On 4 August 2013, I am cycling the inaugural Ride London-Surrey 100 mile route in support of Anthony Nolan, a charity which saves the lives of people with leukaemia and other forms of blood cancer, by matching them to people willing to donate their bone marrow, or blood stem cells, for transplants.    

 

Every 20 minutes, someone in the UK is diagnosed with blood cancer, which means thousands of families are experiencing it right now.  My own elder sister Dawn died of it in her childhood.  But thanks to Anthony Nolan and other charities dedicated to fighting it, the prospects of survival have greatly increased over the years. 

 

Those of you who know me well (or have cycled with me) know that I am something of a novice - this will be by some distance the longest I have ever cycled in one go, taking in the infamous Box Hill, Leith Hill and various other  unwelcome gradients in the Surrey countryside before returning to London (see attached).  But I’m just about keeping up with the training curve ...  Riding for a great charity all helps with the motivation! 

 

Every pound you can donate will make a difference and is very greatly appreciated.  Like all charities, fundraising is a vital part of Anthony Nolan’s work.  It costs money to recruit each person to the register.  So the equation is simple: the more fundraising, the more donors can be recruited, and the more lives can be saved.   What’s more, BP will kindly be matching all money donated, so your donation will count double!

 

Thanks for your support! 

 

Rob