Why I took part in RideLondon
Steve Wilkinson completed Ride London in 2022, a 100 mile cycling challenge, and raised over £1,000 for Neuroblastoma UK. He tells us why he got involved and shares some words of encouragement!
Why we support neuroblastoma UK
“As a parent, you never think you will be told that your child has cancer. But for my wife Sam and I, this is exactly what happened.
Oonagh is nearly four years cancer free
“Our daughter Oonagh’s cancer journey started on 30th December 2018. Her first MRI scan confirmed she had a tumour below her left kidney and a second tumour on the lower right side of her spine. It took a few more procedures to confirm what type of cancer Oonagh had and we were given the devastating news it was neuroblastoma.
“Thankfully for us, Oonagh’s tumours were operable and the surgery was a success. Oonagh is due to have another scan soon and if everything goes well she will reach the amazing benchmark of being four years cancer free! Sam and I could not be prouder of Oonagh, she was only 19 months old when all of this started, she has taken everything in her stride with a cheeky smile and bags of personality.
Ride London was an incredible experience
“We never thought for a second that our family would be affected by cancer.
“The route was brilliant, there were crowds of people cheering us on...it was a real party atmosphere and crossing Tower Bridge was really special.”
“I really wanted to do a challenge event and raise money for Neuroblastoma UK, but as I can’t run, I thought I’d sign up for RideLondon instead! I enjoy cycling, my friend is a really keen cyclist and my step-dad loves a challenge, so we all signed up together. And it was an incredible experience.
“The route was brilliant, there were crowds of people cheering us on as we passed through the village. As we got back into London, it was a real party atmosphere and crossing Tower Bridge was really special. Finishing the ride and getting our medals was definitely the highlight!
it takes effort but the reward is really worth it
“Neuroblastoma is such a horrible disease and the money you raise can help fund research to help more children like Oonagh.”
“If you’re thinking about signing up to RideLondon, I’d really encourage you to take the leap and do it.
“It takes effort to train and raise money, but the reward is really worth it. We raised most of our sponsorship simply by sending out a link to our fundraising page through Whatsapp groups, email and our social media pages.
“Ride London is a huge event and it’s a huge achievement to complete those 100 miles. Neuroblastoma is such a horrible disease and the money you raise can help fund research to help more children like Oonagh.”
TAKE PART IN RIDE LONDON 2023
The RideLondon-Essex 100 charity bike ride is on Sunday 28th May. It’s a unique opportunity to cycle 100 miles on traffic-free roads, through the heart of London and neighbouring Essex.
REGISTRATION DETAILS:
Registration fee: £50.
Get 50% off your registration fee! Use code FEB50.
Minimum sponsorship: £400
Register for a Neuroblastoma UK charity place today and help save young lives. The money you raise will help vital research and improve treatments for children with neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer.