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Back for its tenth year, ‘Davina’s Big Sussex Bike Ride’ is once again raising funds for Horsham-based children’s charity Action Medical Research.
The annual fundraiser will take cyclists through or near a number of local towns and villages including: Uckfield, Laughton, Golden Cross, Horam, Woods Corner and Battle.
Davina McCall will be there to officially start the cyclists on their way and will then take on one of the three routes.
“I absolutely LOVE this event” says the TV star. “Everyone’s always in such a good mood, and why not? You get to ride around the gorgeous Sussex countryside and know you’re doing your bit to help a truly brilliant cause. I can’t wait!”
Davina has supported Action since she was first introduced to the charity by her late ‘Pippy’ when she was just nine!
This year her annual fundraiser – which starts and finishes at the East Sussex National Golf Club – has caught the attention of a few familiar faces.
Martin Fry is the co-founder and lead singer of eighties sensation ABC. A long-time supporter of Action, he has taken part in four treks for the charity alongside music pals Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet and Richard Drummie of Go West.
“I’m really looking forward to the challenge” admits the ‘Lexicon of Love’ hit maker. “I took part in another bike ride for Action in Kent a few years ago and loved it.
“I’ll be taking on the 68 mile route and have been doing a bit of training over in Santa Barbara. I think Action is a fantastic charity and it’s always a pleasure to show my support and help raise funds whenever I can.”
Another familiar name taking on the challenge this year will be the former Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth champion – and Sussex resident – Sally Gunnell OBE. The athlete turned motivational speaker and Wellbeing Advocate first came across Action last year.
“I went along to Action’s ‘Champions of Cyclesport’ gala in London last November - it attracts some of the biggest names in the world of cycling and I was just blown away.
“I think it’s great to have a charity here in Sussex that does so much to help babies and families across the UK. I’m very proud to show my support.”
Davina’s Big Sussex Bike Ride – which is kindly supported this year by Benenden Hospital - takes place on Sunday 16 June.
There are three routes to choose from: 21, 40 or 68 miles and a team of hospital staff will be among the riders taking part.
Benenden Hospital Medical Director John Giles said: “As an independent hospital which prides itself on health and wellbeing, we are very much looking forward to taking part in this exciting event and helping to raise funds for such a worthy cause.”
People can register online until midnight on Wednesday 12th June. There will also be an opportunity to register on the day.
Action Medical Research is a UK-wide children’s charity which funds desperately needed research to tackle the diseases that devastate the lives of so many of our children. It has been funding medical breakthroughs since it began in 1952 including helping to introduce the first polio vaccines in the UK, developing the use of ultrasound in pregnancy and testing the rubella vaccine.
Action is currently funding research into areas including premature birth, epilepsy, asthma, scarlet fever, cerebral palsy, brain cancer and some rare and distressing conditions.
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Notes to Editors
Jean ‘Pippy’ McCall - who sadly passed away in June 2018 aged 98 – was a chairwoman of a local committee for Action Medical Research in the 1960s. Davina would have been nine- years- old when she was brought along to her first fundraising event for the charity.
Davina will ride the 40 mile route.
For more information on Action Medical Research contact Peter Denton, Fundraising Communications Officer, on:
T: 01403 327412
E: pdenton@action.org.uk
W: action.org.uk
Follow us on Twitter at @actionmedres and @amr_events
Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/actionmedres
Follow us on Instagram at @actionmedres and @actionevents
Action Medical Research is a leading UK-wide charity saving and changing children’s lives through medical research. For more than 65 years we’ve helped pioneer ways to prevent disease and develop treatments benefiting millions of people. Our research has helped to beat polio in the UK, develop ultrasound in pregnancy, fight meningitis and prevent stillbirths. But we urgently need to develop more new treatments and cures for sick babies and children and we can’t do it without you.
Join our fight for little lives today.
Charity reg. nos 208701 and SC039284.
Benenden Hospital
Founded in 1907, Benenden Hospital Trust is an independent Hospital with charitable status situated in the heart of Kent. A modern facility, it is fitted with the latest equipment serving three state of the art theatres, an ambulatory care unit, 38 single patient rooms, MRI and CT suite as well as a large fully equipped outpatient and diagnostic department. Rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in 2017 and recognised for providing excellent service with great clinical outcomes for its patients, the Hospital offers a wide range of healthcare consultations, treatments and diagnostic services to Benenden members, self-pay patients and those with private health insurance (PMI). Some services may also be available to NHS patients via the NHS e-referral system.