Latest news with #charityride
BBC News
a day ago
- Health
- BBC News
Dudley cancer survivor to ride across Australia for charity
A former rally driver who survived throat cancer is embarking on a 4000-mile (6,437km) ride across Australia on a dirt bike to raise money for 'Sport' Griffiths, from Quarry Bank in Dudley, originally decided to take on the coast-to-coast challenge after a friend's wife was diagnosed with breast in 2023 he discovered he had oropharyngeal cancer, and had to postpone his trip while he had six weeks of chemotherapy and Griffiths, who still has trouble swallowing and needs to drink large amounts of water, said the ride would be a "huge personal challenge" and he hoped to raise thousands of pounds for two cancer charities. The 56-year-old will be carrying water pouches strapped over his shoulders, as his cancer treatment has severely damaged his salivary glands, leaving him with a permanently dry said he was passionate about raising money "to support research that will help find kinder treatments," due to his own experiences. Mr Griffiths will arrive in Brisbane on 17 June and face extreme temperatures during the ride - freezing at night and up to 34C in the will also be camping in the Australian Outback during the 24-day challenge."I'm told that camels and kangaroos like to run alongside vehicles and play, so that's another really dangerous hazard we all need to be prepared for," he said."I'll need to check my shoes [for insects and spiders] each morning, which I'm not used to, so it will be quite an experience." Mr Griffiths, who used to be a Peugeot rally driver and mechanic and now restores World War Two vehicles, is raising money for Cancer Research UK and the McGrath Foundation, a charity that provides cancer nurses in will be part of a team of five dirtbikers who will begin the journey at Steep Point, on the western Australian coast, and end in Byron Bay after seeking special permission to cross Aboriginal territory. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Sunrise star Mark Beretta reveals heartbreaking reason behind his 'brutal' charity challenge: 'It was pretty grim'
Mark Beretta has revealed the heartbreaking reason he is prepping to ride a marathon in his 16th Tour de Cure this year. The Sunrise star, 58, will bike a punishing 1,200kms from Airlie Beach to Port Douglas in Queensland over the course of eight days to raise money for cancer research. On Friday, he said he participated in the annual charity ride in honour of his mother Joan and father David who were both diagnosed with cancer, reported PerthNow. 'Two grand finals ago, we got a call to come home because dad's in hospital. He had a tumor the size of a tennis ball in his chest. It was pretty grim,' he said. Mark went on to say his father thankfully went into remission after several rounds of treatment, but then the Beretta family was struck with tragedy again. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Five years ago, his mother was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer and is still fighting it to this day. 'She's still battling on. It's tough. It's good days and bad days. I always say we've got skin in the game,' Mark said. The TV star added he and his family are 'always invested in better cures and better drugs for our loved ones'. Mark will participate in the charity event alongside 200 other riders, visiting Townsville, Magnetic Island, Mission Beach and Cairns. Olympians Chloe Hosking and Mack Horton, as well as Australian cycling royalty Richie Porte, will join Mark for the eight-day ride which will finish on June 6. This year, Tour de Cure is aiming to break its own $21million fundraising record from last year, adding to the $145million already raised by the event since its 2007 debut. Professionals from all walks of life, including soldiers, paramedics, policemen, doctors, and CEOs, come together to raise funds for the important cause. Tour de Cure launched in 2007, with thousands of people participating each year by walking, running, riding, swimming and attending gala events. The charity has funded more than 1,198 cancer projects and contributed to nearly 200 world-class scientific cancer breakthroughs. Mark has helped raise more than $70million for cancer through the annual Tour de Cure cycling marathon. In 2022, he was awarded the Order of Australia, the country's highest honour, for his work in charity and entertainment. The Sunrise sports reporter received the award alongside pop superstar Delta Goodrem in Sydney at Government House. 'Humbled to receive my Order of Australia Medal amongst a group of amazing Australians,' he wrote to Instagram at the time. Mark also shared a photo of himself beaming with his medal as he posed with his parents, writing: 'I had a very proud mum and dad.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Six take on charity bike ride in memory of friend
Six teenage boys are planning to ride from Telford to Liverpool in memory of a friend who took his own life. They all attended Haberdashers Adams in Newport, Shropshire, along with Max Turton, who died last August, aged 16. Their 100-mile (161 km) ride will start on Friday from AFC Telford United's stadium and finish at Anfield stadium, the home of Max's favourite club, Premier League champions Liverpool. Wes, Dillon, Ewan, Sonny, Arwinder and Ollie also plan to raise money for the suicide-prevention charity Papyrus. The boys, who now attend sixth form colleges in the region, plan to cycle 60 miles on Friday and then stay at a hotel in Northwich, before completing the remaining 40 miles on Saturday. Ollie said Max was a "joy to everybody around him" and who was dedicated "to making every single person that he knew smile". He said they spent "so many hours laughing together". Dillon described him as "a caring, hard-working, funny and most of all a truly loving person". The ride to Anfield was chosen because Max was "the biggest Liverpool fan going", Ollie said. They have already raised almost £4,000 for the cycle ride, and he said the charity, Papyrus Prevention of Young Suicide, which has been supported by Max's parents, was "the perfect charity to donate to". He said the challenge would be tough physically but also very emotional, and he hoped they would find motivation from "knowing exactly why we're doing it and who we're doing it for". Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Parents encourage talking about mental health 'I just want to feel ordinary' – Is the mental health system failing teens? Your Voice, Your Vote: Mental health crisis in young Suicide the leading cause of death for young Scots Papyrus
BBC News
6 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Newport: Six teenagers take on charity bike ride in memory of friend
Six teenage boys are planning to ride from Telford to Liverpool in memory of a friend who took his own all attended Haberdashers Adams in Newport, Shropshire, along with Max Turton, who died last August, aged 100-mile (161 km) ride will start on Friday from AFC Telford United's stadium and finish at Anfield stadium, the home of Max's favourite club, Premier League champions Dillon, Ewan, Sonny, Arwinder and Ollie also plan to raise money for the suicide-prevention charity Papyrus. The boys, who now attend sixth form colleges in the region, plan to cycle 60 miles on Friday and then stay at a hotel in Northwich, before completing the remaining 40 miles on said Max was a "joy to everybody around him" and who was dedicated "to making every single person that he knew smile".He said they spent "so many hours laughing together".Dillon described him as "a caring, hard-working, funny and most of all a truly loving person".The ride to Anfield was chosen because Max was "the biggest Liverpool fan going", Ollie have already raised almost £4,000 for the cycle ride, and he said the charity, Papyrus Prevention of Young Suicide, which has been supported by Max's parents, was "the perfect charity to donate to".He said the challenge would be tough physically but also very emotional, and he hoped they would find motivation from "knowing exactly why we're doing it and who we're doing it for". Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
18-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Cancer patient says bike 'like therapy' as he takes on charity ride
A man with bowel cancer who was told he has less than a year to live is taking part in a charity motorbike ride to raise awareness of men's Eaton, who is undergoing palliative chemotherapy, will join the Salisbury Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride (DGR) 61-year-old bought a motorbike and rekindled his passion for riding after being told he had terminal stage four cancer last year, as the disease had spread to his liver."I didn't think I'd be here to do this year's ride," he said. "Just being well enough to ride as much as I can, if the weather is good and I am feeling good, it is a good day." The Salisbury ride is one of thousands taking place globally to raise money for the men's health charity Movember, which funds work in men's mental health, prostate and testicular the past decade the DGR has seen more than 500,000 riders take to the streets, often on classic motorcycles and wearing vintage event began 10 years ago as a small ride in 64 cities and is now hosted in 1,000 places. DGR founder Mark Hawwa said: "Together with Movember, we've turned passion into purpose – funding life-changing research and programs for prostate cancer and men's mental health. We can't wait to see what the next 10 years brings." Mr Eaton, who lives on the border of Wiltshire and Dorset, near Shaftesbury, said he wanted to take part in the ride as he experienced a prostate cancer scare in 2016, and had lost close friends to mental illness."I have to accept things," he said. "The DGR family have been supportive."Promoting the conversation around getting yourself checked for prostate cancer is a really important part of what happens at the event, along with male suicide prevention." Mr Eaton sold a motorbike when he was diagnosed last year, but decided to buy another one and start riding again when his cancer progressed."Anybody with a hobby that's as encompassing as riding a motorcycle will tell you that it's therapy."It's very uplifting, you feel alive, you're focused on the ride and I'm not worried about the fact that I've only got a few months to live." Dan Cooper, Movember's director of innovation, said: "Every ride, every dollar, every story like Paul's helps fund life-saving research, vital support services, and community programs around the world. "These rides spark real conversations and powerful moments of connection - helping men live longer, healthier lives. That's the power of this movement." The 26 mile (42km) ride starts in Compton Abbas airfield at 10:00 BST and finishes at Old Sarum airport, Salisbury, at 12:00 BST.
