he said.

Expecting to battle fatigue and dehydration, he has spent the past year doing extensive hydrotherapy, physiotherapy and yoga classes with carer June Dyer in preparation for the attempt.

Ms Dyer, 44, of Cheltenham, said it was "wonderful to be able to put all my ability and knowledge into one person and get such a positive outcome".

"When I first starting working with Ross I got him to set a goal," she said.

"He said he wanted to be able to dance with me on New Year's Eve."

The ride will take place at Victoria Park, pending council approval, on October 27. Details: Mr Hood at careradio@optusnet.com.au. Fund to go towards the PenneyHood Foundation, the Childhood Cancer Association and CareRadio.