HOSPICE INTERNATIONAL FOR CRONDALL CYCLISTS!

Crondall based friends Mark Howard and David McIlroy embarked on a cycling challenge to France today in aid of the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice. They started the 650km ride at the Hospice and are hoping to arrive at their destination at Tisseuil, west of Limoges on Tuesday of next week (August 8).

The ride is in memory of David’s brother, Anthony McIlroy, who passed away at the Hospice in June of this year from cancer aged just 49.

Mark says, “The care, respite and dignity that the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice staff gave to Anthony, his wife and young family has prompted me to raise funds for the Hospice. It requires £3.5million per year which is £7 per minute and it relies heavily on local support to help cover these costs”.

After leaving the Hospice the pair planned to take the minor roads to Portsmouth before getting the overnight ferry to Caen. Upon arrival in France they will go through Le Mans, Tours and Poitiers, finally arriving at Tisseuil.

Mark continued, “It has a real international flavour because Tisseuil is such a small place but the local people are fundraising already for the Hospice collecting euros and they are really looking forward to meeting us. They have also arranged a “Hog Roast” for our arrival and have invited the Mayor too”.

Mark and David will meet up with their respective wife’s Kit and Lesley when they arrive in France as they have family who live in Tisseuil.

Hospice Fundraiser Graham Brookland said, “Mark and David are so dedicated to completing the cycle ride and it was great to meet with them before their departure on Thursday morning. I am sure that the challenge will be fulfilling for them and on behalf of the Hospice I would like to thank them for their wonderful commitment. Since the launch of the Living Appeal in March after the closure of four beds we have been so enthused by the amount of support we have received from the local public. This has to be continuous throughout the year though and I hope that members of the public look at challenges such as this one from Mark and David to provide the impetus to sign up to their own challenge to raise funds for the Hospice. Without the support of the local community we would be unable to continue to provide the service that we do”.

If you would like to contact Mark please contact him on 07702 152529.

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