Patrick Noble, Matthew Sharrock & their support team are taking up the formidable challenge of cycling from London to Lourdes in the Pyrenees (a distance of approximately 600 miles in 6 days) to raise money for The Glanfield Hospitalité Trust.
The money raised through sponsorship of the cycle ride will be supporting children and vulnerable adults via two sources – the first, since both Patrick and Matthew have been involved as volunteers, is the Glanfield Children’s Group that has provided respite for children with disabilities & vulnerable adults in the UK for many years. The aim of the group is to offer both a holiday for the children and a much needed rest for their parents who are welcome to join the group if they wish. These holidays provide the children with experiences that their disabilities would not usually permit, such as swimming, a trip to the top of a mountain in the Pyrenees, a day out at the zoo and for some of the older members, a few beers in the pub.
Patrick and Matthew have requested that some funds raised go specifically to enable the Group to provide subsidies for the children and their parents as the cost for this and the activities of the holiday is substantial.
They will also be supporting children at the Derian House Children’s Hospice in Chorley, Lancashire.
The care offered at Derian House is focused on specialist palliative respite and terminal care for children who may not live to reach adulthood. Children, young adults and their families are able to embrace support and friendship in a warm, ‘home from home’ environment, with an honest and flexible approach to meeting their specific needs.
Derian House’s care also continues with bereavement support for the family for as long as required, giving recognition to the need to never forget.
Year on year the cost of providing special care for children increases and with less than 10% of funding coming from official sources the reality is that the Hospice is open 52 weeks a year whilst receiving statutory funding for just nine of those.
The team’s journey will begin on Saturday 14th August 2010 and arrival at their destination is scheduled for Friday 20th August 2010. The team then plan to join the Glanfield Group as volunteer helpers for a week until 27th August.
