An Isle of Wight man who each year leads a colourful team of cyclists to a London charity event has pedalled his way past an impressive fundraising milestone.
In the 17 years Terry Crow has been leading his team of pirates and vagabonds to the Bloodwise London Bikeathon, he and his motley crew have raised a massive £125,000 for the blood cancer charity.
Helping him pass that figure was the £6,000 raised by Terry and his 25-strong team – the self-styled ‘Old Cloggers and Young Whippersnappers’ at August’s 2015 London Bikeathon event.
On Thursday 10th December Terry and his team will climb aboard a Wightlink car ferry to begin a journey to London and the annual sports fundraising awards ceremony. At the event at Charing Cross’s Amba Hotel, Terry will learn whether, one again, his team were the annual event’s biggest fundraisers.
London Bikeathon is one of London’s largest annual charity cycling events with up to 5,000 riders taking part to raise funds for Bloodwise (formerly Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research). The charity funds world class research and patient services to improve and save the lives of those affected by blood cancer.
Terry, 65, from Godshill, decided to take part after reading about the event In the Evening Standard while travelling back from a London hospital where he was being treated for Leukaemia. In 1998 he was given ‘years’ to live with the basic treatments at that time. But he was invited to go on a trial for a new drug now called Glevec, which has changed the lives for many, many people – Terry included, and he set about giving something back in recognition of all the help he received.
The size of his Bikeathon team has varied over the years – it started with only four people but went from strength to strength and it has been as large as 100 – but what has remained constant is Terry’s determination to raise as much money – and have as much fun – as possible.
Terry says:
“It is certainly not all about the cycling – I only get my bike out the shed once a year to take part. It is a fun event and you are encouraged to make of it what you will. We certainly enjoy the day out and make sure we have party atmosphere in the coach on the way back.
“But what makes is all possible apart from the enthusiasm of the team members is the support we get from the local companies – Seaview Services who provide the transport for the riders, Dibbens removals who take the equipment and Wightlink Ferries who give us complimentary travel. It is a group effort and without this support we would not have been able to do what we have.”
Mark Persad, Wightlink Head of Marketing adds:
“We are delighted to have helped such a positive person as Terry over so many years and particularly pleased he and his team has been able to raise such a fantastic amount for such a worthwhile cause.
“Terry is a real livewire and an inspiration to us all – everyone at Wightlink wishes him all the best for the forthcoming awards evening and for future Bikeathons.”
