Friends smash £1m fundraising target with 230-mile cycle
A group of 70 friends have spent the bank holiday weekend cycling 230 miles from London to Paris, raising awareness and money for JDRF and the British Red Cross.
The three day challenge – which started in Twickenham and finished at the Eiffel Tower – was in aid of the Wellington £1 million Appeal launched in 2010 in support of both causes. Over £850,000 had been raised before the cycle challenge took place, and the gap needed to reach their £1 million target has finally been closed.
Organiser and participator in the cycle Oliver Rifkind – whose brother Leo lives with Type 1 diabetes said: “Those that know me well understand that JDRF is a charity that is very close to my family and I. Many people don’t realise that type 1 diabetes is serious and complex. I am proud to be supporting research into one day curing this condition.”
The appeal was launched in 2010, by Charles Rifkind and Keith Hague, the former chief executive of the Wellington Hospital. Together they took 70 cyclists from London to Brussels and raised a significant amount for both JDRF and the British Red Cross.
Since then there have been numerous fundraising efforts include galas, abseils, club nights and golf days contributing to the total pot. Now four years down the line the appeal has come full circle, with Oliver closing the gap on the remarkable fundraising journey that his family first started.
The 400,000 people in the UK who live with type 1 diabetes – including 29,000 children – rely on multiple insulin injections or pump infusions every day just to stay alive. A child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of five faces up to 19,000 injections and 50,000 finger prick blood tests by the time they are 18. The condition is not linked to lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise.
The funds raised by the team for the British Red Cross are having an immediate and dramatic and effect on the lives of thousands of children orphaned by HIV in South Africa. The project being supported is in KwaZulu Natal, where one in five children have lost one or both parents to HIV.
The Red Cross is supporting 19,000 children by ensuring they have access to the care and food they need. The children receive counselling to help them cope better with their loss. Crucially, the children are helped to continue their education by arranging school places and providing books and uniforms.
Oliver, who is 26 years old said: “The sense of achievement and pride that I feel is immense. I would not have been able to close the gap this weekend without the help from some truly great friends.”
He added: “The cycle was a challenge, but nowhere near as big a challenge as having to live with Type 1 diabetes each and every day.”
Louise Ingham, Development Manager at JDRF and who also participated in the bike ride said: “We are so grateful to Oli, his friends and family for supporting our mission to treat, prevent and eventually cure type 1 diabetes.”
She added: “What a fantastic weekend. Well done to every participant, who have proved themselves remarkable fundraisers for two very worthy causes.”
It is not too late to donate. To do so, please visit Oliver’s Virgin Giving page.