My younger sister, Katy Taylor ('KT'), was diagnosed with breast cancer and she, and a group of close friends, organised their first big fundraiser 'The Strawberry Ball' to buy equipment for the Nottingham Breast Institute in 2006.

Through cycling numerous long-distance routes and continuing to hold The Strawberry Ball and fundraising events, the group has raised approximately £300,000 which has enabled the hospital to purchase a mobile breast screening unit (which is still in situ today in Newark Hospital’s Car Park), and a new state-of-the-art mammographic scanner. Some of the money raised has also been shared with the Breast Cancer Now charity, which concentrates on research into this cruel disease.

In 2011, Katy died at the age of 37 years. Since then, we have lost too many other friends and family members, and currently have friends battling their own battles. This only fuels our drive to keep fighting the fight.

This year in July our challenge is to cycle 220 miles from Wales to Wellow. It will be the first time we are cycling home, back into Nottinghamshire.

As you can appreciate, fundraising has been challenging over this past 12-18 months to say the least. However, we are all very creative with our fundraising and we are hopeful, along with holding the 4th Strawberry Ball in March 2022, that we can achieve our goal to purchase another valued item for the Nottingham Breast Institute.

Thank you for your support,

Allie & Mike