More than 50 cyclists have raised more than £80k for Warwickshire children’s charity Molly Ollys after battling the elements to complete a gruelling 190-mile bike ride, ending in south Warwickshire.
Months of training culminated in the cyclists saddling up in Brighton town centre on Friday (September 6th) and setting off on the three-day ride to The Durham Ox in Shrewley, stopping overnight at Winchester and Witney en route.
Among the local riders taking part was Tim Ollerenshaw, from Hatton Hark, who established the charity with his wife Rachel in 2011 following the death of their eight-year-old daughter Molly from a rare kidney cancer.
Tim was proud to be able to join the fundraisers after battling back to rude health following a heart attack and subsequent triple bypass operation just two years earlier.
He recalls: “I had just had a test which shockingly had resulted in my being unreleasable from Warwick Hospital, pending a bypass operation. These were scary moments as I hadn’t even realised I’d had a heart attack.
“I wrote letters to all my kids in case the surgery did not work which is emotional high stakes in itself. Initially after the operation it was a major struggle to even walk very far but much sleeping and recovery later, gingerly starting playing hockey again.”
Tim nearly never made the start line however after suffering chest pains again the day before the ride, a scare that, thankfully, turned out to be muscle strain – and so the trip was back on.
“I had to be more cautious than I would like to be especially as I was in hospital the day before thinking I was having another heart attack! Fortunately, it wasn’t.
“Day one presented us with the worse weather I have ever cycled in and no one would have chosen to cycle that day but to do it for Molly and other children like her who face much worse, was paramount in my mind and for the duration of the ride. It is humbling that we have raised so much. Thank you to all our donors.”
Molly Ollys works to support children with terminal or life-limiting illnesses and their families and help with their emotional wellbeing. As well as providing wishes, they donate therapeutic toys and books to both children directly and to hospitals throughout the UK.
Mascot of the charity is a therapeutic toy lion called Olly The Brave who has his own Hickman line and a detachable mane which helps to explain and normalise the effects of chemotherapy. It forms part of an Olly The Brave pack that has now been handed out to more than 70 hospitals or health centres, along with a set of books from the charity’s exclusive Olly The Brave series.
Part of more than £4m raised to date, has also been used to fund the first Molly Olly consultant in paediatric medicine at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
Molly’s mum Rachel said: “This year’s cycle ride was probably the most challenging, mainly in part to the weather conditions. When we left Brighton on the Friday morning it was wet and grey and just got progressively worse, even the most seasoned of cyclists said it was tough.
“The night before I had talked about our work, the children we support and shared individual stories. Many of the riders said this helped to keep them focused and spurred them on when they were cold and aching.”
The cyclists received a lot of support en route, including New Horizon Logisitcs, in Warwick, Oakland International Ltd, in Redditch (who also entered 17 cyclists); Affordable Warm Solutions, in Solihull; John Cleary Photography in Leamington; Leonardo Hotels; Premier Inn; Travelodge UK; The Golden Lion Pub in Winchester and Pizza Express.
“As always, the welcome home is massively emotional for all and there were many tears when all the cyclists rode in together. The emphasis for the whole weekend is about working as a team, so we ride in as a team. Together we are stronger. We are incredibly grateful for their strength and dedication.
“Molly Ollys work with other charities and health professionals to get the best support to the children that need it. These cyclists working as a team raised a phenomenal amount. I cannot thank everyone involved in all aspects from start to finish enough. What a brilliant achievement all round that will enable us to help many children.”
For more information about the charity, visit www.mollyolly.co.uk
