The University of Nottingham Life Cycle team are setting off on a gruelling 1,000-mile charity bike ride from John O’Groats to Land’s End.
The 11-strong team will battle hills, saddle sores and the elements as they ride the length of Britain in just 13 days to raise money for the Sue Ryder Care Centre for the Study of Supportive, Palliative and End of Life Care, based at the University.
And the team have had a fantastic pre-ride boost – they’ve already smashed their £150,000 fund-raising target thanks to generous donations.
Determined now to top £200,000 before they reach Land’s End on 8 September, the team are urging people to support them by joining two rides on Saturday 3 September.
More than 70 people have signed up to take part, and will enjoy a free barbecue after they cross the finish line at the University’s Sutton Bonington Campus.
The first ride, the Nottingham Life Cycle, will give people the chance to join the team on the 53-mile Retford-to-Sutton Bonington leg in return for raising up to £500 in sponsorship. The second 14-mile ride – from University Park to Sutton Bonington – will allow families and recreational cyclists to take part for a small entry fee.
Vice-Chancellor Professor David Greenaway said:
“I am heartened by the number of people who have signed up for the two public rides. It will be excellent to share this experience with others, raising funds whilst having an enjoyable day at the same time!
“The University is known globally for the quality and effectiveness of our life-changing research. By taking on this challenge we are not only raising funds for the Sue Ryder Care Centre, but raising awareness of important work in an under-researched area at the same time, which will also have a huge impact.”
The importance of the fundraising effort cannot be overestimated, with 500,000 people dying in England every year, the majority of which follow an extended period of chronic illness but - according to the Department of Health – fail to receive excellent care at the end of life.
Team member and co-founder of the Sue Ryder Care Centre, Prof Karen Cox, explained:
“We want to raise as much as we possibly can for what we see as being an important research and health priority; the care of individuals at the end of their lives.
“Funds raised from the Life Cycle will allow the Sue Ryder Care Research Centre to expand its professional education and PhD scholarship programme with a special focus on ‘resource-poor’ groups, including those working in long-term care in this country, and those coming from countries where palliative care expertise and capacity is absent or negligible.
“The Centre has seen graduates from its PhD programme from Jordan, Kenya, India, Thailand and Saudi Arabia; all places where palliative care leadership, especially in nursing, is desperately needed. ”
The Nottingham Life Cycle takes place from 26 August to 8 September. To keep up to date with the progress of The University of Nottingham’s Life Cycle, please visit www.nottingham.ac.uk/lifecycle or follow the team on twitter: @uonlifecycle
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MEDIA CALL: LIFE CYCLE TEAM AVAILABLE FOR PHOTOS AND INTERVIEWS – 4PM, 3 SEPTEMBER, UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM, SPORTS CENTRE, SUTTON BONINGTON, LEICESTERSHIRE, LE12 5RD
For more information contact Kelly Newman,Corporate Marketing Manager, Fundraising campaigns at Kelly.newman@nottingham.ac.uk. Alternatively please contact Kat Higgs, Student Communications Officer, The University of Nottingham on +44 (0)115 846 6691 or at kat.higgs@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors: Please see the full list of staff taking part below:
Professor David Greenaway - Vice-Chancellor
Professor Karen Cox - Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Staffing and Community
Professor Alan Ford - Dean of the Faculty of Arts
Mr Chris Jagger - Chief Estates and Facilities Officer
Professor Nick Miles - Provost & CEO, University of Nottingham Ningbo China
Dr Andrew Noyes – Professor of Education
Mrs Kate Robertson - Director of Developmentand Alumni Relations
Professor Chris Rudd - Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Knowledge Transferand Business Engagement
Professor David Walker - Professor of Paediatric Oncology
Mr Steve Wright – University Driver
Professor Neville Wylie - Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
More information about the Sue Ryder Care Centre for the Study of Supportive, Palliative and End of Life Care can be found at: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/nmp/research/groups/srcc/index.aspx. The Centre led by Professors Jane Seymour and Karen Cox has a special collaborative relationship with the charity Sue Ryder Care, and is pleased to be able to share the name of this key provider of palliative and neurological care. For more information about the charity, please visit http://www.suerydercare.org/.
The University of Nottingham, described by The Sunday Times University Guide 2011 as ‘the embodiment of the modern international university’, has award-winning campuses in the United Kingdom, China and Malaysia. It is ranked in the UK's Top 10 and the World's Top 75 universities by the Shanghai Jiao Tong (SJTU) and the QS World University Rankings. It was named ‘Europe’s greenest university’ in the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking, a league table of the world’s most environmentally-friendly higher education institutions, which ranked Nottingham second in the world overall.
The University is committed to providing a truly international education for its 40,000 students, producing world-leading research and benefiting the communities around its campuses in the UK and Asia.
More than 90 per cent of research at The University of Nottingham is of international quality, according to the most recent Research Assessment Exercise, with almost 60 per cent of all research defined as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. Research Fortnight analysis of RAE 2008 ranked the University 7th in the UK by research power.
The University’s vision is to be recognised around the world for its signature contributions, especially in global food security, energy & sustainability, and health.
More news from the University at: www.nottingham.ac.uk/news
Our sponsors added:
Freeth Cartwright LLP: A spokesman for the company said: “We have been a key partner of the University now for over 15 years and want to support this event to demonstrate our commitment to them and their team who are an inspiration. It’s also underlines our commitment to our work in the Education Sector and the importance of putting something back into the community.” www.freethcartwright.co.uk
UPP: A spokesperson said: “UPP is delighted to be able to sponsor this laudable fundraising effort and hope the money the team have raised will give them the inspiration to overcome the challenges that they will face along the route. As soon as we found out about the fantastic cause, UPP were delighted to contribute as a mark of our continued relationship with The University of Nottingham.”