Amount raised for local good causes over 20 years tops £100,000

A group of cyclists from East Yorkshire have raised £5,000 to support the care of local people with bowel cancer.

Gary Kemp, who works at Willerby Holiday Homes, is one of around 60 people to have taken part in a recent 50 mile cycle ride from Hull to Scarborough.

Members of the group have been making the two-wheeled trek annually for the past 20 years, and Gary has been one of those organising the ride out, along with his colleague Steve Moore, for the past 14 years.

Every year the group has chosen to raise money for a different charity in Hull and/or the East Riding, and their latest ride bagged them a cool £5,000 in sponsorship and support. But if that wasn’t impressive enough on its own, their collective fundraising for local good causes has now topped £100,000.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s oncology service, based at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham, is the latest to benefit from the group’s generosity.

Gary explains:

“Our annual fundraiser is a great opportunity to get together with work colleagues, family and friends, to take in some fresh air, and to raise money for some really good local causes.

“Several members of our group have had family or friends affected by bowel cancer and spend time in hospital receiving care or treatment for it, and so that’s specifically where we’ll be donating the money this time.

“Senior staff and directors at Willerby Holiday Homes always support us with our fundraising, as do many of the company’s suppliers. And whilst the ride can be tough in parts, especially the hills on the route between Bridlington and Scarborough, we all support each other and we make sure we have a good rest and plenty to eat when we get there!”

Professor Anthony Maraveyas, Consultant Oncologist at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says:

“Hull has been at the forefront of studying novel imaging and radiotherapy planning technologies in cancer. We are working to improve radiotherapy outcomes both in terms of efficacy and reducing toxicity for patients with rectal cancer, and this fantastic donation will go towards bolstering this research.

“The support of our research, as seen through the successful Daisy Appeal but also through the individual generosity of patients and their families to particular causes, such as colorectal cancer, has been heart-warming and is always much appreciated.”