| Cyclists Raise £14,000 for North-East Cancer Charity |
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A team of north-east cyclists are celebrating after their hard work raised more than £14,000 for local cancer charity, Friends of ANCHOR. The 11-strong team were among hundreds of volunteers who put the pedal to the metal during the grueling Etape Caledonia race which took place in Perthshire this summer. Starting in Pitlochry, the 81 mile route takes cyclists past Loch Rannoch and Tummel before returning to the base of Schiehallion for the big climb over into the Breadalbane district and back to Pitlochry along the north banks of the River Tay. The Aberdeen team, who come from a cross-section of city businesses, decided to challenge themselves by competing in the event while supporting a good cause at the same time. They chose the Friends of ANCHOR as many of them have friends or relatives who have been treated at the ANCHOR Unit in the past. Team spokesman Ken Cope, director of Scottish architecture and space planning practice Space Solutions, said: “This event was by far the furthest most of us had ever had to cycle before so we knew it was going to be a real challenge. Thanks to a lot of hard work and training we made it and are over the moon to have raised so much money for such a worthwhile charity as Friends of ANCHOR. “The work the ANCHOR Unit does and the care they offer is quite exceptional and we are very proud to be supporting them.” Friends of ANCHOR supports the haematology, oncology and radiotherapy unit at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary by providing additional support, care and comfort for people undergoing treatment for cancer. It also purchases non-NHS funded equipment too further improve diagnosis and treatment of the disease, and it supports vital cancer research projects which are on-going at Aberdeen University’s Medical Institute at Foresterhill. Every penny raised by the team will go directly to where it is needed most as all administration costs have been fully funded by Balmoral Group. Fiona Pearson, fundraising manager for Friends of ANCHOR, said: “On behalf of Friends of ANCHOR we would like to first thank everyone who sponsored the cycle team. We would also like to thank the cyclists themselves, who put such a huge effort into training for the event and for raising so much money which has resulted in this amazing total. “This amount will help us to continue our work in supporting the ANCHOR Unit at the ARI and in funding local cancer research projects and we are extremely grateful for all their very valuable support”. The team who took part in the event on June 24 were made up of: Ken Cope of Space Solutions; Graham Robertson, Odfjell Drilling; Dave Thomson, Cadherent; Rhuri Archibald, Craig Hendry and Andy McIntosh, all of Maersk Oil & Gas; Gregor McIntosh, Skene Medical Group; Stuart McIntosh, NOV Brandt; Paul Ward, BJ Services; Steven Campbell, Sonsub, and Andrew Ennis of ExxonMobil |
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