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On Friday 9th September 2005 BBC Radio York's breakfast presenter
Allan Watkiss cycled 26 miles to raise money for four North Yorkshire
charities.
The bike ride from his home to the radio studio in York was covered
live on the breakfast show - his co-presenter Anna Wallace kept
the show on the airwaves whilst Allan pedalled furiously to make
it to work before the end of the programme at 9am. Listeners, businesses
and supporters of the four chosen charities
sponsored Allan per mile.
Despite the atrocious weather, Allan managed to prove the doubters
wrong in arriving in one piece! He arrived at BBC Radio York's studios
at just before 9am, just in time to quaff a glass of champagne given
by one of his many supporters!
Sporting a 'Big Al Bike Ride' t-shirt, Allan joked that he had
ordered one with the words Anna instead of Al, and challenged his
fellow BBC Radio York Breakfast presenter to take up the challenge
for 2006.
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| Libby
Fletcher, Janet Greenwood and Liz Pollard (L-R) |
The Lord Mayor of York Councillor Janet Greenwood and Libby Fletcher,
Chairman of Trustees at Ryedale Special Families were among the
welcome party at BBC Radio York's studios.
You too can sponsor Allan. Just decide which charity you would
like to support, download a sponsor form
and away you go. If you'd rather receive a form by post you can
write to:
Big Al's Big Bike Ride
BBC Radio York
20 Bootham Row
York
YO30 7BR
Information about the four chosen charities
Scarborough Alzheimer's Society - Download
the form
The Scarborough Branch of the Alzheimer's Society has been in existence
for 16 years - dementia is always difficult to cope with - a group
of volunteers provide a listening ear, information and guidance
as well as home visits.
The society have several projects on the go at the moment including
a pioneering after dementia programme called "the way ahead"
which aims to help carers with relatives in full time care or who
have recently been bereaved to regain their confidence to live a
"normal" life, in some cases aiming to overcome their
isolation.
All the money raised will be used to continue to support people
with dementia and their carers in the Scarborough area.
Ryedale Special Families - Download
the form
Ryedale Special Families provides support for families with children
with disabilities, special needs and illness. This support comes
in a variety of emotional and practical ways; advice and information
provision, signposting and advocacy, a drop in centre which hosts
training sessions and informal support groups. The group also Provides
respite care, activities for the under 5's, a junior club and youth
group as well as a club for over 17's and family activities.
All money raised will be used to continue the many services the
group provides for the people of the Ryedale area.
Herriot Hospice Homecare - Download
the form
Herriot Hospice Homecare is a charity based within the Friarage
Hospital in Northallerton providing support for patients with life
limiting illness and their carers in their own homes all over Hambleton
and Richmondshire - around 1000 square miles.
Recently the group have started to provide additional services
to patients in the last few weeks of life who wish to die at home.
Known as Community Critical Care, they employ healthcare assistants
with specialist training in palliative care to help with personal
care in the home. This is a very big step for a small charity with
only 6 part-time staff and something they have worked very hard
to achieve.
Money raised will help the group to maintain their very important
service for people in this large rural area.
Jennyruth Workshops - Download
the form
Jennyruth Workshops was a family business and sheltered workshop
for people with Downs Syndrome, which was formed in 1989. All changed
in 2002 when Jennyruth became a not for profit limited company.
The founder members of the original business are still the same
but are now able to offer the advantages of the workshops to more
people, and by 2006 they hope to have a workforce of 20 people who
have learning disabilities supported by six members of staff and
a number of volunteers. Following much hard and fund-raising they
now have a wonderful workshop which opened last year.
As Jennyruth is not yet self supporting they still need to raise
funds, to find out more about Jennyruth workshops go to their website
www.jennyruth.co.uk
The BBC is not responsible
for the content of external websites
Sponsor forms
Scarborough
Alzheimer's Society
Herriot
Hospice Homecare
Ryedale
Special Families
Jennyruth
Workshops
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