The Parish Magazine April 2023

The Parish Magazine - April 2023 29
around the villages — 3
Charvil's My Cancer, My Choices Charity Cycle Challenge
This year's annual cycle rides,
organised by Reading Matins
Rotary Club to raise funds for My
Cancer, My Choices, Charvil's local
cancer support charity, are on
Sunday 21 May — last year, these
popular events raised £3,000!
My Cancer, My Choices was founded
by Mandy Barter and Liz Lee in
2014 and is based in Old Bath Road,
Charvil.
Having had cancer, Mandy saw a
need to support people living with
cancer from diagnosis onwards. Liz
had a background in nursing and felt
equally passionate about providing
therapies to benefit cancer patients.
Both, being complementary
therapists, combined their skills and
experience to establish the registered
charity with the help of Liz Riddle
from the Oncology Outpatients
Clinic and Macmillan Cancer
Support Information Centre.
My Cancer, My Choices provides
a holistic complementary therapies
service that supports the wellbeing
of people with cancer in Berkshire.
MATINS
As its name implies, Reading
Matins Rotary Club usually meets
at 7.30am so its 30 members can
get on with the rest of their day.
While the members come from a
variety of backgrounds they all
share a common interest in serving
the community in areas where they
believe their work will add value.
Organising the annual fund
raising cycle ride is a prime example
of the club's work.
They meet every 1st, 2nd and 3rd
Wednesday of the month at Cobbs
in Englefield, every 4th Wednesday
via Zoom and when there's a 5th
Wednesday they hold an evening
social event.
TWO EVENTS
The two cycling events begin in
Thames Valley Park Drive RG6 1PQ
with the signing in from 9am.
A 30k ride starts at 9.30m for
cyclists aged 12 years and over
and takes a circular route that is
predominantly off-road along some
picturesque canal paths through
Reading, out to Theale, Sulham and
back to Thames Valley Park. The entry
fee is £20 plus an Eventbrite fee.
Cyclists will leave in guided
groups along a marshalled route
that will take about 2 to 3 hours,
depending on fitness level.
A 5k ride is for cyclists aged 6
years and above starts at 10am.
It takes an off-road route along
the River Thames, and the wetland
ponds and nature reserve around
Thames Valley Park.
You can also choose to walk or
run the 5k route.
Entry is £5 plus the Eventbrite fee
This route will have marshals at
key points and you can choose to
run or walk the 5k route again if you
want to do 10k!
OFF-ROAD RULES
Please note the routes are not
suitable for road bikes, an off-road
bike is highly recommended. All
participants must be aged 6 years
or older. Anyone aged 6 to 11 years
old must be accompanied by an
adult. Anyone aged 12 to 15 must be
accompanied by an adult to cycle the
30k route. Anyone aged 16 or 17 must
have written permission from an
adult to take part in the 30k route.
SPONSORSHIP
If you would like to raise third-party
sponsorship, you can fund raise
on Just Giving by setting up your
fundraising page. If you raise £50
Monkey Business Images, dreamstime.com
in sponsorship, the organisers will
waive the cost of registration on
request and they will also help with
fund raising support.
Following the rides everyone
is invited to stay for a picnic —
refreshments will be available to
purchase, but take your own picnic.
Bike maintenance provided by AW
Cycles, Caversham will be available
on the day,
Please Note: Both rides are noncompetitive,
fun, social charity events.
MORE INFORMATION
My Cancer, My Choices:
https://mycancermychoices.org/
Reading Matins Rotary Club:
https://www.rotary-ribi.org/
Full cycle ride details:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/my-
cancer-my-choices-annual-charity-cycle-
2023-tickets-523576189477
He's training for
a charity ride