Radleian Society
OR Fundraising
OR Charity Fundraising
It is not possible to publish details in Lusimus of all the great deeds done by Old Radleians in aid of charities but we are very pleased to put them online here. If you would like details of your fundraising challenge listed here then please do let us know.
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Matthew Hancock, 1983 H
Charity Cycle Ride - Esher to Mumbles
8th-9th September 2011
A 220 mile cycle ride in to raise enough money to facilitate new research, in the hope of finding a cure for a rare auto-immune disease called Wegener's granulomatosis. The research will be undertaken directly by St. Thomas's Hospital, London, where a research team is based but not funded. They are confident of finding a cure!
Find out more about Matthew's cycle challenge.
Matthew Hancock, 1983 H
Matthew Hancock recently completed a charity cycle ride from Esher to Mumbles to raise funds for St Thomas' Hospital, London to facilitate new research in the hope of finding a cure for a rare auto-immune disease called Wegener's Granulomatosis.
A friend of Matthew's, Alice Benkert, died of this rare auto-immune disease on September 11th 2010. She was only 36 years old. At present there is no known cure and no dedicated research is being carried out intothis aggresive illness. As a result her brothers Olly and Jules, (both Old Wellingtoneans), put together a team of 24 people, Matthew included,to carry out a challenge in the hope of raising enough money to facilitate new research, in the hope of finding a cure. The research will be undertaken directly by St Thomas' Hospital, London, where a research team is based but not funded. They are confident of finding a cure! After much thought, and with Alice’s favourite places in mind, her brothers decided on a marathon cycle ride between Esher, Surrey and Mumbles, Wales – a journey of 220 miles, to be completed in two days, finishing just before the first anniversary of her death. Matthew wrote of the challenge:
"Alice was well known to many as a beautiful, charming and generous young lady and she is sorely missed. Hopefully by carrying out this challenge and raising as much money as we can, we may spare other families the same tragedy.
I have never been known for taking part in these kinds of events, but having personally been touched by the cause, it was time to dust off the old plimsolls and get onto a bike for the first time in 20 years. After 8 weeks training and a love/ hate relationship with my saddle, I managed to lose 1.5 stone and get myself into some semblance of fitness. So on the 8th September, 24 eager men set off from Esher, where Alice had lived, for our 220 mile adventure to Mumbles, in Wales, where she spent a lot of time on holidays in her youth. Leaving the traffic of Surrey behind us, we passed Bracknell and settled into the ride towards our overnight stop in Bath. During our first afternoon things got much harder as the headwind started to blow in the open Wiltshire countryside. The stretch from Malborough, through Calne and into Bath for most of the team, was the most arduous part of the two days. Rested and refuelled, we set off on day two, with an unwelcomed climb out of Bath before heading towards the old Severn bridge. Once in Wales, morale was lifted, as the end came within our range and Cardiff, Bridgend, Port Talbot and Swansea seemed like a ride in the park. Greeting us in Mumbles were 60 or so well-wishers and a well stocked pub. Needless to say we had a great evening celebrating.
Indeed the celebrations were twofold. One for completing the physical part of our endurance, but more importantly to celebrate the massive fundraising effort we had achieved. £115,000 at the last count. This is apparently a new record for St Thomas for a single endurance fundraising effort. Needless to say we were all proud of our achievement and immensely grateful to all our supporters for their generosity.
It’s given me a whole new meaning to “get on your bike”, and some very fond memories."
If you want any more information, please contact Matthew Hancock.