6 August 2010

A bicycle made for seven calls in to Dundee

Photo opportunity - the team are expected to arrive at the Wellcome Trust Building, Old Hawkhill, University of Dundee, around 7pm this evening, Friday August 6th

A bizarre bicycle is sure to turn heads as it pays a visit to Dundee today (Friday) on its way to Land's End.

A group of intrepid fundraisers on board the Conference Bicycle, which seats seven people, is calling in on Cancer Research UK scientists in the city as they make their way across the length of the country, raising money for the charity.

And the team of bold cyclists is being welcomed to Dundee by Professor Inke Nathke from the Dundee Cancer Research UK centre.

Professor Nathke said, "It's just brilliant to see what some people will do to help the fight against cancer and we're so grateful for their incredible efforts. Without fundraising like this we simply wouldn't be able to continue our work, and on behalf of Cancer Research UK I want to wish them all the best for the rest of their trip."

The team is lead by Ed Greig, 25, who works for Deloitte (www.deloitte.com/view/en_GB/uk/index.htm), which has chosen Cancer Research UK to be one of its charity partners.

Going the whole distance with Ed are: Chris Browne, also 25, currently at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. Chris' sister, Kate, 23, a recently qualified nutritionist living in London and Jack Cole, 24, an English & Drama teacher in London. They are being assisted by Duncan MacCann, a Director at Get Cycling in York.

Ed explains, "Chris and I dreamt up the idea. We've been raising money for cancer research charities since Chris and Kate's mum, Charlotte, died of breast cancer in 1999. There have been many advances over the last ten years that could save people in similar circumstances. Our hope is that the fundraising we do as part of this bike ride will help maintain the pace at which treatments are improving, and ensure that few children have to experience the loss of a parent to this disease in the future."

The ride started at John O' Groats on 1 August, and the team aims to reach Land's End on 28 August. The 1,136 mile route will take them from the UK's tip to toe via Dundee, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham, Cambridge, London and Southampton, including some of Cancer Research UK's key sites along the way.

The team is raising money via Cancer Research UK's online giving site, MyProjects. The site allows people to donate to a specific project in which they may have a particular interest, especially at a regional level across the UK. It is of particular interest to the CoBi UK project as the team is looking to increase regional engagement and support for the charity's research centres. If you would like to support the team, visit: www.cobiuk.com/donate.html.

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07800 581902