September 12, 2014, by Genelva Meikle

What a day at the Life Cycle 4 Community Day!

On Sunday 31^st October at 7am, the Nottingham Lakeside Arts Centre opened to welcome Life Cycle 4 Challenge Ride participants taking part in the 75mile ride who were raising money for Children’s Brain Tumour Research (CBTR) this year.  At the same time, after cycling over 1,400+ for 15 days in honour of a child who has battled this life-threatening disease, Professor Sir David Greenaway and 15 colleagues were undertaking a 254 mile journey from Perth to Nottingham (airmiles!) to join the Life Cycle Community Day.

Olympic gold medallist Bryan Steel OBE gave participants of the 75 mile ride some words of encouragement and sent them on their way to take in a scenic route around Nottingham, and the beautiful scenery of Carsington Waters.  By 9.30am, participants of the 50mile ride were raring to go and once again Bryan Steel set participants on their way whilst Olympic compere Alan March informed family and friends about the fun activities to come.

 

 

The Life Cycle event village officially opened at midday, the sun was at 24° with not a spot of sun cream insight! An array of stand holders put on a wide range of family friendly activities including Sustrans East Midlands who brought along Dr Bike helping participants with bike maintenance, whilst promoting the benefits of cycling.  Maluwa Therapy and the UoN Physiotherapists offered a range of all over body massages for participants following the ride.  Guests took part in UoN Segway lessons, Wattbike challenge competitions, face painting, zorbing and so much more during the day.  All were entertained by London based blue-note jazz band, The New Jazzmags, who got the crowd dancing in between greeting Challenge ride participants who were returning to the event village.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hundreds took part in our two community rides (12 and 6.5 miles) in the late afternoon, including students, UON staff, alumni, friends and Life Cycle 4 team family members.  Those who preferred not to ride simply came along to Nottingham Lakeside Arts to cheer the riders on and enjoy a BBQ.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 3pm, there was a rapturous applause for the arrival of the Life Cycle 4 main riders, who were greeted by their loved ones and some of the children they had ridden in honour of.  During their ride the Life Cycle 4 team surpassed their original £500,000 target but are still raising money for CBTR!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you would like to support the Life Cycle 4 team, it’s not too late, just visit their Justgiving page to make your donation.  Funds which were raised will help enable crucial advances to be made into understanding the cause, nature, treat
ment and outcomes of childhood brain tumours.  Alternatively, if you would like a nice keepsake, the Alumni Relations team are selling pocket size teddy bears for £5 of which £1.25 will be donated to Children’s Brain Tumour Research.

Keep up-to-date with the University of Nottingham Alumni Relations team and activities by visiting our dedicated website and also at LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter

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