Steve is cycling to a sound cradle factory in Germany

August 8, 2023

A cyclist raising money to buy a specialist piece of musical equipment for a children’s hospice is riding to the factory where they are produced in Germany.

Steve Swindon wants to fund a sound cradle – a musical instrument made from layers of beech and birch veneer, bonded together to create a semi-circular shape – for the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) base in Milton.

EACH has one at The Nook, where his partner, Jane Rous-Milligan, is a Music Therapist, but not at its Cambridgeshire hospice.

The cradle can be laid, stood vertically to provide a ‘sound shower’ or turned upside down like a dome. On each side are 18 strings, which are tuned to a monochord. When played, they resonate the entire instrument – a resonance felt intensely throughout the body, providing a sense of safety and containment.

Steve, who lives in Holt, needs to raise £4,000 and has already completed the 100-mile RideLondon event, the 200-mile Round Norfolk Epic and the 112-mile Dunwich Dynamo overnighter. Now he is gearing up for a special ride to the factory where the sound cradles are made, in Bad Zwesten.

“It’s going to be a special visit and something I’m excited about,” said Steve.

“I’ve swapped lots of emails with the co-founders of the company that produce the sound cradles and they’ve been very interested in my fundraising. We’ve arranged to see their showroom, visit the carpenter’s workshop and have a meal together afterwards.”

Steve is making the trip with friend Mike Hill, who is co-founder of Norwich-based One Planet Pizza. The business produces vegan pizzas in a factory owned by Conveni, in Liessel, in the Netherlands. The pair are planning to stop at the company’s headquarters on day three of their journey.

Steve and Mike are getting underway on 16 August, cycling from The Nook, in Framlingham Earl, to Harwich, before getting an overnight ferry to Hook of Holland. Their total cycling distance for the whole trip will be 395 miles.

“It’s going to be an incredible experience and a real challenge as there’s 12,925ft (3,940m) of climbing – almost half the height of Mount Everest,” said Steve.

“After the Germany trip, my final ride is scheduled for 23 September when I’m visiting all three EACH hospices – The Nook, The Treehouse, in Ipswich, Milton and then back to Norfolk. The estimated distance is 175 miles, which will bring my approximate distance for the year to 982 miles.

“Raising this money is very important to me, having learnt about the power of music therapy through Jane. “It’s not something I knew much about beforehand but now, thanks to her, I have more understanding. I had no idea how profound an impact it has on people and the sound cradle is an incredible, stunning piece of kit.”

Steve, who runs his own ecommerce company, is already a third of the way towards his £4,000 target. To show your support and make a donation, head here.