Month: September 2024

Fifty cyclists have raised more than £80k for Warwickshire children’s charity Molly Ollys after battling downpours and punctures to complete a gruelling 190-mile bike ride, ending in south Warwickshire.

Months of training culminated in the hardy fundraisers saddling up in Brighton town centre on Friday (September 6^th) and setting off on the three-day ride to The Durham Ox in Shrewley, stopping overnight at Winchester and Witney en route.

Among the local riders taking part was Tim Ollerenshaw, from Hatton Hark, who established the charity with his wife Rachel in 2011 following the death of their eight-year-old daughter Molly from a rare kidney cancer.

Tim, 66, was proud to be able to join the fundraisers after battling back to rude health following a heart attack and subsequent triple bypass operation just two years earlier.

He recalls: “I had just had a test which shockingly had resulted in my being unreleasable from Warwick Hospital, pending a bypass operation. These were scary moments as I hadn’t even realised I’d had a heart attack.

“I wrote letters to all my kids in case the surgery did not work which is emotional high stakes in itself. Initially after the operation it was a major struggle to even walk very far but much sleeping and recovery later, gingerly starting playing hockey again.”

Tim nearly never made the start line however after suffering chest pains again the day before the ride, a scare that, thankfully, turned out to be muscle strain – and so the trip was back on.

“I had to be more cautious than I would like to be especially as I was in hospital the day before thinking I was having another heart attack! Fortunately, it wasn’t.

“Day one presented us with the worse weather I have ever cycled in and no one would have chosen to cycle that day but to do it for Molly and other children like her who face much worse, was paramount in my mind and for the duration of the ride. It is humbling that we have raised so much. Thank you to all our donors.”

Molly Ollys works to support children with terminal or life-limiting illnesses and their families and help with their emotional wellbeing. As well as providing wishes, they donate therapeutic toys and books to both children directly and to hospitals throughout the UK.

Mascot of the charity is a therapeutic toy lion called Olly The Brave who has his own Hickman line and a detachable mane which helps to explain and normalise the effects of chemotherapy. It forms part of an Olly The Brave pack that has now been handed out to more than 70 hospitals or health centres, along with a set of books from the charity’s exclusive Olly The Brave series.

Part of more than £4m raised to date, has also been used to fund the first Molly Olly consultant in paediatric medicine at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Molly’s mum Rachel said: “This year’s cycle ride was probably the most challenging, mainly in part to the weather conditions. When we left Brighton on the Friday morning it was wet and grey and just got progressively worse, even the most seasoned of cyclists said it was tough.

“The night before I had talked about our work, the children we support and shared individual stories.  Many of the riders said this helped to keep them focused and spurred them on when they were cold and aching.”

The cyclists received a lot of support en route, including New Horizon Logisitcs, in Warwick, Oakland International Ltd, in Redditch (who also entered 17 cyclists); Affordable Warm Solutions, in Solihull; John Cleary Photography in Leamington; Leonardo Hotels; Premier Inn; Travelodge UK; The Golden Lion Pub in Winchester and Pizza Express.

“As always, the welcome home is massively emotional for all and there were many tears when all the cyclists rode in together. The emphasis for the whole weekend is about working as a team, so we ride in as a team. Together we are stronger. We are incredibly grateful for their strength and dedication.

“Molly Ollys work with other charities and health professionals to get the best support to the children that need it. These cyclists working as a team raised a phenomenal amount. I cannot thank everyone involved in all aspects from start to finish enough. What a brilliant achievement all round that will enable us to help many children.”

Donations in support of the cyclists are still welcome HERE.

Girl power takes centre stage in south Warwickshire at a fundraising event featuring a renowned TV journalist, broadcaster and author.

A familiar face on local and national screens, Suzanne Virdee, from Redditch, will talk about her inspiring career, offering valuable insights into her path to success, including challenges faced working in the media industry.

At ‘Lunch With Virdee’ at The Warwickshire Golf & Country Club, in Leek Wotton, she will also be sharing insights from her two books, A Girl’s Guide To Being Awesome and the best-selling A Teenager’s Guide To Being Fabulous, as well as her passion for empowering young girls with advice on navigating the difficult teenage years.

Suzanne Virdee is an award-winning TV news anchor and freelance journalist, who has presented the ITV National News, ITV News London, Channel 5 News and BBC Breakfast, as well as reporting for BBC Radio 4. She’s best known in the Midlands for co-presenting the 6.30pm BBC regional news programme Midlands Today alongside Nick Owen for 11 years.

Over her career she’s also been a passionate supporter and mentor to women starting out in journalism. She was horrified recently to be told by teachers that girls were suffering with low self- esteem – and that social media and the internet were a big factor.

Speaking about her latest book she said: “I wish it wasn’t needed but it is – more than ever. The NSPCC reported there is: ‘A deeply rooted notion that girls and young women’s bodies are somehow the property of boys and young men.’

“It’s limiting and dangerous. We all have a responsibility to make sure our next generation of girls find their inner sparkle so they can truly thrive, not just survive, and that’s what my book aims to do.

“I am extremely passionate about this subject because, obviously, I’m a woman and was once a girl and have a certain amount of ’soft power’ being a journalist. I’m looking forward to this event, being in a room surrounded by like-minded women.”

‘Lunch With Suzanne,’ on October 2^nd, has been organised by Ladies First Professional Development Group who are hoping to raise enough money to purchase 50 copies of Suzanne’s book to donate to disadvantaged and vulnerable young girls in the area.

Co-director Tracey McAtamney, pictured above, said: “At Ladies First we are passionate about supporting young people and empowering the next generation. Suzanne’s book is a must-read for young girls everywhere, touching on life skills, social media, body image and self-esteem. We very much look forward to this event.”

Tickets, which also include a welcome drink and two-course lunch, are available to purchase HERE.

To enquire about sponsorship opportunities contact Tracey McAtamney at: tracey@ladiesfirstnetwork.co.uk

Showbiz faces will be among the fundraisers supporting the much-anticipated annual Pink Ball at Nailcote Hall Hotel Golf & Country Club in Berkswell next month.

Actor Christopher Walker – best known for his role in BBC soap Doctors – and Modern Romance frontman Andy Kyriacou, are on the guest list for the Ball, which is set to raise thousands of pounds towards local state-of-the-art cancer treatment at local hospitals.

It is also being supported by Leamington foodie Bianca Rodrigues-Perry who has dedicated a special episode of her Bia’s Kitchen Show to Breast Cancer Awareness.

It marks the 22nd year of the glittering event, which has so far raised more than £500k for the hospitals. And it’s a cause very close to the heart of the hotel’s co-owner and two-times cancer survivor Sue Cressman, from Dorridge.

The 65-year-old, who underwent a mastectomy ten years ago, has been continuing to give back with the life-saving medical equipment which includes localizer probes. This new technology leads to more accurate surgery with less damage to healthy tissue and a reduction in the need for radiation, at Solihull, Heartlands and Queen Elizabeth Hospitals.

Sue has also teamed up with Leamington foodie and influencer Bianca Rodrigues-Perry to offer two tickets to the Ball as a prize in a special episode of Bia’s Kitchen Show, ahead of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, in October.

She shared her story on the show and Bia cooked a gluten-free detox oven omelette containing healthy ingredients to help the body nutritionally in its prevention of cancer.

At just 32 years old, Sue found a lump in her breast but, following an examination, she was reassured and sent home without any further tests. Just months later she collapsed in pain while at a public speaking event in America.

Sue’s treatment included ten months in a hospice while undergoing gruelling chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery.

She said: “I have no idea where all the strength came from to deal with all of this. I just thought I’m going to have to bloody well fight. I always say I had an annus horribilis exactly the same year as our late Queen! While I was watching Windsor burn I was having chemo!

Some 21 years after believing she’d beaten the disease, Sue later learned her cancer had returned and, in 2013, she was forced to make the agonising decision to have her breast removed. It also resulted in 16 corrective surgeries due to complications due to her earlier radiotherapy.

“I didn’t want to have the mastectomy but once it was done and I was sitting up in ICU I was relieved thinking, at least it’s finished. I wasn’t living under the threat of breast cancer anymore,” she said.

This life’s chapter also inspired Sue, in 2018, to record her own charity single, Survive, written by her husband of 15 years Rick and their friend Guy Barnes. It was later adopted by top arranger and producer Ian Wherry who has worked with such musical greats as Elaine Paige, David Essex and David Cassidy.

“As my song says, it’s a journey and you know the road will be long but you’ve got to keep on going,” she said.

“That is my strapline. You’ve got to have hope and you’ve got to have strength. And if you allow yourself to be taken in by this terrible weight of distress then that road is going to be so much harder.”

This year’s Pink Ball, on October 5^th, is being supported by Christopher Walker, whose roles also include Larry ‘Tiger’ Barton in the BBC drama Merseybeat, and musician Andy Kyriacou, the original drummer in 80s band Modern Romance. He became lead singer when he reformed the band in 1999. A host of auction lots on the night will include a signed presentation piece with singles and CD cover, donated by Kyriacou, as well as  Frank Bruno-signed boxing gloves.

The event is being sponsored by 6th Gear Experiences and live entertainment will be provided by The Jersey Rollers, featuring West End star Michael Watson.

To date, the Pink Ball events are estimated to have raised around £500k to hospitals in and around the West Midlands, including biopsy machines, Hilotherapy machines that reduce pain after surgery, infuser kits and garden furniture for chemotherapy units.

Sue said: “My fundraising is a debt of gratitude to the wonderful doctors and nurses and I really felt I wanted to raise money for the comfort of other breast cancer patients by giving them the help and equipment they need immediately.

“I go to see a consultant in breast cancer units and ask them what they need. Small things can make all the difference – and event guests get to see exactly where the money goes.”

Sue is also the guest on a special episode of Bia’s Kitchen Show, dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness Month, when viewers can win themselves a pair of tickets to The Pink Ball.

See the episode, from September 20th, at: https://biaskitchenshow.com/ and to enter, comment with the word ‘PINK’ at @Biaskitchenuk on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

Tickets can be booked HERE