Since Oxford Cycling Club (‘OCC’) was founded in 2016, it has donated a proportion of all the funds raised through annual membership subscriptions and kit sales to Sobell House in Oxford. This year the club contributed £500 to the fundraising efforts of Chris Archer, who has just completed a 1000 mile cycle challenge from Land’s End to John O’Groats (‘LEJOG’).
Chris was riding LEJOG in memory of his father, Barry, who spent his final days being cared for by the staff and team at Sobell House: “Dad and I planned to cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats to celebrate his 50th birthday in 2013, but he was diagnosed with bowel cancer and lost his battle a month before his birthday. So 9 years on, I set out to finish what we started.” Chris carried a small urn containing Barry’s ashes with him and after an emotional and physically demanding 2 weeks on the road, scattered them on reaching John O’Groats.
Chris at the start of his challenge in Cornwall, holding the small urn containing the ashes of his father, Barry Archer.
Chris has now raised over £2300 for Sobell House and his Justgiving page will be open for further donations for the next few weeks. In addition to Chris’s fundraising efforts, his employer has promised to match his final tally too!
Members of Oxford Cycling Club holding a cheque for £500 presented to Chris Archer and Sobell House.
OCC Chair, Andrew Webb, said: “Chris has raised an astonishing amount for Sobell. LEJOG is a huge challenge at the best of times, but Chris had to endure wet weather and strong headwinds throughout, which makes his achievement and fundraising efforts all the more impressive. It’s fantastic that Oxford Cycling Club was able to donate to his fundraising cause!”
OCC Club Secretary, Mike Lowndes, added: “The club is so pleased to be able to continue its support for Sobell House, whose dedicated staff have been providing much-needed specialist palliative care to Oxfordshire residents for many years. We wear the Sobell House logo on our club jerseys with immense pride and look forward to raising more funds for the hospice in the future.”
After a tough final few hours battling strong headwinds and driving rain, Chris finally made it to John O’Groats on the 14th September 2022, a little under 2 weeks after setting out from Land’s End.
Oxford Cycling Club rides every Saturday morning, starting at 9am from outside Bike Zone on St Michael’s Street in the historic centre of the city. Please contact the club via our contact page if you would like to join us.