Action Medical Research would like to thank all the cyclists who make Action 100 a success.

Since the ride started in 1982, you have raised over £850,000 for the charity and our work funding medical breakthroughs.

13 June 2008

Small changes to help you reach your goal – Solicitor helps Charity ride during Bike Week

A solicitor is helping a Charity to recruit riders for their bike event during Bike Week to help them raise awareness of the benefits that cycling can make to your life.  And to add weight to her appeal, Marina Van Vessem who is a partner with Barcan Woodward has agreed to challenge herself and complete the 100 mile ride herself.   

Marina is taking part in the Action 100 Bike Ride for the first time this year on Sunday 24th August 2008 to help raise funds for the Charity, Action Medical Research.  Marina’s company also sponsors the charity event which challenges ordinary people to cycle one hundred miles from Bristol to London in one day. 

Marina said “Our Company and Action Medical Research both work with very similar aims – we try to help people get better and make life better for them following an accident, disease or trauma.”  Barcan Woodward provide a holistic service to those who have suffered injury, including many cyclists which reflects their keen interest in this sport.  They not only help them claim compensation but also help them receive the correct treatment following an accident and if they are unable to return to work will support them to retrain for a new vocation where possible.

Marina also has a personal motivation to take part in the ride – “After a serious back operation several years ago, I am keen to use this event as a goal to see if I can actually cycle one hundred miles in one day!  I have persuaded my husband to take part in the event with me and together we have been making small changes each week to try to make the process of preparing for the ride a change for life.   And it has really improved our quality of life.  Now we cycle in the evenings and have discovered lots of lovely little lanes and pubs in our local area which we wouldn’t have found in the car.”

Marina used to take the train to work each day but due to the opening of a lovely new Sustrans bike path in her area, she now cycles to work when she can and takes the train home, gradually building her cycling up week by week. 
Marina will be helping volunteers of Action Medical Research to help recruit riders at the Bike Breakfast on Wednesday 17th June 2007 from 7.30am until 9.30am.

You could improve your life and the lives of others, by signing up for the Action 100 Bike Ride.  Over 650 riders from Bristol took part in the Action 100 Bike Ride in 2007 raising over £50,000 in vital funding for medical research.

The Action 100 Bike Ride, which helps raise vital funds to improve the health and quality of life of people in the UK by supporting groundbreaking medical research, challenges amateur cyclists throughout the UK to complete a 100-mile bike ride from Bath and Bristol to London in aid of the good cause. 

To secure your place on the Action 100 Bike Ride on Sunday August 24th, call Roy Clarke on 0117 973 6993 or visit the website at www.action100ride.org.uk.

15 May 2008

Rider returns to event after 20 years to help “Touch Tiny Lives”

A loyal cyclist is taking part in the Action 100 Bike Ride this year, twenty years after he first took part in the event.  Bristol-based Chris Adams who runs Adams Consultancy, was first motivated to take part in the Charity one hundred mile ride in 1987 after his son, Russell was born at Southmead Hospital and needed care in the Special Baby Care Unit there.  Thankfully, Russell is now a healthy adult but Chris is mindful of the need to continue to raise funds to help babies receive special care in their first months of life. 

Leading medical research charity, Action Medical Research is appealing for other cyclists to take part in their annual Charity ride - the Action 100 Bike Ride on Sunday 24th August 2008 and help raise funds to help babies in their first few moments in life. 

A staggering twenty five babies still dies each day in the UK after being born too soon and Chris is all too aware of the problems affecting parents today. Chris said “I wanted to really get behind the event this year and needed a challenge in the year that I turn 50, so I’ve entered a company team called the Haggis Hunters and my colleagues Barry Pope, David Ewens and Mark Wilson will all take part in the ride with me to help raise vital funds for the Touching Tiny Lives campaign.”

Touching Tiny Lives hopes to find answers to premature birth, the problems affecting pregnancy and those affecting new born babies.  The charity is looking for cyclists looking for a challenge. Riders still have 3 sunny months to prepare for the event and can receive help and support from the organisers in conjunction with local groups, clubs and companies.  

 

14 February 2008                  

Bristol Solicitors take on 100 Mile Challenge – in more than one way

Bristol-based firm Barcan Woodward Solicitors have recently signed a deal which will provide support to the annual Action 100 Bike Ride and encourage more people to make the Ride their “big event” for this year.

The Action 100 Bike Ride runs annually on the August bank holiday weekend, (this year on Sunday 24th August), from Bath and Bristol to London to raise funds for the UK’s leading medical research charity, Action Medical Research.  Having raised over £55,000 from the 2007 Ride, the Charity is now setting its sights on raising at least £60,000 in 2008.

The Action 100 Bike Ride challenges ordinary cyclists to cycle 100 miles in one day for Action Medical Research, which funds research into a wide range of conditions that have touched the lives of everyone. 

Richard Barcan, Partner at Barcan Woodward Solicitors, said “Action Medical Research’s work is very close to our hearts, as we deal daily with families who have been devastated by problems at the birth of their child, or who have had to deal with tragic accidents and injuries. Supporting the Action 100 Bike Ride, one of the main fundraisers for the Charity, is a great honour for us, and since many of us at Barcan Woodward are keen cyclists ourselves, it is a natural fit. We are certainly looking forward to taking part in the big event!”

The pioneering research funded by the charity resulted in many breakthroughs, such as the recent development of a new form of treatment for those suffering from epilepsy and a new device to track the heart rate of the unborn child whilst in the mother’s womb. Local research in Bath and Bristol includes finding answers to osteoporosis, MRSA, hydrocephaulus, feeding problems in premature babies and developing a seat for severely disabled children.

22 January 2008

New heart rate monitor charity appeals to cyclists to take part in the charity ride

Leading medical research charity, Action Medical Research is appealing for cyclists to take part in their annual Charity ride, the Action 100 Bike Ride on Sunday 24th August 2008 and help raise funds for projects such as the Heart rate monitor helping babies in their first few moments in life. 

A staggering one in ten babies needs some form of resuscitation at birth to get them breathing properly.  Midwives often have to resuscitate the baby by hand and keep stopping to listen to the baby’s heart with a stethoscope.  Now researchers at Action Medical Research have developed a hands-free heart rate sensor placed on the baby’s head under a tiny hat.  The monitor is at a test stage now but researchers hope that the new heart rate monitor will eventually benefit every baby born who needs resuscitation at birth – which is currently 70,000 each year.

This project is funded by the Charity with its Touching Tiny Lives campaign.  Touching Tiny Lives hopes to find answers to premature birth, the problems affecting pregnancy and those affecting new born babies. 

The charity is looking for enthusiastic individuals looking for a challenge for the New Year. Riders have 8 months to prepare for the event and can receive help and support from the organisers in conjunction with local groups, clubs and companies.   In 2007 the Action 100 Bike Ride raised over £47,000 for vital medical research projects in the UK.

To register for the ride online, visit www.action100ride.org.uk or contact Roy Clark on 0117 973 6993 or email registration@action100ride.org.uk.

 

7 August 2007

Bristol Charity Cyclist aims to lose a few pounds but gain some funds for Charity on the way!

Bristolian cyclist, David Chidgey  is taking part in a one hundred mile Charity event; the Action 100 Bike Ride, from Bristol and Bath to London, for the first time and with some very personal motivations.  David was first asked to take part in the Charity cycle ride by his gym buddies at the local Fitness First gym.

David has had many reasons to support this event… He is keen to find out how far he has come since embarking on a fitness programme at Fitness First which started in January 2005 and has helped him drop a massive 5 and a half stone in weight from 23 to 17!  With a significant change in body shape from a 46 to a 38 inch waist, David hopes to continue with his weight loss programme and find out how he fairs in the Action 100 Bike ride by the time he finishes at Chobham Rugby club on Sunday 26th August.

Having not owned a bicycle for over 20 years, David was forced to make an investment in one to help his training programme for the day.  David says “It was a clear cut decisions that I made and I am sure the correct one.  I suffer with slight asthma and so does my brother and sister and two nieces.  My late mother was also a chronic asthmatic, in fact, it was the final undoing of her.  I am now 54 years old and will keep going as long as my body allows. I only wish I had started cycling ten years ago ”  Action Medical Research aims to find answers to a whole host of disabilities and diseases and asthma has been one that it has invested many hundreds of thousands of pounds into.

Having raised over £67,000 from the 2006 ride, the Charity is now setting its sights on £75,000 this year.  The Action 100 bike ride challenges ordinary cyclists to cycle 100 miles for Action Medical Research, which funds research into a wide range of conditions. 

23 July 2007

Bristol Charity Cyclist hopes to give a little back…

Bristolian cyclist, Guy Powell is taking part in a one hundred mile Charity event, the Action 100 Bike Ride, from Bristol and Bath to London, for the first time after reading about it in the Bristol Evening Post over the years. 

Guy, who is 36 years old and lives in Winterbourne, is keen to give something back after he underwent open heart surgery in the summer of 1987 for a congenital hole in the heart.  Just 16 years of age when he had his operation, Guy is very aware of the many machines and procedures that were in place during his ? hour operation through the work done with medical research in the UK. 

Guy says “without this research I'm sure that my condition would have gone unnoticed and with time I would have not been able to enjoy the active life I so much enjoy today.  Perhaps this ride is not only a fund raising event for me but also a way to say thank you for all the hard work and commitment over the years that Medical Research has done for people like myself.” 

Action Medical Research aims to find answers to a whole host of disabilities and diseases and although is not directly involved in heart research, has funded the pioneering research which created the design and production of a new device to track the heart rate of the unborn child whilst in the mother’s womb .

Having raised over £67,000 from the 2006 ride, the Charity is now setting its sights on £75,000 this year on Sunday 26th August 2007.  The Action 100 bike ride challenges ordinary cyclists to cycle 100 miles for Action Medical Research, which funds research into a wide range of conditions. 

6 June 2007

Bristol dad of prem twins accepts 100 Mile Challenge

Cyclist, Dave Jones will be riding his first Action 100 Bike Ride from Bristol to London this year after feeling inspired after reading about it in the Bristol Evening Post.

This year’s 26th Action 100 Ride will be held on bank holiday Sunday August 26th. The event raises funds for the charity Action Medical Research and organisers are hoping to exceed last year’s sponsorship total of £67,000.

Electrician Dave, 37, who lives in Yate, said “I only bought my bike just before Christmas and already I ride about 30 miles a day with my mate Alan. I used to be a keen motorcyclist, but I find cycling much more fun these days. It’s also a better way of keeping fit.  When I saw the article about the Ride in the Evening Post, and realised that the event helps to raise money to fund research into the kind of problems my boys had when they were born, I knew that I had to accept the challenge and sign up. The doctors and nurses at Southmead did such a great job for the boys and I thought this would be a fitting way of saying thank you for what they did for them.”

Dave is a father of two boys, Ryan, 14, and Ross, 10, both of whom were born prematurely at Southmead Hospital.  Ryan, who arrived six weeks early, weighed only 2lbs 7ozs at birth and his brother, Ross arrived 10 days early and weighed 4lbs 3 ozs.

Dave said “Ryan and Ross have not suffered in any way as a result of being born prematurely and both of them live a full and active lives and are keen rugby players, playing for Cleve Rugby Club.”  They, together with mum Hayley, will be helping Dave find sponsors for the Ride with the aim of helping Action Medical Research give vulnerable babies the best possible start in life.

23 May 2007

Charity Cyclist makes history with his grandson who beats all the odds

Grandfather, Mike Martin is taking part in a one hundred mile Charity event, the Action 100 Bike Ride, from Bristol and Bath to London, and will this year, make history by riding with his grandson, Sam.  However, although it’s not Mike’s first time riding the event, in fact it’s his seventh, this year is the most special. 

Mike first participated in the bike ride in 1990 and probably completed some five or six events before retiring after a heart attack and by-pass surgery in 1997/98.   

Mike says “At the time the event was sponsored by Audi and it was referred to as the AUDI 100 bike ride.   As the Audi Dealer for the Basingstoke area, Mike organised a team of entrants from the dealership.”

Mike also had a disabled grandson born in 1991, suffering from cerebral palsy resulting from premature birth, which left him diaplegic. He was unable to walk until nearly four years of age and only learned to walk after intense physiotherapy and other non orthodox therapies including Cranial Osteopathy, walking aids and masses of love and dedication from his family and many dedicated agencies.

When Mike completed his last Action 100 Bike Ride in 1997, Sam was just six years old and was able to accompany Mike for the last 200 or so yards on a tricycle.  IN that year, Mike made him a proposition that when he was 16 years olds that they would ride the course together.
Now, this year, Sam will be 16 and he has developed into a strong, resourceful and handsome young man albeit with some residual disability.  However, he has never forgotten that one day he and Mike would complete the Action 100 Bike Ride together, and this year, that time has come.

Action Medical Research is currently fundraising for a campaign called Touching Tiny Lives to try to find answers to the problem of premature birth and the problems affecting pregnancy and riders can choose to raise funds for this campaign. 

Having raised over £67,000 from the 2006 ride, the Charity is now setting its sights on £75,000 this year.  The Action 100 bike ride challenges ordinary cyclists to cycle 100 miles for Action Medical Research, which funds research into a wide range of conditions. 

The pioneering research funded by the charity resulted, last year alone, in breakthroughs such as finding a new form of treatment for those suffering from epilepsy and also a new device to track the heart rate of the unborn child whilst in the mother’s womb.

2 March 2007

Bristol TV Doctor encourages cycling for Charity

Presenter of the BBC2 television series “Don’t Die Young” Dr Alice Roberts is supporting the call for riders to take part in this year’s Charity one hundred mile challenge – The Action 100 Bike Ride.  Dr Roberts who is a Lecturer in Anatomy at the University of Bristol and herself cycles 8 miles each day, recently agreed to front the Charity campaign and encourage more people to make the Action 100 Bike Ride their “big event” for 2007.

The Action 100 bike ride takes place annually on August bank holiday weekend from Bath and Bristol to London to raise funds for the UK’s leading medical research charity, Action Medical Research.  Having raised over £67 thousand from the 2006 ride, the Charity is now setting its sights on raising even more funds in 2007.

The Action 100 bike ride challenges ordinary cyclists to cycle 100 miles for Action Medical Research, which funds research into a wide range of conditions. 

Dr Alice Roberts said “Only one in five of us is getting the amount of exercise that our bodies need to stay healthy.  In modern Western society, physical activity has become optional – relegated to a hobby.  If we’re to keep ourselves active and healthy, we need to find ways of introducing exercise into our daily lives and cycling is a great way of doing that.”

The pioneering research funded by the charity resulted, last year alone, in breakthroughs such as finding a new form of treatment for those suffering from epilepsy and also a new device to track the heart rate of the unborn child whilst in the mother’s womb.

The Action 100 Bike Ride helps us raise vital funds to improve the health and quality of life of people in the UK by supporting groundbreaking medical research.

It challenges amateur cyclists throughout the UK to complete a 100-mile bike ride from Bath and Bristol to London in aid of the cause.

But it's not just the cyclists who make this event special. Behind the scenes dedicated volunteers give up their time year in year out. Jennifer Reid, the Community Fundraising Manager for Action Medical Research in the South West said: "As a charity we are lucky that all our volunteers are very enthusiastic, imaginative and successful fundraisers"

The charity is always looking for new volunteers, people who can lend their time or expertise with current fundraising events, and thinking up new ideas. If you would like to get involved, contact Community Fundraising Manager, Jennifer Reid, on 01179 355 040
or email: jreid@action.org.uk.