Image courtesy of Glenn Hands
Steely cyclists saddled up for a bumper biking challenge and raised more than £50,000 for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
The charity’s popular Ride for Life event took place last weekend, with 32 people pedalling 200 miles through the Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire countryside. Many more signed up for a one-day, 70-mile package, with 39 riding on Friday and 34 on both Saturday and Sunday. Between them, they raised a staggering £51,225 for EACH, which supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across East Anglia.
Events fundraiser Hannah Forbester said: “It was a huge success. “Everything went smoothly and everyone seemed to enjoy the experience. In terms of the amount raised, it’s an outstanding total. We were on around £45,000 by close of play on Thursday, so a further £6,000 came in while the cyclists were in action on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We couldn’t be happier and there’s still more sponsorship money to come, so that figure will grow even more. We were also thrilled to get such high numbers taking part. Everyone bonded and enjoyed sharing the experience together. Little groups formed, depending on pace, and there was plenty of encouragement for each other along the way. People made a point of clapping others as they arrived at the rest stops. We’ve had lots of positive feedback since and I know people who did the three-day challenge enjoyed cycling alongside those taking part on individual days. They said it gave them a real injection of energy.”
The three-day package started and finished at Richard Johnston Ltd, in Snetterton. It took cyclists from Norfolk to Ipswich and then onto Milton, in Cambridgeshire, before returning to Snetterton. Cyclists were in the saddle for approximately seven to eight hours a day and dinner, bed and breakfast and luggage transfers were included. The one-day options featured rides from Snetterton to Ipswich, from Ipswich to Milton and from Milton to Snetterton respectively.
All cyclists benefited from a fully supported route, first aid assistance, a back-up vehicle for the full journey, a kit list and training information, daily route information cards, mechanical support, refreshments and lunches along the route, fundraising help and support and a medal.
Hannah said that in addition to the cyclists, she was grateful to headline sponsor Richard Johnston Ltd, cycling events company Chapeau and charity Rapid Relief. “There are lots of people to thank, very much including Richard Johnston Ltd,” she said. “Their continued support of this event is invaluable and it’s a great place to start and finish the event. Chapeau managed the logistical side of things and were fantastic throughout. They dealt with things like the route, hotels and mapping out the rest stops to ensure everything went seamlessly. It was a massive challenge for those who took part but they got lots of support and really appreciated the hard work of the Chapeau team. Rapid Relief also did an amazing job, supplying food at the rest stops. They provided exactly what the riders needed, including beautiful sandwiches, pasta, salad, energy bars and hot and cold drinks. It was all free and very gratefully received.”
This year’s event took place in memory of Richard Johnston, who died in December 2018. Through his business, Richard was a dedicated long-term sponsor and supporter of Ride for Life. Three of his daughters, Helen, Gail and Catherine, were among those taking part and between them they raised an impressive £8,000. Also cycling were Henry and Jane Wright, who were riding in memory of son Douglas. The four-year-old had more than a year of treatment after being diagnosed with neuroblastoma - a rare type of cancer that mostly affects babies and young children. EACH provided end-of-life care before his death in February 2018.
The charity then supported Jane, Henry and daughter Clara (then aged seven) and they said signing up was their way of saying thank you – a form of “payback”. “People enjoyed hearing what we told them about EACH,” added Hannah. “It was nice to help raise awareness and tell people how absolutely vital money like this, in terms of allowing us to continue our work. There was a lovely touch at Milton, where the nurses came out to give the cyclists a clap and words of encouragement.”
Music maestro Barry Holden has admitted feeling “incredibly happy and proud” after raising just over £10,000 from the last of his hugely popular Norfolk festivals.
The 77-year-old has raised thousands of pounds for charities including East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) by staging a series of Live Aid-style concerts in North Walsham.
The first was in 1986, inspired by Sir Bob Geldof’s global fundraiser, and another took place in January 2005, in the aftermath of the devastating Boxing Day tsunami. Barry’s gigs have since taken place every year bar two, because of Covid, but it was the end of an era when the last one was held at North Walsham Community Centre on Saturday, 28th May.
It was in aid of EACH and Addenbrooke's Teenagers Cancer Trust and both charities will receive £5,100.
More than 300 classic scooters from all over East Anglia blazed a spectacular trail during an Easter fundraiser in rural Norfolk.
The dazzling convoy organised by Norwich Scooter Collective visited The Nook, run by East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) in Framingham Earl.
Kind-hearted riders gathered for pictures before handing over a cash donation of £1,600, in addition to toys, books and games for youngsters to enjoy.
A further donation is set to follow as the club have a St George’s Day ride planned on Sunday, 24th April.
The Easter fundraiser has become a long-standing tradition among the club’s members. They started their journey outside the Broadland District Council offices in Yarmouth Road, Norwich, and the impressive procession included classic Vespas and Lambrettas. They were joined by friends owning Volkswagen vans.
Determined Olive Duffield is back behind the counter at her favourite charity shop – a year after breaking her pelvis. The long-serving East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) volunteer, 82, was forced to take a year out after suffering her injury in early 2021. She also had a bout of shingles but was always determined to return to the shop in Long Stratton. She has been a regular fixture there for more than a quarter of a century and started volunteering in early 1995, working at the former shop that raised funds for the old Quidenham hospice.
Now she is back where she belongs, dutifully giving up two hours a week every Friday morning. “I’m as good as I’m going to be,” joked Olive, referring to her recent brushes with injury and illness. I never thought about not coming back – it was always something I wanted to do. I wanted to get back in the shop as soon as possible because it’s something I’ve always enjoyed. I don’t get to see many people so enjoy the chance to chat with customers. It gets me out and I like the sense of helping others. The more money we take the better, because of the charity we’re supporting. I’ve known many of our customers for years and seen children grow up, now coming into the shop with their own little ones. There have been so many changes but it’s something I continue to enjoy and would recommend to anyone.”
A kind-hearted nine-year-old raised nearly £2,500 after taking on a 25-mile charity bike ride in rural Norfolk. Ella-May Saunders, who lives in Jermyn Way, Tharston, completed the challenge for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
She cycled for three hours, with one quick pit stop, and was rightly proud of herself after raising an astonishing £2,473. Ella-May’s fundraiser was in memory of James Thorndyke, the baby son of a close family friend who died in February 2017.
James had Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) and received care at EACH’s former Quidenham hospice. He died five days before his first birthday. His mum, Susie, is friends with Ella-May’s mum, Louise, and herself a successful fundraiser for the charity, having held two balls in 2018 and 2020 and donated just over £40,000.
Louise said: “We’re so proud of Ella-May. She didn't moan once, stuck to her task and completed the challenge with no problems at all. We only stopped once, for a quick bite to eat and drink in Bunwell. Other than that, she completed the route in one go, in three hours.”
Ella-May added: “It was tough but worth it in the end.”
A series of training and information sessions have been organised for volunteers keen to become part of a charity’s Help at Home service.
East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex.
Help at Home is one of its key volunteer services and involves helping families with everyday jobs like shopping, collecting prescriptions, cooking, vacuuming, dusting, washing, ironing and gardening. Other roles include looking after pets and sibling support, including helping children and young people with their homework. One-off projects – things that might not get done otherwise - could include decorating, painting, clearing out rooms and helping families move house.
EACH is keen to hear from anyone able to help, either once a week or once a month. Volunteers can be flexible and all help is appreciated.