Hi, my name is Karen Evans. I am 70 years old and in 2011 I was diagnosed with Marginal Zone Lymphoma.

I was brilliantly looked after by the staff the Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre at Harrogate Hospital and with the love and support of my family and local church i came out the otherside and have been in remission for almost eight years.

All Saints Church , Ripley is a wonderfull Grade II listed building which is over 600 years old (some bits are even older that that!) and is almost my second home! It is always in need of upkeep and care and this year we have fallen very short on fundraising...

Over the summer we would usualy raise approximately £5000 for church funds. This comes from our pop up cafe on a Wednesday which provides wonderful cakes and coffee for passing cyclicists, walkers and visitors. To add to that we raise another £5000 running the most amazing scarecrow festival with Boargler Bill and his friends over the August bank holiday. It would have been our 20th year this year but this year, due to Covid-19, this has not been possible. Boarglar Bill has gone into self isolation taking his frinds with him, so no coffee and cake and no teddies off the tower and no money

So to raise some much needed funds I am cycling from sea to sea - Whitehaven to Tynside, 137 miles, up some serious hills. All being well it should take 4 days. I am setting off on the 21st September.

Your donations will be divided equally between the Sir Robert Ogden Macmillian Centre and All Saints Church. I will be posting updates on my journey so watch this space.

Many thanks for your love and support. Karen