C4C 2010 – Family Remembers Cycling Dad
The family of a Kingsthorpe man, who died just last month, are hoping to honour his memory as they take part in this years Cycle4Cynthia. The event, which raises money for two charities providing care and support for people with cancer and cancer-related illness in Northamptonshire - The Friends of Cynthia Spencer Hospice and Macmillan Cancer Support - is scheduled for Sunday, September 26th.
63 year old Bob Sanders was first diagnosed with cancer 16 months ago and sadly lost his battle for life after four weeks nursing at Cynthia Spencer Hospice. Now his family, who are taking part in the event for the 2nd year running, are going all out to make this years ride a wonderful celebration of his life – and hopefully raise a few smiles along the way!
Said son, Steven “Dad had completed the Cycle4Cynthia Challenge in the previous three years but in September 2009, the doctors advised him not to/ / hed developed bone cancer and they told him it could cause his hips to crumble…but he still cycled. It was as if he knew that he was going to need the hospice and wanted to do everything he could to support it while he still could.”
Last year, me, my sister, her husband, our cousin and a couple of mates dressed up as superheroes and we had a great day, raising over two thousand pounds on behalf of the Nationwide team. We also won the prize for the best fancy dress so we thought this year wed try to go one better and do the ride on comedy bikes – maybe even quadricycles, which are the four-wheeled bikes. Dad had a great sense of humour and he loved the idea when we told him what our intentions for this years Cycle4Cynthia were!”
“The thing is, we dont know where we can get one so if anyone has a quadricycle we could borrow, or knows where to get hold of them, wed love to hear from them. We really cant say a big enough thank you to the staff at Cynthia Spencer who nursed Dad and supported us as a family so fantastically at the end, but doing the ride to remember him and raising money seems the best way to show our appreciation for their amazing work.”
Sue Bownass, from the Friends of Cynthia Spencer Hospice, commented “Losing Bob, as with any patient, was terribly sad and its amazing that his family are thinking of us, even at this very difficult time for them. To maintain our exceptional quality of care, we have to raise £650,000 a year through fundraising activities and charitable donations. We are very much looking forward to beating the amount raised last year and I know with the support of the Sanders family, local people and companies we will achieve it.”
Meanwhile Marcus Cox, who is Macmillan Cancer Support s new fundraising manager for Northamptonshire added “I havent been involved with the event before but its clear to see that people have developed a real passion for it over the years and Im delighted to be on board. The charity has an annual target of £518,000 for the county alone and so the event is a key fundraiser for us, helping us to maintain the services we provide to the community. We really are grateful to all those who take part.”
Cycle4Cynthia 2010 will, for the third year running, link up with the Saints and the events three routes - five, 25 and 50 miles in length – will start and finish at the clubs home ground, Franklins Gardens.
If you know where the family can get hold of any quadricycles, please contact Steven on 07787 527890.
To find out more about the event or to download corporate entry and sponsorship forms, log on to www.cycle4cynthia.co.uk or contact Sue Bownass on 01604 678088.
If you would like to enter a corporate team, or to discuss your business requirements in more detail, please email annamurby@hotmail.com