Wheels go round for hospital funds

The sponsored 20 mile bike ride was meant to take place on the roads between Scotter and Gainsborough, but bad weather put a spanner in the spokes.

Luckily, DW Sports Fitness at Marshall’s Yard jumped in to help, providing bikes for the challenge.

It was all organised by 16-year-old Grace Barley from Scotter.

She wanted to raise money for the hospital ward where her sister Mollie, 14, was treated for bone cancer.

“Millie had a tumour removed from the bone in her leg last year,” explained Angela Barley, the sisters’ mum.

“She was cared for at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham and she is still recovering and having treatment.”

Mollie, who is a pupil at Trent valley Academy in Gainsborough, was on ward 11 at the hospital which looks after children aged two to 18 with bone and cancer conditions.

Angela said: “The children on that ward are so brave and they deserve the best facilities during their stay.”

The ward currently has a fantastic teenage ‘chill-out’ area donated by the Teenage Cancer Trust. But there is no such area for the patients aged two to 11.

“There is an ongoing fundraising campaign to raise £150,000 towards a new playroom for the younger children,” said Angela.

“The teenagers have fantastic facilities like laptops, games consoles, wide screen TV and a jukebox.”

“But there needs to be something equally as good for the little ones.”

And that’s why Grace decided to do the sponsored ride with her school mates.

She hopes to be able to contribute towards the Project Playroom fund, which has already collected £25,000. But much more is needed.

Grace said: “The bike ride went really well. We rode for two hours, each covering about 50 km.”

“Hopefully we will have raised about £500 by the time we’ve collected all the money.”

Grace said she cycles quite a lot in her spare time, and thought it would be the perfect chance to raise some money for the hospital.

“It’s quite a personal thing for me, and I’m really glad my friends joined in and supported me. I Must also thank DW Sports Fitness for providing the bikes too.”

It’s not too late to donate to the Project Playroom fund. Go to www.justgiving.com/Natalie-Green1