Rye team take on mountain challenge to fight cancer

The climb is described as one of the most gruelling in the Tour de France.

The idea of the annual challenge is that the struggle to conquer Mont Ventoux symbolises the sheer impossible task that cancer patients face every day to live life to the fullest in spite of a disease.

The teams from camp just after 6am on September 13. Most took on the climb once completing the ascent in between two and three hours. Some participants managed to take on the challenge twice, and one of Bournes team members, Dan Wood, even managed to make the climb four times in the one day.

Many of the team had moving personal reasons for taking on the challenge.

Kevin Miller, from Bournes, said: “I knew this was going to be tough. My thoughts turned to my grandniece who, having recently been told she had beaten cancer and learned that it had returned, is lying in hospital on pain relief only, living out the last few days of her life as well as she can.

“My achievement somewhat pales into insignificance to those who fight for years to battle cancer and never knowing if that day will be their last. I knew couldn’t let anybody down and knowing that every penny raised put towards support, research and awareness is vital.

“It was the hardest and most rewarding challenge I have ever faced.

Both Kes Mayatt, whose wife had skin cancer last year, and Ian Addy, who recently lost his brother in law, found that when they were exhausted their own experiences gave them the emotional strength to carry on.

Ian added: “A tear or two was shed during my trip up the mountain whilst thinking of my brother in law Roy who sadly passed away from cancer three months ago. This sad moment and the thought of everyone who has suffered over the years from this deadly disease inspired me to fight through the pain barrier on a number of occasions and reach the summit.

“I did get there and I can’t put into words how good it felt, not so much my achievement of conquering Mont Ventoux but looking around at all the people who had also achieved the quest – there was only one winner here – the fight against cancer”.

Total fundraising figures are still being calculated but the Bournes group raised individually over £2,500 for the cause. Bournes would like to thank all those individuals and companies that supported them in achieving this.

Visit the Bournes Facebook page www.facebook.com/bournesmoves for more information and photos of the event.

There is still time to donate, Bournes can receive sponsorship directly in person, by visiting the payment pages of our website at www.bournesmoves.com/payment to sponsor online (Please use Ven2 as the account number) or by bank transfer. Please use Account number: 06023511 sort code: 121268 and the reference Ven2.