Cancer survivor’s team raise £56k on epic bike ride
A cycling team fronted by a leukaemia survivor cycled from London to Paris to smash their £50,000 target for a blood cancer charity.
Paul Street, who is the managing director at the Weald of Kent Golf Course, has single-handedly raised around £30,000 a decade on from being given the all clear.
The 53-year-old, from Maidstone, has been in remission for 10 years following his diagnosis of hairy cell leukaemia and took on the gruelling 500km course with 19 other cyclists.
Team Street has raised £56,844 for blood cancer research charity Bloodwise and were handed the Top Fundraising Award at the end-of-ride Gala celebration last week.
Paul, who is also managing director of Medway Golf Centre, said: “To celebrate 10 years of remission I planned a series of sporting events and challenges, including the Brighton Marathon, Blenheim Triathlon and Prudential RideLondon, culminating with the Bloodwise London to Paris to which we added the twist of starting in Paris.
“Despite being my fourth consecutive ride, the elation and emotion was as strong as ever and enhanced by the fact I was accompanied by my son Robert, brother Nigel and cousin Anthony.
“As ever, the event was superbly organised with every finest detail meticulously planned and executed.”
Paul and nine members of Team Street covered an additional 500km prior to the official Bloodwise London to Paris and independently set off from Paris on Monday, September 11 to get to London in three days.
The group of 10 then joined the rest of Team Street for the ride back to Paris with Bloodwise, which kicked off on Thursday, September 14. The team crossed the line just three days later.
Paul said: “We set ourselves an ambitious fundraising target of £50,000, but broke through this total the day before we arrived into Paris.
“I am so proud of the team and incredibly thankful to all those who have supported us. I will continue to raise money for Bloodwise until we finally beat blood cancer.”