Fundraiser’s 350-mile ride in memory of granddaughter
acole@thekmgroup.co.uk A grandfather will join 99 others on a 350-mile bike ride in memory of his beloved granddaughter and the hospice where she was cared for.
Peter Page, from Broomfield, will ride from Bobbing near Sittingbourne, the home of Demelza Hospice Care for Children to Amsterdam, aiming to raise £2,000 for the charity.
Mr Page, who has had cancer himself twice, aims to do the feat in April.
His grand-daughter, Isabelle Teague, a Roseacre Junior School pupil, died aged nine after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Known as Izzie, the youngster was an active fundraiser herself, running the Race for Life while awaiting her diagnosis.
She battled the tumour for six months, and spent her last days at the hospice.
Mr Page, a sales and contracts manager for a health firm, said: “I’ve never done anything like this before. Izzie’s dad, James, ran the marathon in her memory this year, and I thought it’s about time I did something for her as well.”
He added: “I’ll probably be the oldest and fattest one there.”
He is already doing 30 miles of riding a day to get ready for the event, which is the Demelza 101, with 100 riders taking part for one cause.
The ride will take four days, and his family will be cheering him off from Bobbing on April 27 .
He is pulling out all the stops to reach his fundraising target, and one of the first charity events he has organised is a family disco at Grove Green community centre on Saturday September 5.
It starts at 7pm and features a raffle and a buffet. Tickets cost £7.50, with children going free.
Sponsor Mr Page at www. justgiving.com/4demelza They just love their customers even they ask to have their tiny whitebait filleted. And then there’s George the ghost.
Between them, Jo and Dave Whitehurst have notched up 68 years in pubs. They first met in one and now run a beautiful 15th century Elizabethan house called The Cock Inn on Heath Road, Boughton Monchelsea.
It was a location for the Ealing film Kind Hearts and Coronets.
The couple still proudly have photos of the iconic stars standing at their bar – Alec Guinness, who played all eight members of that family, and Dennis Price, the murderer.
“We love this place,” says 65-year-old Dave. “I’m a people person. I like seeing our customers happy.
“On arrival, we were told about George the ghost, but were assured he was amicable. He sometimes turns up near the inglenook fireplace, and we have an image of him standing there.”
The restaurant side has two chefs – Marc Wilson, who’s been with them 12 years, and Smail Afafsa, who has been there 13 years. They specialise in rustic country-style cooking with a twist.