Three friends from South Wales are preparing to cycle the length of Wales to raise money for cancer centre
CHALLENGING terrain, including Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons, separate Holyhead and Cardiff Bay. To raise money for Velindre Cancer Centre, Gareth Davies, Justin Davies and Dale Llewellyn will take on the 250-mile Lôn Las route, which covers the length of Wales, in July.
Gareth Davies, a 34-year-old primary school headteacher, said they wanted to do an “enormous challenge” to raise money for Velindre, a specialist cancer treatment centre in Whitchurch, because two of their close friends have recently been diagnosed with cancer.
He will be joined by Justin, a 42-year-old warehouse manager, and Dale, a 38-year-old social worker – but they nearly took a very different approach.
Gareth said: “It was going to be a dartathon! We were going to get together and throw a couple of darts, and it’s developed into cycling the length of Wales. It’s something we wanted to do to raise some money for Velindre, and also to raise money for two people who are close to our hearts.
“Despite that fact that we’re getting up and training at six o’clock in the morning, which is a bit of a pain in the neck sometimes, when you compare that to what those guys are going through, it pales into insignificance. We haven’t moaned about it because there is no comparison.
“We’re all looking forward to that camaraderie and actually achieving something here. There’s so much negativity going on in the world, and to be part of something successful and to make a difference is massive for us.”
They have set themselves a fundraising target of £5,000 and have already secured the support of 18 businesses to sponsor them. For Gareth, it is important to ensure that their sponsors feel as involved in their campaign as possible.
“Whilst this is in the names of two people, we want that community feel because Velindre is a very community-focused charity and I don’t think there’s one member of the community who hasn’t been affected by cancer. It’s been lovely to see everyone get on board.
“Would I be sitting here waxing lyrical about having 18 sponsors if we were doing a dartathon in my garage? Probably not.
“It wouldn’t have been possible without the support of local businesses and people. From the bottom of our hearts, we can’t thank them enough and their money is making a massive difference.”
Between July 26 and 30, the three men will follow Wales’s National Cycle Route Eight – better known as Lôn Las Cymru.
They are expecting to arrive in Cardiff Bay at 4pm on Friday, July 30, and are hoping for a big reception from their sponsors and supporters when they cross the finish line if Covid-19 regulations allow it.
They will not know how much money they have raised until they reach the end, and are looking forward to a special moment when they find out.
“In an ideal world, we’d like both blokes to be there and present us with the cheque, which would be a really fitting end to it. I certainly think that would very emotional, but what a way to finish.”
As a primary school headteacher, Gareth says he enjoys using quotes in his teaching, and the three cyclists have taken inspiration from a Nelson Mandela quote that they say sums up their challenge: “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
- If you or your business would like to support Gareth, Justin and Dale, you can visit their fundraising page HERE. Business sponsors will have their names printed on their cycling shirts, gain social media exposure and – if regulations allow – are welcome to join them at the finish line.
- To get in touch or follow their progress, you can find them on Facebook, Twitter or their website.
