MyMarlow recently met with local resident Susie Eastwood who, with her husband, Wayne, is undertaking a Lands End to John O Groats fundraising bike ride. It passes through Marlow on Sep 27th, which is particularly relevant given the ride was inspired by a Marlow resident. WHATS MORE, this is a community ride – so we can all get involved!.
Last year Ruth Strauss , a member of the Marlow community, and wife of cricketer Andrew Strauss died of a type of a rare lung cancer. She was 46 and had never smoked. Susie recently took up cycling and came up with the idea of setting up a relay of riders stretching the length of the British Isles to raise awareness that really anyone with lungs can get lung cancer, to unite patients , their families , friends doctors, nurses and concerned cyclists and (of course) to raise funds to support research and action.
Susie will be riding the entire 1400 miles of the “Breathe4Life” challenge with her husband Wayne A number of riders , including lung cancer patients and their families will be joining in with shorter sections of the ride as it passes through their county. It’s easy to join in too! Both Andrew Strauss and Debra Montague, founders of two of the beneficiary charities, will ride.
Susie told us that 13,000 people are diagnosed with non-smoking lung cancers every year. Lung cancer in non-smokers is now the eighth biggest cancer killer in the U.K. Air pollution in our cities and towns is a risk factor associated with these diseases, and raising awareness will also be another aspect of the ride and campaign.
Funds raised will be donated to the Ruth Strauss Foundation, (a legacy engine for Ruth, to fuel research to prevent and treat these diseases, and to provide wellbeing support to patients and their families), ALK-positive UK Lung Cancer ( a patient support and advocacy charity) and the Friends of the Earth Campaign for Clean air
How to support or join in from Marlow
On 27th September is the Marlow – Oxford section of the ride. Everyone is welcome to come down to show their support, and also join in and go along for the ride. Bring your bike, friends and money for a drink and lunch. Maps and directions will be provided, and a support van will be present. Either ride or get a lift back, or keen cyclists might like to ride to Wales with the team the next day!
The joining spot for riders from Marlow will be the Resolute Cafe in Higginson Park at 12.30pm
Choose to ride 10 miles to Sonning (Coppa Club) 20 miles to Goring (Swan at Streatley) or 50 miles to Oxford (Hawkwell House Hotel)
Details on the Marlow section are here: https://www.breathe4life.co.uk/events-1/breathe-for-life-marlow-on-thames It’s free to join, but there are options to buy branded clothing, profits of course going to the fundraising effort!
Or support financially too..
You can of course donate directly to the fundraising, right here.
Making contact
- Website: https://www.breathe4life.co.uk/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breathe4life.co.uk/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BreatheforLifeTeam/
We wish Susie and Wayne all the best , and hope they get a great turnout from the Marlow cycling community (everyone is welcome). Good luck with the fundraising and campaign!
