'Unlikely cyclists' raise £30,000 for Stars Appeal
A group of riders took on a 100 mile route for the Breast Cancer Unit
A group of cyclists who completed a 100 mile trip from Wiltshire to Devon have brought £30,000 in for the Stars Appeal at Salisbury District Hospital.
The so-called Unlikely Cyclists have 12 members who took on their challenge over two days last month.
William Warden brought them together after his wife Sarah was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and cared for at the Stars Appeal funded Breast Unit. He said:
“Sarah was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in late 2022 and while sitting in Salisbury Hospital’s Breast Unit, one grey and damp morning, I read through the list of companies and individuals who had donated to fund the unit to provide a calm and peaceful atmosphere for treatment, and felt I would like to do something to help. The care Sarah received from the dedicated team of nurses was faultless.”
William says the group's initial fundraising target was £5,000:
“We never envisaged getting anywhere near that amount. To get over £30,000 we were astonished. We hope it will make a difference to a lot of people.
“We can’t thank everyone who supported us enough.”
The Stars Appeal aims to raise over £1million each year to fund projects offering direct, practical support to patients, their families, and the Hospital’s staff.
Alongside its Breast Unit the charity has provided the Hospital with additional CT and MRI scanners and a range of new facilities including an enhanced Children’s Unit and Cardiac Suite.
Donations also help fund projects supporting cancer patients, including free aromatherapy, headwear for patients who lose their hair, free drinks for chemotherapy and oncology outpatients, and a prehabilitation programme offering one-to-one support to help patients prepare for surgery and treatment.
Dave Cates said:
“We are so grateful to William and Sarah, and all of the cyclists and their supporters, for raising such an incredible sum for our charity. It will enable us to continue our work enhancing care for thousands of patients every week at Salisbury Hospital and supporting their families and the NHS staff that care for them.”