Geoff Thomas and Brewin Dolphin staff visit leukaemia centre ahead of 500km bike ride.
Nine employees of national wealth management firm Brewin Dolphin, who are set to cycle 500km from London to Paris to raise funds for blood cancer charity Cure Leukaemia this week, visited the Centre for Clinical Haematology at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham to see how their fundraising will help save lives.
Brewin Dolphin are headline sponsors of the event that will see nearly 200 cyclists, led by former footballer, blood cancer survivor and Cure Leukaemia Patron Geoff Thomas, ride from Greenwich to Paris from May 19th–22nd. Brewin Dolphin’s COO Thomas Lack was joined by eight colleagues from across the country for a visit of the internationally renowned leukaemia Centre that is supported by Cure Leukaemia.
Cure Leukaemia Co-Founder Professor Charlie Craddock CBE, who will be taking part in the ride, spoke about the impact the fundraising from the London to Paris ride will make to patients battling blood cancer and described how the planned £3 millon capital project to develop the Centre to establish the Birmingham Institute of Haematology will help hasten progress towards finding cures for all blood cancers.
19-year-old Jaymz Goodman from Telford in Shropshire has T-Cell acute lymphoblastic lymphoma and has recently shared his story to inspire all the riders taking part in the cycling event:
Jaymz also attended the visit and was keen to express his gratitude for their fundraising. He said: “I am immensely grateful to Brewin Dolphin and all the cyclists taking part in London to Paris for Cure Leukaemia. I was a keen cyclist before I was diagnosed so it would have been an event I would have loved to take part in!”
“Leukaemia, in whatever form, is a horrible disease – it ruins lives and it kills. I am lucky, I’m currently in remission but I lost a friend who had the same diagnosis as me a few months ago. Hopefully luck will no longer be a factor if more funds are raised for Cure Leukaemia.”
Former England, Crystal Palace and Wolves footballer Geoff Thomas was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia in 2003. Since Geoff was declared in remission in 2005 he has dedicated his life to raising funds for leukaemia charities. He said: “London to Paris is a very special event. Everyone who takes part has a once in a lifetime experience and a huge amount of fun but it also raisies vital funds for a fantastic cause. Cure Leukaemia can help find effective treatments for all blood cancers within our lifetime and I hope the cyclists keep that inspirational goal with them throughout the ride and beyond.”
Thomas Lack, who is based in Brewin Dolphin’s London office said: “It was a truly inspirational visit to the Centre for Clinical Haematology. Professor Craddock spoke so passionately about how our fundraising will directly benefit patients with blood cancer and help progress towards finding a cure. Hearing from Jaymz was humbling and his story and bravery will help keep us going during the ride.”
“Brewin Dolphin are proud to be fundraising and cycling for such a fantastic charity in Cure Leukaemia and we are very excited to set off from Greenwich on May 19th.”
Jaymz has recorded a personal message of good luck for the Brewin Dolphin riders that can be viewed here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrNOMT7QrBA