A team from JCB has begun an 80-day sponsored cycle challenge to support a colleague with cancer who is fundraising to help other children and young people with the disease.
Forty-two workers from the digger maker are taking part in the event to cycle 42,000 kilometres – the equivalent of riding around the world – with the hope of raising £100,000.
The money will go to Hannah’s Hope, a fundraiser set up by welding apprentice Hannah Roberts, aged 20, who has an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Hannah was given just 15 months to live when she was diagnosed with glioblastoma in September 2022, only a few months after joining the company.
She has undergone surgery to remove the cancer, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but a trait of the condition means it keeps re-growing.
With the support of JCB, her family has already reached a £250,000 fundraising target for treatment in the USA when she needs it.
Hannah is now aiming to raise £200,000 to buy and equip a luxury holiday lodge which will be offered free of charge to families of teenagers and young adults who are under the care of the Teenage Cancer Trust to spend valuable time together.
The Around the World in 80 Days cycle challenge began earlier this week when Hannah and her mum Gail Iredale visited JCB’s World Headquarters in Rocester. It will finish on Hannah’s 21st birthday.
Gail said: “JCB have never left our side in whatever we have faced, and we will be forever grateful to Lord Bamford and the many JCB people who have raised funds for us and just shown that they care.
“Now that Hannah has more energy, she wants to give something back and help others. Six teenagers or young adults are given the devastating news they have cancer every day and they really need something to look forward to. We want to make the lodge a place for respite, recuperation and making memories for these families.”
JCB Principal Engineer Aaron Turner, event organiser and a founding member of the JCB Cycling Club, said: “The Bamford family wants to show its continued support for Hannah, and George Bamford, who is a keen cyclist, came up with the Around the World in 80 Days challenge.
“There will be 42 JCB cyclists taking part and it is very much an international effort, with employees from many of our UK factories as well as employees based in Pune, India joining in.
“Over the ten-week challenge we will be clocking up the miles with individual road rides and group outings, including a route to Mercia Marina where Hannah’s lodge will be sited. We’ll also be topping up the miles with spinning classes at the JCB World Headquarters each Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
“Many of the cyclists met with Gail last week and after hearing first hand their inspirational story, we are determined to make a difference for them by raising at least half of Hannah’s £200,000 target.”
The lodge at Mercia Marina, in Willington, Derbyshire, will be just five minutes from Hannah’s home.
Anyone wishing to sponsor the JCB cyclists can donate here.
