News / Above and Beyond
On your bikes for Bristol children’s hospital
Cyclists who took on the Bristol to Paris Cycle Challenge and smashed their target to raise £150,000 for hospital charity Above and Beyond have been welcomed home with a special celebratory evening.
The event on Thursday was held in honour of the 80 riders whose efforts will go to help Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and also acted as the launch party for next year’s challenge. Fittingly, it was held just two days before National Bike Week, which runs from June 10-18.
Intrepid cyclists toook off from Ashton Court to take on the 430km challenge:
is needed now More than ever
The fundraiser defied all expectation by surpassing its £100,000 target by £50,000 and the funds will be used to revamp the Neuroscience and Major Trauma and Rehabilitation Unit at the children’s hospital.
Izak Heys was one of the cyclists who took part this year. His son, Ben, was treated on the Major Trauma and Rehabilitation Unit for more than three months after he fractured his skull.
His head injury was so severe he couldn’t walk, talk or eat and needed round-the-clock nursing care. The dedicated team at Bristol Children’s Hospital provided physio, occupational therapy, supportive psychology and help with his speech until little by little he began to improve.
Talking about why he decided to take on the challenge with friends, Izak said: “I wanted to raise awareness for the fantastic organisation that looked after our son and our family during a crisis. Throughout those three and a half months, it really felt like a whole community was looking after us and supporting us through a very difficult period.”
After the success of this year’s challenge, the 2018 edition will aim to match the amount raised in 2017 to fund a new 3D Ultrasound Scanner for the Fetal Medicine Unit at St Michael’s Hospital. To achieve this new, ambitious target, 20 more places will be available on the ride, making a total of 100 cyclists.
Cressida Prout, corporate partnerships and community fundraising manager at Above and Beyond, said: “We’re so proud of the cyclists who have worked together to smash the original fundraising target by £50,000! We organised this welcome home event to say thank you for their tremendous fundraising efforts and support for the children’s hospital.”
She added that it was the perfect opportunity to launch next year’s Bristol to Paris Cycle Challenge.
The 2018 challenge will take place from Friday, May 4, to Tuesday, May 8. The deadline to register for the ride is Friday, September 29. For more information and to express your interest in taking part, visit Above and Beyond.
Read more: Pedal power supports Bristol’s children’s hospital
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