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Bike to the Future 2008 - Ride Around the World
The vision of pancreatic cancer survivor Les Niewiara was an international awareness and fundraising series of cycling events. You can read more about this vision on his web-site www.biketothefuture.org.uk The aim was to accumulate 40,000km ie the distance around the world and £40,000 for pancreatic cancer research. You can donate online at www.justgiving.com/biketothefuture2008
From 24th July to 7th August 2008 he was planning to cycle 1542km from Hammersmith, London to Krakow, Poland to raise awareness and funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK and he wanted many others around the UK and the world to join him by organizing or taking part in their own cycling events so that the combined distance reaches 40,000km - ie the distance round the world. Unfortunately Les had to miss the first stages of the ride as he had to undergo some investigations in Hammersmith Hospital but he was allowed out for an hour to join the riders at the start. However he managed to join the riders in Hanover on 29th July. Survivor Trace Allen was also in the team of riders heading off for Poland. You could track the riders progress from the link at the top of the Bike to the Future web-site home page and you can also read blogs from Les and the riders on that web-site. See the video filmed by RTL as they cycled through Germany. On the RTL page where the RTL television coverage of the tour is shown you can also give a rating about the "film". On the right hand side of the "movie screen" you find the option "Bewerten" = rating. If you click it you will find 5 stars. If you go with the mouse on the one to the RIGHT all five stars turn yellow - then click. A high rating might put the coverage on the front page (the 3 highest rated films are on there) and this would give more publicity. Hear the interview in Polish at the finish in Krakow here. We are very sad to report that Les passed away on 18th December at the age of 48 just over 5 years since his diagnosis and surgery for pancreatic cancer and 4 months since completing his epic ride to Poland to raise awareness of the disease, to provide a rallying call for action and to raise funds for research. He has provided much of the inspiration behind the charity Pancreatic Cancer UK and has inspired and helped very many patients, charity workers, nurses and specialists in the past 4 years since the publication of his story on this web-site, his bike-ride from Bolton to Hammersmith, the personal contact he and his wife have had with fellow sufferers, his talks to patient support groups, nurses groups, MPs and cancer specialists and charities and the production of his book "Bike to the Future" (available through Pancreatic Cancer UK). He lived life to the full returning to work, coaching his daughters' football teams, annual bike rides and meetings with family and friends. He was a true leader and has achieved much. You can donate online in his memory and to further his work at www.justgiving.com/biketothefuture2008
Hammersmith Hospital to Harrow 24th July 2008
Hammersmith Hospital circuits of Wormwood Scrubs 24th July 2008
Before the start of the ride to Poland Hammermsith Hospital staff and their families cycled circuits around Wormwood Scrubs at the back fo the hospital to raise further funds and miles to add to "Ride around the world". This included some of the dieticians who had been involved in Les' treatment. The event was organised by Cathy Dyer CNS and Krys Duvall. Les issued the instructions to the riders.
Harrow to Harwich 25th July 2008
Hanover 30th July 2008
Bedzin 6th August 2008
Finish Krakow 7th August 2008
Ride around the World Events May to September 2008
Medwen Roberts cycled 275 miles from Holyhead to Chepstow on 5th to 12th June and said "Y cynllun ydy beicio o Gaergybi i Gasgwent ar hyd Lon Las Cymru ( 275 milltir) a chodi arian ar gyfer cancr y pancreas, fel gwerthfawrogiad o fywyd Dad fu farw llynedd. Roedd Dad yn feiciwr o fri pan oedd yn iau a dwi'n cofio mynd ar y beic efo fo o Stiniog i Dolwyddelan sawl tro, fyny ac i lawr elltydd y Crimea, yn canu! Bydd yr elltydd ar y Lon Las yn haws os alla i gael ychydig o nawdd...." We are very grateful as she is translating some of the information on this web-site into Welsh.
Steve Hastings and 9 friends took part in the
Marin Rough Ride event on Sunday 8th June 2008 http://www.justgiving.com/stevehastings. Steve said "The Rough Ride isn’t a race, but it is challenging - the route we'll be taking includes more than 7,000 feet of climbing and fast descending over 75km of East Radnorshire's Moorland. We expect to be riding for 8 hours or more on the day, so it's no small task."
A sponsored cycle ride took place on Sunday 22nd June as part of
National Bike Week 2008.
Gary Brown cycled 100km from Manchester to Blackpool on 13th July
Samatha Hawes, Loise Whitehead and Theresa Bruce did a static bike-ride on 24th July at Haltemprice Leisure Centre, Hull and they were joined by Peter Fox - Hull Kingston Rovers and England International.
Kirsti Wright cycled from Lands End to John O'Groats starting 2nd-16th August with her friend Donna.
Charles, Sophie, Caroline and Charles-J Pridgeon and Charles-J's friend Tom Denton cycled over 700km from Berlin to Copenhagen In August 22-31
Richard Burch whose wife had surgery for neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer cycled from Lands End to John O'Groats starting 7th September with some members of his cycling club to raise funds for PCUK and the Net Patient Foundation. Before the ride he said"Basically 6 like minded club riders who want to do the end to end. Given my wife's recent diagnosis and me turning 40 this year it seemed to me to be a good idea to do something I have always wanted to do and raise a bit of cash at the same time. We will do it in 7 days (we have to) and are stopping at hotels/guest houses along the way. We have another club member who has kindly offered to drive a support vehicle with spare wheels etc plus carry all our bags. It is a mixed ability group and the average speed should be between 15 - 16 mph so fairly modest but we do have to cover 120 miles a day." He raised about £4500 in total and said "The ride was basically done by myself and 5 other like minded cyclists, although I was the only one raising money for charity. The whole event is detailed on our website www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/Sotonia2008 . We all completed the event over 7 days averaging 120 miles a day. My own personal mileage was 865 miles, my riding time was 47 hours and 55 minutes and my average speed for the trip was 18.05mph."
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| Last updated 28th December 2008
page created 25th July 2008 |
