Wansbeck men to embark on mammoth fundraising bike ride

Posted by Journal Extra on Jun 3, 10 10:43 AM in News

Buzz Lightyear, Scooby Doo and a sexy pirate got together in a shopping centre for a good cause.

Fundraisers donned some great costumes and raised almost ÃÂ£2,500 ahead of a mammoth charity bike ride that takes in all five capitals of Great Britain and Ireland.

Fundraising at the Metrocentre in Gateshead for Clive Robertson and Chris Aynesley's charity bike ride

Now in its third year, Clive Robertson, from Newbiggin and Chris Aynsley from Ashington get together for the ride which raises money for the Special Care Baby Unit at Wansbeck Hospital.

On Saturday they, along with 11 friends, went along to the Metrocentre in Gateshead and raised ÃÂ£750.39.

The next day, the group headed to Asda in Ashington and raised an astonishing ÃÂ£1,113.34 through raffles and a tombola.

They then found out that Barclays has agreed to give match funding up to the maximum limit of ÃÂ£500.

The group was further helped by fancy dress hire firm Redress - which provided the interesting costumes at a discount rate - and by food outlet Nandos in the Metrocentre, which repaid the volunteers for giving up their day off with a free meal. Event co-ordinator Margaret Merrilees has taken this year's ride national by linking in with the Round Table to help give Clive and Chris support on their ride.

This is to raise the profile of the event so that other special care baby units around the UK and Ireland will also hugely benefit from the fundraising, as members from the Round Table will ride stages and gain sponsors with Clive and Chris.

Margaret said: "The Round Table were ideal to network with as they support a lot of charities. It's a lot of hard work but it's been worth it."

The pair will set off on their bike ride from Ashington Football Club on Sunday, July 11, and will take two weeks to do the 1,500-mile journey which takes them once again around the five capitals of the UK and Ireland.

This year local heroes Steve Harmison and Alan Shearer are also helping to promote the ride.

To help out go to www.justgiving.com/SCBU5CAPS or email SCBU5CAPS@hotmail.co.uk

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