Member Article

Cycle challenge to raise funds for Teenage Cancer Trust

The Ricoh Arena will be the final leg of a mammoth cycling challenge covering over 800 miles to raise funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust in association with The Steven Staunton Foundation.

South and City College Birmingham Principal Mike Hopkins is leading a 15-strong team who will be taking part in the Coast2Coast across the UK and Ireland over nine days, starting on Saturday, July 19.

The group will leave the college’s Digbeth campus via the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by coach up to Cleethorpes where the ride will commence in their bid to raise £50,000 with help from businesses across the West Midlands.

Nine days later, the team will stop off at the Ricoh Arena on Sunday, July 27 where they will be joined by students, staff and the general public to take part in the journey back to the college’s Digbeth campus for a celebration event.

Mike said it was going to be a tough challenge but the cyclists were determined to ride the 800 miles in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust and The Steven Staunton Foundation – the charity set-up by the former Coventry City and Aston Villa footballer.

“The Teenage Cancer Trust and The Steven Staunton Foundation are extremely worthwhile charities and the money we raise will enable them both to continue their amazing work,” he said.

“Each day, we will ride in support of a young person who is battling with cancer and on the Irish stage from Dublin to Rosslare we will support The Stephen Staunton Foundation which is appropriate since Stephen was born in Drogheda which is near Dublin.

“It is going to be tough cycling to seven coastlines in England, Wales and Ireland in such a short space of time but we are focused and we have been training hard.

“It will be a relief to see the Ricoh Arena because we will know we are only 30 miles from the college and the prospect of being joined by other riders in the home stretch will inspire us to get over the finish line.”

Liz Cooper, marketing director at the Ricoh Arena, said she had great admiration for the cyclists after taking part in the final 27 miles of last year’s 7inSeven challenge.

“The Coast2Coast challenge is a mammoth task and it will test their endurance skills but with team camaraderie and grit as well as knowing they are raising funds for two great charities, I am sure Mike and the team will reach their goal,” she said.

“After travelling to seven different coasts, the Ricoh Arena will signify they are homeward bound and we will be providing the riders with plenty of refreshments and food before they get back on their bikes for the last 30 miles of their epic trip.”

To sign up for the final day ride and for further information, please visit www.challengesccb.co.uk or email Jacqui.Dawson@sscb.ac.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .