Friends’ 100 mile cycle ride raises £3,800

Five friends set off on an ambitious 100 mile bike ride on Sunday 16 August to raise vital funds for our children’s hospice service

The organiser was James Killian, a business development manager at Pythagoras Communications in Maidenhead, which has supported our children’s hospice service for many years.

As a dad of children aged five and three himself he encouraged four friends to sign up for the nationwide My Prudential RideLondon event and take on the 100 mile cycle challenge to raise money for the charity.

But there was a hitch this year. The usual format for the event – which sees hundreds of cyclists riding together – was abandoned by Prudential because of Covid-19 but instead encouraged people across the UK to participate by riding their own route.

So James and his friends – Daniel Berryman, Stuart Blackman, Steve Wells and Derek Scott – concocted their own route. Starting from Spencer’s Wood near Wokingham they travelled into Oxfordshire and back through Newbury.

Talking about their incredible achievement, James said:

“I would describe us all as fairly average and very recreational cyclists. But we were all determined to try and raise as much money as possible for this special charity. None of us had ever ridden anywhere near that distance but we figured the harder we made the challenge, the more people would get behind us and donate.

With most of the team being Dad’s, Alexander Devine is a charity that is close to all our hearts and a tough day in the saddle for us was worth it to try and raise vital funds to help them continue to be there for children and families that desperately need support.

Despite the aching legs, we are all feeling a huge sense of achievement for raising over £3,800 for such a fantastic cause.”

It took the team 6 hours and 20 minutes to cycle 100 miles and they have so far raised over £3,800 including gift aid.

Alexander Devine’s Fundraising Manager, Harjit Bola, congratulated the team on their achievement:

“It is really inspiring to see how people like James, Stuart, Dan, Derek and Steve push themselves out of their comfort zones to try and help others. We are hugely grateful for their impressive efforts and everyone that supported them.

The money they have raised is a huge help for Alexander Devine, especially during these uncertain times when fundraising is incredibly challenging and we have lost vital funds as a result of the cancellation of key fundraising events. What a difference this money will make, indeed it could help us fund over 47 splash sessions in our hydrotherapy pool at the hospice. These sessions are such a wonderful opportunity for families to spend quality time together, making memories that they will treasure.”