Story
We are raising funds for the Shakespeare Hospice in celebration of one of our group of mountain bikers surviving their fourth fight with cancer.
But the driving force is not that he has survived and been given the all-clear, but the way that our community rose up to help with their support on the news that the fight had again begun. What makes it even more surprising is that out community is based on-line on a mountain bike forum and many of the members only know each other because of this. The level of support was a surprise to all, in it's immediacy and the way it refused to waver over the long time the fight took. Some of the members have summed this up below:
"...I'm often moved to see that good old community spirit is still alive and well in these 'me first' times that we seem to living in. But then that seems to be the one thing that makes this forum stand out from all the others."
"The community has got behind his fight with Mr C like he was your best friend from your schools days. The forum members have offered not only support to him but also to his wife has well when she came on the forum to keep the forum members updated on his treatment."
"The forum is made up of people from all walks of life, hidden by the anonymity of the worldwide web making us all equal on a level playing field. From this great friendships have begun and flourished over many years, reaching far beyond the 'just get out and ride' thought process. The support given by all, to all is something special that you have to actually experience to appreciate."
This level of support is still ongoing now through the recovery, culminating in a get-together to celebrate the huge amount of support the community has given unequivocally.
It is with this thought that we are raising funds for the hospice, so that others can benefit from having a support network in their own personal time of need, whatever the circumstances. It is a charity our friend has raised money for before, so we would appreciate if you could spare any donation however small.
Thank you.