Sponsored bike ride for Shoreham girl

Ten months of fundraising for little Darcey Stride will end with a sponsored bike ride back to Shoreham from its namesake village in Kent.
Ben Stride, who is undertaking the bike ride, with his daughters Darcey and Neeley. Photo by Liz Pearce. SUS-150728-184455008Ben Stride, who is undertaking the bike ride, with his daughters Darcey and Neeley. Photo by Liz Pearce. SUS-150728-184455008
Ben Stride, who is undertaking the bike ride, with his daughters Darcey and Neeley. Photo by Liz Pearce. SUS-150728-184455008

Seven-year-old Darcey, from Shoreham Beach, has four-limb cerebral palsy and is having a spinal operation to help her get around without the aid of her walker.

The operation – a selective rorsal rhizotomy, or SDR – is not available on the NHS and will be carried out at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

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Darcey’s family have been raising funds for the operation, and the physiotherapy that will follow, through a variety of events – and dad Ben is now preparing to ride the 60 miles from Shoreham, Kent, back to Shoreham, West Sussex.

Darcey’s mum, Chantal, said: “We are really excited about the bike ride. This was one of the first fundraising plans and it has ended up being the last event, but I feel it will be a great finale to the fundraising.

“My husband is doing the bike ride and I will be there at the start with Darcey and our other daughter Neely to see them off.”

The ride will start at 8am on Sunday, May 22, from the Filston Lane car park in Shoreham, Kent, and will finish at the Giant bicycle shop at Ropetackle, Shoreham.

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Ben said: “We would like to thank Rod and Maria from the Giant Shoreham team who are hosting the ride finish and are kindly providing the riders with refreshments. They will be putting flags out on the day, and before the event they are helping to publicise the ride.”

Ahead of the ride, Chantal paid tribute to everyone who had supported the family. “The fundraising over the last ten months has been a lot of hard work and we have been overwhelmed by the kindness of family, friends and complete strangers,” she said. “Shoreham is a great community and the support we have received is really appreciated.”

For more information about how to donate visit the Facebook page www.facebook.com/SDRforDarcey or email [email protected]

Darcey’s fundraising website can be found at www.gofundme.com/SDRforDarcey

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