Dad’s marathon cycle ride to thank charity
Charlotte Anderson and her parents Nick and Kim have raised more than £21,000 for the teenage cancer trust. Picture: Ian Burt - Credit: Ian Burt
A west Norfolk man will be joined by his son and a group of colleagues as they take on a 100-mile cycle challenge to fundraise for a charity which supported his daughter through cancer.
Charlotte Anderson and her father, Nick Anderson in training. Picture submitted - Credit: Archant
Nick Anderson, 49, will be tackling the mammoth London to Surrey cycling challenge, the Prudential RideLondon – Surrey 100, for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
And Mr Anderson and the team of seven, called The Old Guys at the Back, are now calling on others to join them and raise money for the only UK charity dedicated to supporting young people with cancer.
Team members Stefan Anderson, Phil Cooper, Chris Swales, Dale Lewis, Phillip Singleton and Mo Mesouani, who all work for Dobbies Garden Centres with Mr Anderson, aim to raise £10,000. Charlotte Anderson was diagnosed with the bone cancer, osteosarcoma in 2014 after suffering constant pain in her knee.
Aged just 22, her whole life was turned upside down as she embarked on cycles of chemotherapy and an operation to remove the tumour.
She was treated on the Teenage Cancer Trust unit at Addenbrooke's in Cambridge for almost a year, which provided her with specialist, age appropriate care that enabled her to be around other young people.
Mr Anderson, from Small Lode, Upwell, near Downham Market, and his wife Kim have raised more than £21,000 for the charity in the last two years.
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He said: 'Taking on RideLondon will be no easy feat, but doing it for a charity that supported Charlotte and my family through one of the scariest, toughest times, makes it all worthwhile. Teenage Cancer Trust not only helped Charlotte through cancer but they also helped her rebuild her life after treatment.'
Charlotte, now 24, said: 'I'm really proud of dad and my brother Stef; it's a long way to cycle and they haven't done anything like it before.
'Teenage Cancer Trust made things so much easier for me when I was ill and it's really important all young people with cancer get their help.'
Vicki Mewse, the trust's challenges executive, said seven young people were diagnosed with cancer every day. 'For every young person with cancer we reach, currently there's another we can't,' she said.
The cycle challenge is on Sunday, July 31. Cyclists will ride 100 miles through London to Surrey and back, finishing at the Mall. A charity place with the trust guarantees participants entry to the ride.
Are you fundraising for charity? Email david.bale2@archant.co.uk
