Our Oxford branch is proud to support the remarkable 300-mile cycling challenge undertaken by Kelly & Anna's Heroes, a group dedicated to raising funds for local charities. The challenge was in aid of Helen & Douglas House Hospice and Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) Oxfordshire and has so far raised £8,000.
Kelly & Anna's Heroes, founded in 2016, is a group of passionate individuals from Oxfordshire driven by the memory of Kelly Pope, a vibrant and beloved lady taken too soon. The team, led by Kelly's brother Garry Trinder and Darren Kinch, assistant branch manager at our Oxford branch, embarked on this journey to honour Kelly's legacy and make a positive impact on their community.
Over the past seven years, the Heroes have conquered various long-distance routes, raising an impressive total of over £46,000 for local charities.
The most recent challenge took place between Thursday 14th September and Saturday 16th September. The Heroes pedalled their way from Liverpool Football Club’s Anfield ground to Oxford United Football Club's Kassam Stadium, covering more than 300 miles in just three days.
Darren Kinch, assistant branch manager at Grant & Stone, commented:
"Our first cycle ride was from London to Brighton, and we raised over £6,000. We’ve gone on to cycle from Oxford to Poole completing 100 miles in one day, Oxford to Paris in three days, and Banbury to Blackpool in two days, raising a further £30,000. Last year, we cycled from Broughton Castle to Land’s End, covering a total of 330 miles in three days for a local charity that supports members of our community dealing with dementia, and raised £9,455.
“As passionate supporters of Oxford United, this year we based our cycling challenge around football, hitting 14 stadiums before finishing at the Kassam. We have already raised £8,000, and we would like to thank everyone who has supported us and donated, including a generous contribution from Grant & Stone. Everyone’s charitable support will help make a significant difference in the lives of those facing life's most challenging circumstances.”
Helen & Douglas House helps local families cope with the challenges of looking after a terminally ill baby or child who will die prematurely. The hospice is filled with laughter, whilst also being a peaceful place where families can create happy memories in their last days, weeks, months or years together.
Motor Neurone Disease is a devastating illness that swiftly attacks the motor neurones, leading to muscle weakness and wasting and has no cure. MNDA Oxfordshire is entirely run by volunteers and aims to provide the best possible support to local people with MND, their carers and their families.
Donations to Kelly & Anna's Heroes can still be made by visiting their GoFundMe page - https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-kelly-and-annas-heroes.
During the recent challenge, the Kelly & Anna’s Heroes team cycled to stadiums of the following football clubs:
Thursday 14th September
Liverpool, Everton, Wigan Athletic, Bolton Wanderers, Manchester United and Manchester City.
Friday 15th September
Mansfield Town, Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest, Notts County, Derby County and Leicester City.
Saturday 16th September
Northampton Town, MK Dons and Oxford United.