Eleven dedicated supporters who took on the challenge of the Ride London 100 cycle race on 2 August raised an impressive £6,833.37 for St Elizabeth Hospice.
Sue Little, mother-in-law to Amanda Little, along with Aidrian Taylor, Rod Swinn and Karl Cullimore, John Thorrington, David Maydell, James Harris, George Harris, Patrick Goudkuil and Laura Crighton, cycled the 100 mile route from London to Surrey, along with 25,000 other riders, including the likes of Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish, and Laura Trott, to raise funds for their local hospice.
Starting at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, riders followed an exclusive traffic free route out to Surrey’s beautiful countryside, taking on the famous Box Hill and Leith Hill, before heading back into London to finish on The Mall!
Joanne Rodger, St Elizabeth Hospice’s Events Fundraiser, said: “We are so grateful to our elven incredible supporters for taking on the ride in aid of the hospice. They all did extremely well, both in finishing the 100 mile course in such brilliant times, but also in their fundraising efforts.
“All the money they’ve raised will go towards improving life for people living with a progressive illness such as: cancer, Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease and heart, lung or kidney disease.”
Karl Cullimore, is a seasoned cyclist who made a comeback after a knee injury, and rode in memory of his Aunt.
He said: “I wanted to raise money for the hospice as three years ago my auntie was looked after by their hospice at home team. She had cancer and wanted to stay in her own home which is what St Elizabeth Hospice enabled her to do.”
Carl explained that his auntie had spent a lot of time caring for her mother who had Parkinson’s disease, so it felt good to do some fundraising in her memory as his cousins and aunties have been doing the Midnight Walk for St Elizabeth Hospice for the last three years.
Sue Little, also completed Ride London 100 as one of the ‘Woodbridge Friends’ group who fundraise for St Elizabeth Hospice.
She said: “I’m glad I’ve done it and got around in one piece. It was phenomenal. 25,000 people on their bikes created a similar atmosphere to that of the London Marathon, which I have run twice in aid of St Elizabeth Hospice. It was really well-organised.”
The Woodbridge Friends Group aim to raise £10,000 by the end of the financial year for St Elizabeth Hospice. If they do, they will reach an astonishing target of £250,000 raised since they formed in 1991.