20th August 2009
A father and son from Suffolk have raised more than £1,500 for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) after cycling the epic 600 mile journey from Land’s End to John O’ Groats.
John Thorne, 68, of The Street, Barrow, near Bury St Edmunds chose to raise money for EACH, as his late wife, Dot, supported the charity before she died in 2006 after battling terminal cancer.
Mr Thorne completed the route with his son, Alec, 39, and his daughter, Pamela, 43, who drove a mobile home for the duration of the journey; booking campsites and providing support for her dad and brother.
Mr Thorne said: "My son lives and works in Munich in Germany and my daughter is currently on a contract working in Sydney in Australia so it was really good for us to spend some quality time together.
"I am a keen cyclist and have always wanted to do the route from Land’s End to John O’ Groats and it made sense to raise funds for EACH at the same time, as my wife Dot raised money for the charity by having her hair shaved off before undergoing chemotherapy.
"It was tough at times, especially with heavy rain in Scotland, where I had to dry my cycling shoes each night with a hairdryer, but it was good fun and we raised money for a worthwhile cause too."
East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) provides care and support for life-threatened children and their families in their own homes, as well as at the charity’s hospices based at Ipswich, Quidenham and Milton in Cambridge.
Mark Fox, EACH community fundraising co-ordinator, said: "To have supporters putting themselves through so much to raise money for EACH really is heart warming.
"I don’t know how to thank them enough for their efforts, as their support means so much to the children we support who have life threatening conditions and complex health care needs, and their families."
If you are raising money for EACH, the fundraising team would love to hear from you – call on 01953 715559 / 01223 205180, or click here to send an online enquiry.
