Accountant’s quest inspired by colleague’s battle
A Poole accountant is to cycle solo from London to Paris to raise funds for a local cancer charity which helped one of his colleagues.
Alistair Wallace, a Director of BKB Accountants Ltd at Coy Pond Business Park, will set off from the London Eye at 3pm on Sunday June 7th and attempt to reach the French capital in under 30 hours.
His journey begins with a 99-mile cycle to Newhaven, followed by a four-hour ferry trip to Dieppe and then 148 more miles on the bike to Paris.
All sponsorship he receives will go to Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF).
The inspiration behind’s Alistair’s quest is his colleague Trina Pittwood.
Trina, a trainee book-keeper at BKB Accountants, was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2019 at the age of just 31.
The mother-of-two young children from Bournemouth underwent four and half months of chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy and is now taking chemotherapy drugs.
Alistair said: “During Trina’s treatment, I met one of the founders of Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF) Eve Went.
“Eve told me how the charity helps local families affected by cancer, and I passed her details on to Trina.
“I was thrilled the charity was able to help her and decided I would like to do something to show mine and everyone at BKB’s appreciation.”
Dorset Cancer Care Foundation was formed in 2012 and funds financial grants to help Dorset-based cancer patients.
Trina said: “DCCF was great and actually awarded me two grants – one to help pay our bills while I was recovering from surgery and had to reduce my working hours and then another to pay for us to take our eldest daughter to a theme park for her birthday during a break in my treatment.
“The grants were simple to apply for and quick to arrive. DCCF’s help was extremely helpful to us as a family.”
Alistair said: “The cycle to Paris is going to be tough.
“I’ve taken part in long cycling races before and also ultra-marathons, but this will be the furthest I have ever cycled, and I’ll be doing it completely alone and without assistance.
“All my food, clothing, water, spare inner tubes and puncture repair kits will also be packed in a pannier on the bike.
“But hopefully it will be an adventure and people will support me through their sponsorship.”
Trina added: “I’m very grateful to Alistair for doing this ride. He and everyone at work have been so supportive.
“It’s a huge challenge he is undertaking and it feels great to know that his efforts will be helping DCCF to help other families like mine.”
Alistair can be sponsored during his challenge at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/alistair-wallace3
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Tickets are currently available for the DCCF Roaring Twenties Ball at the Hilton Hotel Bournemouth on Saturday June 20. Tickets cost £75pp or a table of 10 is £70pp. Contact: admin@dccf.co.uk
For more information on how to apply for help from DCCF, on how to fundraise for the charity, or to join in one of its other events in 2020 please click here.
