Preston Park Pedallers Unite for Charitable Ride

Posted: 22nd October

On Saturday 30th October, Preston Park Cycle Club and VC Jubilee are preparing to jointly pedal 1,900 miles – or the equivalent of Land’s End to John O’Groats and back – as part of a fundraising drive for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Organiser Alistair Milne - seen to the right with his son Hamish - is behind the ‘Pedal in Preston Park’ project following the loss of his wife Rachel in November 2009 to the condition. Now, their two children represent Preston Park CC and the Brighton Go-Ride club are keen to throw all their support behind the idea to raise as much money as possible.

A target of £10,000 has been set with entrants young and old taking part as club members and newcomers unite in order to complete the common goal of five thousand laps of Preston Park in Brighton.

There will be several groups of cyclists taking part at any one time with six to 12-year-olds participating in the morning session and older participants riding in the afternoon. A website (www.pedalinprestonpark.co.uk) has been set up for volunteers to register their support and it’s there that Alistair reveals his motivation for organising the event.

“In November 2009 my wife Rachel died of Motor Neurone Disease (MND), she was 44,” he says. “She had been diagnosed with MND two years previously.

“Watching a loved one succumb to this disease is an awful experience. Knowing that there is no cure for MND, or even any way of slowing its progression, makes that experience even worse. As a family we wanted to do something positive that will help the MND Association to care for families with MND while working to find treatments and a cure.

“In the spring of 2010, my son Hamish, daughter Robin and myself followed the achievements of parkour (freerunning) runner Johnny “Sticky” Budden as he ran, leapt, jumped and vaulted the 1,300 miles from John O’Groats to Paris to raise money for the MNDA. As a result, we talked about what we could do as a fundraising challenge and that’s how the idea of using our local cycle track came about.

“There are three charities that were important to Rachel in the last years of her life – the MND Association, Martlets Hospice and the Brighton Buddhist Centre. As a family we were helped and supported by all of them and it was Rachel’s wish that the work they all do would be supported after her death. When Rachel died the Rachel Evans-Milne Tribute Fund was set up as a permanent legacy to Rachel’s life, and as a means of making donations directly to the MND Association to provide funds for the years ahead (http://rachel.evansmilne.muchloved.com/).”

Anthony Rogers, a coach and volunteer at Preston Park Cycle Club added: “The idea was developed in the spring and planned over the summer.

“Anyone can turn up. We’ve split the day to suit everyone so it should be fun for everyone.

“They’ll be plenty of people there to offer support as well, with catering and cheering so it should be a good day all round and we’re confident of raising a few thousand pounds.”

For more information on how to enter or donate, visit the official website www.pedalinprestonpark.co.uk