Mat raises £1,000 for charities on big ride
Cyclist Mat Belgrove has completed a gruelling 200-mile bike ride from Bath to Brighton in aid of the Bath Cancer Unit Support Group (BCUSG).
The father of two from Combe Down has so far raised £1,050 to be split between the charity, which funds vital medical equipment for the RUH cancer unit, and the MS Society.
Mat was waved off on his ride by his children, Lily (11) and Harry (8), and by supporters of the BCUSG. He cycled from the RUH to Brighton via Marlborough and Henley-on-thames, with an overnight stay in Windsor. He set off the following day at 6am and cycled to London’s Clapham Common to meet friends who joined him for the final leg down to the south coast.
Mat said: “Cancer has impacted our family, with my father-in-law and his wife both having had successful treatment in Bath. Previously my grandpa died of cancer despite receiving the best care from the RUH. My auntie also passed away having battled ovarian cancer.
“And a close friend’s dad suffers from multiple sclerosis, so we all decided to raise funds for the MS Society on the London to Brighton leg of the ride.”
Mat added: “I ride regularly and have done a number of 100mile journeys, so I’m familiar with the training needed for this distance, but I’ve not attempted to do them back-to-back before.
“Despite having a slightly sore bottom, it was a great feeling of achievement to finish the ride and support two great causes.”
BCUSG chairman Mike Taylor said: “We’d like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to Mat for his Herculean efforts in the saddle. He really did pull out all the stops to help us improve outcomes for cancer patients at the RUH.”
To donate to the BCUSG contact fundraising@bcusg.org or phone 07896 741233.