A man has died after suffering a heart attack on the last day of a 1,000 mile bike ride he was carrying out for the Leicester charity LOROS.
John Holubjowsky, 58, was cycling from Lands End to John O’Groats, when the tragedy struck on June 18.
He was just 28 miles from his destination when he died, after suffering a sudden heart attack. He’d begun the ambitious challenge on June 7 in support of LOROS, a charity close to his heart.
The charity has labelled his death “absolutely heartbreaking.”
“We are devastated to hear the tragic news that John Holubjowsky, one of our dedicated supporters, has died. The commitment and support displayed by John over the past 15 years is special and something we are truly grateful for,” they said in a statement.
“We are in contact with his family and have reached out to offer our ongoing support. We will be working with his wife and daughters to find an appropriate way to recognise John’s tremendous achievements in the forthcoming months,” they added.
“Our thoughts and condolences are with his family at this very sad time.”
As a result of John’s tragic death, his fundraising target has doubled from £1,500 to almost £3,000.
Donors have been paying tribute to the “lovely” Leicester man online.
“Absolutely gutted. John was the loveliest man you could ever meet,” said Mike Marshall, one of those who has donated to the cause.
“Condolences to the family. What a magnificent effort, but what a cost,” added Tony Vann. “A fine man indeed.”
“RIP John. Such a sad end to an inspirational adventure, raising funds for such a worthy charity,” added one anonymous donor.
Mr Holubjowsky had been training hard for the challenge since Christmas, he revealed on his Just Giving page.
He had chosen to raise funds for LOROS Hospice, as it looked after his beloved Mum in her final days.
“The Team at LOROS are second to none, they cared for my Mum, and many people I’ve known over the years, with great respect and dignity,” he said of the charity, which is based in Leicester’s Groby Road.
Every year, the charity cares for more than 2,500 people across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
It’s not the first time that John had taken on an ambitious cycling challenge for charity. In 2019 he raised £1,220 after cycling from Leicester to Ballybofey in Co Donegal, Ireland.
Before switching to cycling, he’d previously taken on long distance running challenges for LOROS, including the London Marathon back in 2012.
To donate to his Just Giving page, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/john-holubjowsky11
