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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Myself and 19 other athletes (of varying levels of aptitude) have signed up to an enormously difficult challenge - embarking on a bike ride of over 400 miles from York to Cork in just 6 days. It will be physically challenging for all those involved as our aim is depart to from York on Monday, June 20, 2011 and arrive in Cork on Saturday, June 25, 2011. Our route will see us cross England and travel through North Wales to Holyhead where we will board a ferry to Dun Laoghaire. From there we will cycle to Cork before enjoying a well-earned pint of Murphy’s!... It is Cork after all!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The primary aim of this bike ride is to raise valuable funds for York Against Cancer in memory of my uncle Dr John Finbarr Walsh. John was first diagnosed with cancer in June 2007. After initially enjoying 10 months in remission, the cancer unfortunately returned in September 2008. John fought the disease valiantly, displaying courage and dignity throughout, even managing to give his daughter Abigail away at her wedding just 3 days before his death in March 2009. He was an inspiration to all who knew him.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Originally from York, John was revered by all who knew him both personally and professionally during his career as an anaesthetist. His work took him to Cork where he and his wife, Anne brought up their three children; Sarah, Abigail and David. John loved cycling, hence the decision to complete what we believe to be a fitting tribute to this greatly missed, much loved man.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">York Against Cancer provide support for those affected by cancer in York and the surrounding area through education, care and research. They support a team at the University of York whose research is used to combat cancer across the world.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">As an extra incentive for you to donate, my employers, HSBC Bank, will match your donation, thus helping us to achieve our goals more quickly and help defeat this disease which touches too many lives.</span></p>
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