A group of cyclists are about to set off on an epic 260-mile sponsored ride around Cumbria to raise money for a team of dedicated volunteer doctors which carries out life-saving work in the county.
They are hoping their efforts will raise thousands of pounds for BEEP Doctors (BASICS) Cumbria.
The team is delighted that AW Jenkinson Forest Products, based in Clifton, near Penrith, has agreed to become the ride’s main sponsor by donating £1,250 towards the fundraiser.
Rebecca Mallinson, PA to Allan Jenkinson, said: “AW Jenkinson Forest Products is pleased to help raise funds for a crucial local service. The BEEP Doctors service is often overlooked but we believe it’s important to support a service that we all may need at some point in our lives.”
Julieanne Mitchell, fundraising manager for BEEP Doctors Cumbria, said: “It is an amazing local business and supporting a local charity in this way, it is just fantastic.
“As a thank-you, BEEP Doctors will deliver a first-aid talk to the team at AW Jenkinson.”
The cyclists will set off from the BEEP Doctors’ headquarters at the NFU building in Cromwell Road, Penrith, at about 9am on Friday, August 18.
“The aim of the ride is predominantly to raise awareness of the work of the BEEP Doctors, to raise money and to highlight the area in which we operate,” said Dr Theo Weston, founder and chair, who will be one of those tackling the cycling challenge.
The group aims to cover around 50 to 60 miles per day. Day one will see them cycle through the Eden Valley, up to Aisgill Summit and Garsdale Head and then to Sedbergh.
Day two will see the group cycle to Kendal for lunch and then past Levens and Grange-over-Sands to Ulverston.
The third day’s route will take them to Broughton-in-Furness and up to the moors around Ulpha. The group will then drop down to Gosforth, where they will be guests for the evening of members of the West Lakes Rotary Club, which is a big supporter of the Beep Doctors.
Day four is a ride along the coastline past Whitehaven, Workington and Maryport to Silloth and the final day is a 70m to 80m ride back to Penrith.
“BEEP Doctors covers Cumbria and we shall be cycling as closely as we can the boundary of the county,” said Dr Weston.
Those taking part each day will include Dr Weston; Rob Douglas, a member of West Lakes Rotary Club; and Jen Turnbull, who lives between Penrith and Carlisle.
Joining the ride for the first three days will be Tim Taylor, who is a member, like Dr Weston, of an informal group of cyclists, The Wednesday Wheelers, which meets weekly to go cycling in the Penrith area. Several other riders will join the group for individual days.
The BEEP Doctors’ trailer will be at various sites along the route during the cycling team’s 260-mile ride, including Kendal’s Market Place from 11.30am on Saturday, August 19.
“If you see the BEEP Team out and about, please stop and say hello,” said Julieanne. “As well as raising money for our services, we are also aiming to raise the profile of the life-saving work we do in the community.”
There is still time individuals to show their support for the group by making donations on the Just Giving page at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/beep-cycle-ride-2023
It costs more than £150,000 a year to keep BEEP Doctors Cumbria going and the charity relies on donations and fund-raising events.
Cumbria’s BEEP Doctors provide enhanced pre-hospital emergency care. They work closely with the police and fire services, North West Ambulance Service, Great North Air Ambulance Service and North West Air Ambulance.
At incidents BEEP Doctors can carry out some surgical procedures, such as inserting chest drains; some can perform pre-hospital anaesthetics; and all are able to administer drugs that most road crew paramedics cannot, such as ketamine/fentanyl to give pain relief and allow fracture manipulation.
Many of the emergencies they attend are road traffic collisions, as well as incidents involving farms, pushbikes, horses and water.
So far in 2023 the BEEP Doctors (BASICS) Cumbria charity has attended more than 160 incidents and members have completed more than 560 volunteering hours.
