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A huge thank you to everyone who supported us on our recent Cycle Challenge. As you can see the response was fantastic and our total amount smashed our expectations!! We initially thought we would do well to raise £5000 but amazingly the current total is more than £16,000 which is an incredible sum of money and will make a huge difference to the wig service currently offered at our local hospital. We are now in the process of setting up the new wig salon and hope to have it up and running by the early part of next year.
The cycle ride was a fanstastic experience. The weather on day one was perfect - not too hot, hardly any wind and there was a marvellous crowd at the Falcon Inn waiting to wave us off. We set off in groups of 3 and all met up in Llangollen for a picnic lunch and a quick massage from Mandy Ambulance our physio (real name Mandy Ambert!!). The support team were wonderful supplying drinks, snacks and plenty of encouragement en route. The first cyclists Rose, Tula and Becky arrived in Bala around 1.45 p.m. making fantastic time, followed by myself and Mandy Berrisford about half an hour later. We then enjoyed clapping all the other girls as they arrived looking tired but elated. Then it was off to the hotel for a well earned rest, bath, dinner then bed - we were all tucked up and fast asleep by 9.30 p.m!
Day two dawned and the weather was dreadful. If was pouring with rain and very windy. We all got ready and donned waterproofs then off we set up to Bala reservoir. The conditions gradually worsened and it was very hard going - what a contrast to day one! We were finding it much tougher - there were plenty of hills, it was difficult to see with or without glasses because of the rain and if you stopped for long you got really cold and started stiffening up. Even downhill was a challenge as you felt as though the bike would be blown over by the strength of the wind or the wheels would slip on the wet road and you would be off!! By the time we reached Porthmadog we were all soaking wet and desperate to get to Abersoch. No nice picnic today although some of the girls did manage to call into a tearoom in Criccieth and enjoy tea and cakes!!! Our team captain, Tula, took a couple of falls in Porthmadog and injured her shoulder quite badly. However, like a true athlete she got staight back on the bike and carried on undeterred!! Thankfully Mandy Ambulance was on hand to give her a bit of first aid at the side of the road.
As we were coming out of Criccieth I started to tire and needed a pit stop, so again Mandy Ambulance came to the rescue and whilst I had a quick sandwich and a drink she gave me a wonderful shoulder massage - it was just what I needed and I got back on my bike refreshed and determined to finish.
I caught up with my daughter Becky and we cycled the last 10 miles together. She took the lead and was a huge help pulling me along and encouraging me as the weather was still horrendous and I was getting increasingly saddle sore!! We eventually made it to Abersoch and the Riverside Hotel where a huge crowd of family and friends had gathered to welcome us all in. What a relief, what an achievement!!! All the girls had made it and were on cloud 9. A mention here for Mandy Payne and Jo Fenwick who were the first girls to arrive in Abersoch - Mandy claims it was because she had been desperate for the loo since Criccieth and didn't want to stop by the side of the road, so just peddled like crazy!!!!
That night 80 of us crammed into the Egryn to celebrate the ride - there was a fantastic atmosphere and much back slapping went on and plenty of wine drunk!!
A huge thank you to all the girls who took part, our supporters en route and everyone who has sponsored us - I am hugely grateful and know what a positive impact this money will have on so many women who lose their hair through treatment - by providing them with a fantastic choice of wigs, headscarves and bandanas and offering beauty treatments and advice on make up I know what a difference it will make to their self-confidence and ultimately their recovery!
Fiona xxx
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Thank You
Fiona and The Team
