A team of NHS staff from the Furness General Hospital / Westmorland General / Royal Lancaster Infirmary / University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust’s (UHMBT’s) Oral and Maxillofacial department are gearing up for a mammoth 170 mile sponsored bike ride on Saturday 15 June 2019.
The Way of the Roses is a 170 mile coast-to-coast cycle route which runs from Morecambe in the west, to Bridlington on Yorkshire’s east coast; passing through some of the finest landscape in the country.
The team will gather on Morecambe’s Promenade between 6am and 9am on Saturday 15 June 2019 before embarking on the epic cycle-ride.
The team are hoping to raise enough money to purchase the latest state-of-the-art equipment – a Cone Beam CT machine – a scanner which will allow consultants on the Maxillofacial Department to provide patients with a more accurate assessment of trauma and cancer cases. It also gives patients a more accurate three-dimensional image of any dental or facial deformity cases they may have.
Miles Duncan, Consultant Maxillofacial Surgeon at UHMBT said: “Our sponsored cycle ride was dreamt up by me and my colleague, Nick Hampton who is an Associate Maxillofacial Specialist at the hospital, when we were on a course together last year.
“We came up with the idea of putting on a ‘big fundraising event’ to try and fundraise as a team to source either new surgical maxillofacial equipment, or if we reach our target, a new Cone Beam CT machine for the department.
“The total distance from Morecambe to Bridlington is a whopping 170 miles, so definitely not for the faint-hearted. A few of the more experienced cyclists among us will attempt to cycle to Bridlington within a day but we’re encouraging as many friends and colleagues who work in Maxillofacial department, or any colleagues from any of our ‘sister specialties’ across our Trust, such as ENT (ear, nose and throat), anaesthetics, radiology and dermatology to join us on the day and attempt to cycle as far as they can. We’re encouraging everyone who signs up to take part to get sponsored for their efforts and help us reach our fundraising target.
“If there are any local businesses or local entrepreneurs out there who may be able to sponsor the event and help us reach our target, we’d also love to hear from you!”
Hilary Freedman, who works as a Clerical Officer on the Maxillofacial department adds: “I think the sponsored cycle ride is a brilliant idea and I’m very impressed with Miles and Nick for organising this.
“I am 71 years young and a fair-weathered, but enthusiastic cyclist and I am hoping I can manage anything between 10 and 15 miles on the day, but will attempt to cycle as much of the route as possible”.
Judith Read, Charity Coordinator at Bay Hospitals Charity said: “On behalf of everyone at Bay Hospitals Charity, a big thank you to Miles, Nick and all the Maxillofacial team for putting on this fantastic fundraising event.
“It is thanks to the generosity of the local community that our charity can help fund state-of-the-art equipment helping to improve the hospital environment and supporting our clinical teams through specialist training to ensure that local people get the best possible care and treatment possible.
To help the Maxfacbigbikeride team reach their fundraising target, you can donate online via their JustGiving page at: www.justgiving.com/maxfacbigbikeride