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We are going for a bike ride to the seaside

Update - 2nd August

Well, we did it. About 120 miles in 8 hours at an average of about 14.5mph. Not bad for a bunch of old boys who should know better. I'd like to personally congratulate and thank my team of riders, Andy, Graham, Jim, Jim, Richard, Simon and Fergus and thank Billy for holding our hands (so to speak).

With a few £££'s to come in from around the country, we will have raised well in excess of £1500 which is a pretty good effort I reckon, so thank you to all who sponsored us. I certainly felt inspired by your generous support as I huffed and puffed across East Anglia. I'm sure the good people at GOSH will be delighted with the extra funds.

To view some photos of our adventure visit

Update 20/07/10

Hi all

I spoke with Angelina's mum Lisa yesterday. She passes on a huge thanks to all who have sponsored us so far.

The money they have raised to date through the Angelina's Dreams web site will be for the new Sensory Room, due to be built in the next year or so. Lisa says that the ward Angelina was on (Parrot Ward) looked after them really well though is crying out for some instant investment in simple improvements. The money we raise could buy a couple of much needed laptop computers or play mats or sensory lighting etc. So any sponsorship we raise will help both in the immediate short term and for the future plans at GOSH.

One week till we ride. We are all looking forwards to it - well finishing it at least.

Regards

Jez

 

29/6/10

Last Thursday, Angelina had her operation and the surgeons have reported no complications, however, Angelina will now have to undergo lenghty rehabilitation and physiotherapy. Follow the link to read the full story from todays EDP

http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp24/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=NOED28%20Jun%202010%2017%3A03%3A22%3A193

 

OUR STORY

On July 29th this year, 9 old boys and a man with a van are doing a 120 mile ride from deepest Hertfordshire to North Norfolk to raise funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital. This is a biennial ride that has been completed by (some of) us since 2002. The challenge then was to cycle from what was my home in Letchworth to North Norfolk to visit my father in time for the Langham Street Fair. Initially two of us completed the ride and now the peleton has grown to nine this time round. Collectively we decided that the ride would make an excellent fund raiser which is why we are asking for your help by way of sponsorship.

We chose GOSH as our charity to support as I would love to help a special youngster who lives near me in Gresham, Norfolk. Angelina Mills was born a year ago with a condition known as Sturge-Weber Syndrome,a very rare neurological condition affecting only an estimated 1 in 50,000 (about 0.018% of the population) in the .  It is characterised by a birthmark (port wine stain), usually on one side of the face, which is associated with an abnormality of the brain caused by abnormal blood vessels on the surface of the brain. This abnormality usually results in frequent and prolonged epileptic seizures and other health related problems such as a weakness or paralysis in one side of the body (hemiplegia, similar in appearance to that of a stroke), glaucoma and developmental issues causing varying severities of learning difficulties.

Unfortunately there is no cure for Sturge-Weber Syndrome, medication is not helping to stabilise the seizures and the next option for consideration is surgery which Angelina is due to have imminentley.  This involves removing the part of the brain affected by the blood vessels (angioma) with an operational procedure known as a hemispherectomy, and is considered for the more severe cases of Sturge-Weber Syndrome. It goes without saying that this type of operation carries great risk especially on one so young, with no guarantees at the end of it all, only the hope and prayers of the family that Angelina will benefit and have some tangible quality of life as a result.

Any money we raise on our ride will go towards a new neuroscience unit and sensory room which Angelina's family are working very hard to raise funds for. You can read more about Angelina's story and the fantastic fund raising work her family are doing here http://www.angelinasdreams.org/?page_id=2

On behalf of the team, thank you

Regards

Jez

 

 

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