By Glen Robertson
Four Newtonians will tackle the Coast to Coast bike ride next week in aid of local charity Just Say Yes.
Anthony Cox, John Gillham, Michael Gillham and Ryan Gillham will be cycling the 140-mile journey from Whitehaven to Sunderland, starting on Tuesday June 26.
All money raised will go to the Just Say Yes fund, the charity set-up in memory of Newtonian Mark Bulman, who lost his battle with Osteosarcoma (a rare and aggressive bone cancer) in 2010.
The quartet are aiming to complete the bike ride in two days, rather than the usual three. Mr Cox explained that they welcomed the challenge.
“We chose to do it as it’s a bit of a challenge,” he told Aycliffe Today. “We thought doing something as challenging as this would get us some more support.
“We’re raising money for a charity that is very important to us and we want to raise as much as possible.
“Mark was given quite a bit of support in a similar way to what Just Say Yes do and it made a big difference to him towards the end.
“It means a lot to us to help other people through what Mark went through, in any way we can.”
Just Say Yes raises money for Young Adults in Newcastle’s RVI & Freeman hospitals where treatment is no longer curative. A cash gift is given to spend as they wish, helping to bring a little happiness and create memories for family & friends.
The aim of the Coast to Coast is to raise £1,500, including proceeds from a charity poker night to be held on Friday July 20. They have currently raised just over £1,000 through donations made by friends and from collections held at Tesco.
Aycliffe firm Cycleways, in Neville Parade, serviced the quartet’s bikes free of charge ahead of their challenge.
To learn more about Mark Bulman and the Just Say Yes fund, visit http://www.justsayyesfund.com/ or visit their Facebook page ‘Just Say Yes’ Fund.
To donate to the Coast to Coast challenge, visit http://www.justsayyesfund.com/news.html and click on ‘Donate’ underneath the headline ‘Coast To Coast Cycle Ride for Just Say Yes Fund’ OR contact Anthony Cox on 07530516516.
