The following article comes from the Bristol Evening Post's "This Is Bristol" website - click here to see the original article.

 

School's £12K charity feat

PUPILS at Mangotsfield School have raised more than £12,000 for charity in memory of their teacher's son.

Alan Gregg, 62, has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research since his

son Eddie died of Leukaemia at the age of 24, 10 years ago.

Next month, a group Eddie's friends from his days as a sports science student at Loughborough University will

be cycling from Ashton Court to Loughborough in his memory – and his father's students have raised £12,600 to

support the cause.

The youngsters raised the money by holding sponsored walks.

Mr Gregg used to be assistant headteacher at the school, and although he retired two years ago he still teaches

a few geography and psychology lessons a week.

The group of sports coaches, football players and sports teachers who will be cycling the 140 miles to

Loughborough will be setting off from the start of the Bikeathon, a sponsored bike ride starting at Ashton Court in

aid of the same charity.

The group includes Tony Strudwick, fitness coach at Manchester United; Chris Jones, fitness coach at Chelsea;

Tom Curtis, a professional football player and Liam Kane, director of sport at King's College Wimbledon. Mr

Gregg, of Keynsham, said: "I will be going some of the way with them at the start but will meet them at the end.

"This is such an important charity to raise money for and since Eddie's death I think we have raised more than

£250,000, which is really helping to save lives. Lots of people do now live through leukaemia and lymphoma

because of the work funded by the charity, which is why it's so important for everybody to get behind the charity.

"You don't have to ride 140 miles like the guys cycling to Loughborough either, the great thing about the Bristol

Bikeathon is that anybody can have a go and it will be a really good family day out."

It is hoped more than 150 cyclists will take part in the Bikeathon on May 30. There are two routes, 14 miles and

28 miles.

A "bike doctor" from Pembury Cycles will on hand for maintenance and repairs, and the Willow Brook Clinic will

massage aches and pains.

Every rider who enters the Bikeathon will receive a fundraising pack, complete with hints and tips on how to

make the most of fundraising, along with a free T-shirt and a medal.

To enter the Bikeathon visit www.bikeathonbritain.co.uk or visit your local library and pick up an application form.

For further information about the Bristol Bikeathon contact event organiser Jo Bray at jobray@lrfbristol.org.uk.

To sponsor the Bristol to Loughborough cycle ride visit www.justgiving.com/eddiegregg.