A TEAM of three Frome firefighters and a member of Lisa’s Army, are due to embark on a charity bike ride to France at the end of April, raising funds both for people with cancer and the Firefighters Charity.
The group will set off from Frome Fire Station in Keyford on Saturday 29th April to cycle to Chateau Gontier in France. The funds raised will be split between the Firefighters Charity, which supports the families of serving and retired firefighters, and Lisa’s Army, which was set up in the memory of Lisa Wells, who died from bowel cancer on 17th August 2019.
Lisa’s mother Deanna said, “This fundraiser was meant to happen before the pandemic, to raise money for both charities, but had to be postponed. There will be three firefighters and one Lisa’s Army member, Tim, who is Lisa’s dad, and they will be leaving Frome Fire Station on Saturday 29th April around 8am to cycle to Portsmouth. A few extra firefighters will be riding with them for a while, to get them started and cheer them off.
“They will then catch an overnight ferry and start off early Sunday to cycle approximately 70 miles to their first overnight stop in France and then start off early the next day to reach their destination, approximately 40 miles from Chateau Gontier, where their local firefighters will ride out to meet them and guide them in.
“They will then stay with local firefighters’ families that night and then come home in the van that will accompany them, with spares and drinks. People have been so kind. Asda has donated water bottles, Pronto Bikes have donated snack bars, we’ve been donated diesel for the van to go to Chateau Gontier.”
To help raise funds, Lisa’s Army held a coffee and cake morning at the Royal Oak pub and are also due to be at the Market Place on Sunday 2nd April with the cyclists wearing their sponsored kit, with charity buckets and fire engines.
Lisa’s Army was set up in April 2020, to fulfill Lisa’s vision of having a charity to help terminal cancer patients create ever-lasting memories. The charity’s aim is to offer a range of different experiences for those with cancer including: beauty treatments and pamper packages; photo shoots and capturing memories; Red letter excursions and bespoke individual interest events.
For more information about the charity visit www.lisasarmy.co.uk and to donate to the cycle ride visit, https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/charity-cycle-ride
