Issue 326 – Ride4Ruby women prepare to saddle up

THIRTEEN women on bikes, two days, 80 miles on the South Somerset Cycle Route……and a whole lot of ice packs! That’s the Ruby Riders who are undertaking the sponsored cycle challenge to raise money for The Ruby Lambert Trust.

Ruby was an active five-year-old until she suffered a heart attack last April, last year. Now, her best chance of recovery depends on her receiving intensive rehabilitation. Friends, family and professionals who have known Ruby have formed the Ruby Lambert Trust to raise money for her recovery. The determined group of women who live in and around Frome, describe themselves as “ever so slightly out of shape”. They have been inspired by Ruby’s courage and have embraced the opportunity to ride the South Somerset Cycle Route on 21st and 22nd May.
Ruby Rider Emma Slevin says, “I was thrilled to be asked to Ride4Ruby. At the heart of all this cycling and frivolity is a family whose lives have been turned upside down. To be able to raise funds for Ruby’s ongoing care and recovery is an enormous incentive to get back on my bike.”
The girls are eager to complete this challenge and to raise £5,000 for The Ruby Lambert Trust. The Ruby Riders are off to a flying start, having collected over £450 from generous locals at the Frome Artisan Market held on Sunday 1st May. With a celebrity endorsement and words of encouragement from well known CBeebies star Justin Fletcher, aka Mr Tumble, all they need now is a kind wind and continued generosity!
The Ruby Riders are: Debra Wade, Rebecca Coles, Zoe Constantine, Clare Fielden, Fay Goodridge, Anna Konig, Liz Andrew, Mary Blackwell, Polly Lamb, Sinead Foley, Emma Slevin, Briony Walley and Alyson Evans.
Ruby’s family are due to fly to the US shortly, where Ruby will begin treatment at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The Ruby Lambert Trust has raised £45,000 to date, and this will be enough to fund the first three months treatment at the hospital. A further £250,000 still needs to be raised to continue this support for 12 months, giving Ruby the best chance of making a complete recovery.
For more information on Ride4Ruby, to donate or view Justin Fletcher’s words of support, please go to: www.one4ruby. com/fundraising-2/events/ride4ruby.
Pictured above: Ruby with her dad Simon Lambert, and her mum Catherine Newell.
Left: Mr Tumble.
Top: Some of the Ruby-Riders.