Cyclists Fighting Cancer gives bikes, adapted trikes and tandems to children and young people whose lives have been affected by cancer.
Something as simple as a bike makes a remarkable difference to their daily lives and brings back smiles
Sophie Eggerton was diagnosed with a malignant Brain tumour in July 2006, she was 12 years old.
Sophie had considerable complications following the surgery to remove the tumour and had posterior fossa syndrome which resulted in major difficulties in terms of co-ordination (both with motor planning and balance) and mobility. Her speech is slower and she can take a longer time when responding to questions and conversation.
Having heard about Cyclists Fighting Cancer on the web, Sophie’s parents applied for partial funding of a specially adapted tricycle for her.
The trike that CFC provided for Sophie not only allows her to play outside with her friends but also contributes to her rehabilitation through strengthening the proximal muscles in her legs. It’s bulit to last and is completely adjustable so she won’t grow out of it. The problem is, of course, that these things aren’t cheap. The cost of the trike was around £1,800 and Cyclists Fighting Cancer funded it completely.
It’s always a great moment see our efforts bearing fruit and watching Sophie riding off down the street on her new bike was amazing.
This award was specifically funded by the efforts of three colleagues from Cheltenham; Mike Darch, Emerson Osmond and our very own web editor, Luke Pickering. The self-styled, “Three Fat Lads on Bikes”, rode from John O’Groats to Land’s End – 1,000 miles over 13 days – and in the end managed to generate more than £5,500 in donations.
The lads shook buckets in their local supermarkets, scrounged, raffled, and sold everything from Manchester United tickets to old bike parts, and took more than £1,500 through their Just Giving page. The boys have kept in touch with CFC since the event, Luke manages the website and Emerson is signed up to ride the 300kms of Vatternrundan with the rest of Team Sweden.
The level of support offered to their fundraising efforts by Cyclists Fighting Cancer was part of what made their achievement possible. Mike said, “Cyclists Fighting Cancer really rallied around for us. They came from all over the West Midlands to help us raise cash in the supermarket and three of them even rode the 65 miles from Cheltenham to Cheddar in some pretty nasty Bank Holiday weather. You just wouldn’t get that level of personal support from a big charity”.