CYCLISTS who would have taken part in a charity’s cancelled fundraising event are being urged to take on the challenge virtually.
In August, hundreds of cyclists would have been helping The Myton Hospices to celebrate its 10th annual Cycle Challenge and raise £50,000 for the charity.
Although Myton cannot run the event this year, the charity is hoping people will instead join its Virtual Cycle Challenge.
Up to 80 per cent of the charity’s fundraising has been impacted by Covid-19 – and it still needs to raise £750,000 every month to provide care and support for terminally ill patients and their families.
Wendy Richards, whose father Stan spent his last days in the care of Coventry Myton Hospice, has already set off on her own virtual Cycle Challenge in his memory.
Wendy decided to challenge herself to achieve something she has always wanted to do – cycle from Lands’ End to John O’Groats.
While she isn’t currently able to make the journey from one end of the country to the other, she has been clocking up the miles locally and tracking where her journey would be taking her each time she rides.
Stan was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in March and, after spending a few weeks in hospital, was then transferred to Coventry Myton Hospice. He spent just over a week in Myton’s care before he died.
Wendy said: “Dad was 91 but still very independent. He couldn’t have been happier at Myton – he loved his room and the view it had, and the staff were all amazing. We were greeted by a nurse called Helen when he arrived, and then she was with him at the end too.”
Taking part in the Virtual Cycle Challenge costs £5. Participants pick the distance they want to cover and the route they will take.
Anyone who pledges to raise £70 in sponsorship will receive a Myton jersey from one of the Cycle Challenge events of the last decade.
And everyone who signs up to the event will be in with the chance of winning an Orro road bike.
Visit www.mytonhospice.org/cycle to join up, or for more information.
