Callum is a Reason to Ride![bikeridetop 179x300 - Cyclists and Former NUFC Star Shine Through For Callum!]( "Cyclists and Former NUFC Star Shine Through For Callum!")
A just over a month ago I received a call from Joanne Reed (GB Triathlete) highlighting an amazing fundraising event that would involve a titanic bike ride from Edinburgh to Newcastle. The event named Reason to Ride was all in aid to raise money for Callum Brown, aged 8, a local cerebral palsy sufferer. Of course I jumped at the chance of helping to promote the event, as I have been supporting and following Callum’s campaign closely since I started The North East HUB and was so pleased to get our logo on the cyclists tops as a supporter 🙂
14 cyclists, including an ex-Newcastle United football player Robbie Elliott took part in the ride which set off last Sunday with 200-miles between them at Edinburgh to reach Newcastle. The amazing group managed the task in just 17 hours (4am – 9pm)!
The aim of Callum’s campaign is to raise £70,000 to pay for surgery in the US which they hope will then enable Callum to be able to fully walk.
Callum and his parents Sharon and Neil Brown have managed to raise nearly £50,000 with their ‘Callum’s Wish To Walk’ Charity, also supported by the Angels of the North.
Joanna Reed, 37, the event organiser and cyclist, said:
“I was so proud of all the cyclists for finishing the ride and sticking together, everyone got on so well…We had a few injuries and there were times when a few people were really struggling, but to get everyone to the finish line together was just incredible.”
“I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who took part, and to everyone in the support cars as well who travelled with us, fixing punctures, to David Lloyd, Northumbrian Water, Hi-5, Robin Palmer, it was brilliant, and hopefully we have raised a lot of money for Callum.”
Callums Mum Sharon said: “It’s amazing what they’ve done, what they have achieved, and we are so grateful to them and to Jo for organising it…This means everything to Callum, being able to have this operation, so a massive thank you to everyone who took part for him.”
Also runners Matt Atkinson, 41 and Phil Smith, 36, covered a 84-mile run in 20 hours overnight last Saturday for a fundraiser called Reason to Run and finished just ahead of the riders.
The next event for Callum’s wish to walk is a fancy dress charity five-a-side football tournament to be held on July 29 at the Montagu Estate Residents’ Association to raise money with entry £20 per team.
