A Big Thanks to Our Bikeathon 2011 Supporters
QEF would like to thank all their supporters involved in making the QEF Leatherhead Bikeathon 2011 such a success, particularly QEF Ambassadors Gary Festa and Stan Hetherington, QEF volunteers and the local organisations who were involved on the day.
Fine Fettle – www.finefettle.org
Fine Fettle is a multi-healthcare clinic offering a wide range of therapies.
Bring & Braai – www.bringandbraai.co.uk
Bring & Braai offer a mobile braai (barbecue) service that caters for events from 20 to 500 people.
Cycleworks Leatherhead – www.cycleworks.co.uk/about/cycleworks-leatherhead
Cycleworks has become one of the south’s leading bicycle shops. Run by cyclists for cyclists!
Phoenix Motorcycles – www.phoenixtrainingonline.co.uk/centre-London.asp
Provide Motorcycle training with DSA Approved Instructors 7 Days a Week.
LAM – Eddie Wright & Phil Jabry – www.L-A-M.org
LAM provides advanced motorcycle training in the London, Surrey, Sussex and N.W. Kent areas to provide greater Road Safety for Motorcyclists and other road users.
Lowery – www.lowery.co.uk
Sainsbury’s Leatherhead – www.sainsburys.co.uk
St John Ambulance – www.sja.org.uk
You are all winners. Thank You.
£23,550 for QEF an “outstanding example”
Being chosen by St John’s School, Leatherhead, as their charity of the year has been very special for QEF. Students and staff have participated enthusiastically in a range of activities and the result speaks for itself. Thanks to everyone who gave so generously.
Jonathan Powell, QEF Chief Executive (3rd from left) , was presented with a cheque for £23,550 after a wonderful year of fundraising by St John’s School.
After receiving the cheque Mr Powell and QEF Events Organiser, Annalisa Slater (3rd from right), thanked everyone for their wonderful efforts in supporting QEF.
Mr Powell said: “I was delighted to receive on behalf of Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation such a generous cheque. This was the result of wonderful fundraising efforts by the pupils and staff at St John’s School over the past year; it has been an outstanding example of a school supporting a local charity, and of young people digging deep to help others.
This money will be used to improve the facilities we provide at our Independent Living Service at Dorincourt, just outside Leatherhead. Our young disabled clients there can live in en-suite rooms, group homes or independent flats as they learn to live as independently as possible. At present we are upgrading our care office and the emergency call system for our residents.”
Sarah Bryant, St John’s Chaplain (2nd from left) said: “Every year St John’s fundraises for a chosen school charity which is just one of the ways in which it lives out its Christian foundation. As ever, the whole school community got involved in fundraising through House and other events and through the excellent work of the QEF fundraising team. The whole community should be very proud of their efforts and the fact that their money is going to make a real and lasting difference to QEF clients.”
Visit St John’s website: St John’s School
Birthday Celebration for Adhe
Around 160 riders took part in this year’s Leatherhead Bikeathon in aid of Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People and, apart from one short sharp shower, enjoyed a fine day for the ride. For one rider, 18-year-old Adhe Noviello, it was a particularly special day.
Cheered on by family and friends Adhe successfully completed the Bikeathon 13 mile route and celebrated his 18th birthday. He was particularly insistent that he wanted to ride for QEF instead of having a party. QEF, he said, “made a big difference to me”. Adhe suffered a stroke, which left him in a coma for 4 days and has for the last 6 months been undergoing intensive therapy at QEF’s Neuro-rehabilitation Services Brain Injury Unit in Banstead. Despite natural reservations from his mother, Adhe was determined to take up the challenge, riding a specially adapted tricycle purchased from the Bikeathon donations in 2009. Adhe’s pride at crossing the finish line was very evident.
Also taking part was Elmbridge Councillor Elise Saunders who took the challenging hills in her stride and together with fellow rider Tommy Dunweber is on course to raise around £1,000 for QEF. Councillor Saunders explained “I attended a meeting of the Stoke D’Abernon Residents Association when QEF made a presentation. I was so moved by the work they do that I wanted to support them. Without people like QEF life would be so much more difficult for people with disability.”
Youngest rider, nine year old Luke Cornelius, rode the 26 mile route and barely looked out of breath on arrival in spite of some challenging hills. “It was easy” he said and proud dad Conrad had to agree.
Tired riders were able to take advantage of a post-ride massage from Bookham based multi-healthcare Fine Fettle. Food and drinks were supplied by South African style Bring and Braai caterers, including mouthwatering bacon and sausage baps.
First over the line of the 45 milers was Dave Tilston who completed the course in 2 hours 16 minutes
QEF Director of Fundraising, John Chamberlain said, “The whole day was a great success. We had near perfect weather and a fantastic set of staff, volunteers and supporters doing a great job. Enthusiasm for the event increases every year so a big thank you goes to all the riders who took up the challenge and all those who supported them. The money raised is vital to our services and much appreciated.”
QEF works with people living with physical and learning disabilities or acquired brain injuries to support them to achieve their goals for life.
New vehicle for QEF Brain Injury Centre
(L to R ) Peter Gaskell (staff member), Chris Manson and Nicki Freeman take delivery of the new adapted vehicle that will provide independence and opportunity for service users.
Last year around 140 cyclists took to the leafy Surrey lanes in the Leatherhead Bikeathon in aid of Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People (QEF). As well as enjoying the cycling challenge they assisted the purchase of a vehicle for the QEF Neuro-rehabilitation Services Brain Injury Centre in Banstead.
The £24,000 vehicle, an adapted Renault Trafic, has just been delivered and is already in great demand.
Brain Injury Centre Principal, Eileen Jackman says, “For young people who have acquired a brain injury through illness or injury, it is as important to foster independence and the opportunity to socialise as it is to provide the range of therapies necessary for rehabilitation.
“This vehicle will make possible trips to outside activities, social occasions and even shopping thanks to the wonderful support from the Bikeathon cyclists.”
This year’s Leatherhead Bikeathon 2011 takes place on Sunday18 September, providing 13, 26 and 45 mile route challenges to suit all levels of ability. The selected routes don’t quite follow the Olympic route nevertheless they share the same characteristics that made Surrey a natural choice for picturesque and challenging cycling.
Olympic cycling is big news in Surrey this month and doubtless it will encourage cyclists of all ages to get out and enjoy the freedom of the road. So while your bike is ready and your enthusiasm is high, why not take the opportunity to cycle for a good cause?
Register for the Leatherhead Bikeathon 2011 in aid of QEF at www.leatherheadbikeathon.co.uk
QEF opens its doors
For the first time ever QEF threw its doors open to local organisations and authorities in an Open Meeting. QEF Chairman, Rob Douglas, introduced the proceedings describing the challenges that QEF is facing. Lavinia Sealy, Chairman of Surrey County Council, followed, outlining her and the Council’s expectations of QEF and CEO Jonathan Powell explained how QEF was perhaps in the best position to find new opportunities to support disabled people in the face of a fast changing landscape.
Chris Grayling MP Listens to QEF Trainees
Chris Grayling, MP for Epsom and Ewell and Minister for Welfare Reform at the Department for Work and Pensions, took time out of his busy schedule to visit QEF Vocational Services in Leatherhead to listen to the views of trainees.
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