Torbay men in 13 to ride out for charities
Rory Morrison Photo: Corrie Corfield - Credit: Archant
Torbay man Keron remembers aunt as 13 ride out to raise money for three charities
Alex Baigler with Molly and George Photo:Baigler family - Credit: Archant
A team of friends and family are cycling the length of the country to support three charities.
Among the 13 riders tackling the route from John O' Groats to Land's End in memory of two family members is Keron Day, from Torbay, whose aunt Alex died of a brain tumour.
And his mum's cousin's husband Radio 4 newsreader Rory Morrison died in 2013 from a rare blood cancer.
Many of the other riders are also from Devon, including local businessmen and former Torquay Athletic rugby players Kevin Davies and John Jones. They are raising money for three charities: The Brain Tumour Charity, Headcase and the Rory Morrison WMUK Registry.
The fundraiser is called Ride for Alex and Rory and while most of the riders are taking 12 days to complete the ride, Alex's husband Charlie will attempt it in just six days.
Many of the riders are from Devon, three being local businessmen and former Torquay rugby players including Kevin Davies and John Jones.
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Alex was 43 when she was diagnosed in 2017 with glioblastoma, the most aggressive malignant brain tumour and died 15 months later, leaving Charlie to bring up their two children, Molly, now 10 and George aged six.
Honor and Reuben Morrison are riding in memory of their dad Rory who died in 2013 of a rare blood cancer when they were 15 and 12 years old.
His widow Nikki, Alex's cousin, said: 'Alex's children were just seven and three when she died, about the same age as my two were when Rory was diagnosed, it's an awful thing to have in common.
'Traumatic death tears some families apart but we are working hard to make sure it brings us together.'
Nikki said:' We lost our loved ones to cancers that are woefully under-funded.
'The Rory's cancer, Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinaemia, is so rare people don't know how to say it let alone cure it.'
Main organiser Peter Jenkins, cousin to Alex, uncle to Honor and Reuben, said: 'At one point it wasn't clear if the whole thing would have to be cancelled but we took advantage of socially-distanced rides to train as much as we could.'
Sponsors include Mrs Jones Deli in Torquay. A donation page is at bit.ly/R4AR2020
