A POLICEMAN is to cycle 136 miles to raise money for a charity and a cancer ward which helped his friends' twins.
Broxtowe police officer Rich Naylor will complete the Coast to Coast cycle challenge from the Cumbrian coast across to Tynemouth in the North-East in just 24 hours in June. He will ride with seven colleagues, including Detective Constable Simon Farndale and PC Martyn Barber.
He is taking on the challenge to raise cash for Sneinton Dale's School for Parents, which caters for children with cerebral palsy and Down's syndrome, and the cancer ward at Nottingham City Hospital. Both have played pivotal roles for close family friends of PC Naylor, Hucknall parents Joanne Cropley and Paul Bent and their three-year-old twins Thea and Noah.
The twins were born prematurely and Thea was diagnosed with cerebral palsy while Noah suffers with a rare cancer.
Joanne said: "It's been non-stop since the twins were born. Our lives have revolved around hospital visits and physio appointments.
"Just when we thought we were making progress into a more normal routine we found out Noah had cancer. It's just been one battle after another, but they are fighters and their strength and smiles keep us going.''
Thea attends School for Parents once a week and Noah is being treated by staff at the children's cancer ward.
Joanne said: "I really don't know where we would be without School for Parents. They have been so good with Thea, helping us to help her reach her full potential and they have also been a great support to our family while we have been dealing with Noah's treatment.
"We also have so much respect and time for the hospital staff. We know just how important it is to have good facilities for the families of those receiving long-term treatment. It's amazing what these people are hoping to do and I can't thank them enough. Their fundraising is going to help a lot of children and their families.''
Mr Bent said: "We are fortunate to have had so much support. When Rich told us what he was planning I thought, 'Great, a bike ride over a few days, I'd like to get involved'. But then he revealed it would be over 24 hours. I thought he'd gone mad.''
The ride starts at 8pm on June 18 at Whitehaven, Cumbria, with the finish at 8pm on June 19 at Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear.
