Robert Parkhouse
Rob's York2Pompey page
Fundraising for Pompey In The Community
Story
This time last year around 20 lads, united by a shared love of Portsmouth Football Club, cycled 300 miles to raise money in memory of a little boy who died of a brain tumour.
This year they're doing it again including me !
We are cycling more than 300 miles from York to Pompey to raise money for eight
charities - seven local to Portsmouth and one in York.
This time there are more than 30 riders and we will leave Pompey on a coach on April 28 and then, from April 29 to May 2, we ride back home, arriving in time to see Pompey's last home game of the season: against York City FC.
About the charities:
The Elizabeth Foundation, Portsmouth
We
facilitate early diagnosis for babies and pre-school children with all
degrees of deafness and provide comprehensive educational and support
services for them and their families. By doing so we enable these
children to develop their listening and spoken language skills, as well
as build their self-esteem and give parents the confidence and knowledge
to make informed decisions on behalf of their child.
Jack’s First Steps
Jack
and Charlie Simms were born eight weeks early on July 13, 2010. The
first year was about Charlie, who had to endure a number of operations,
but the twin’s parents soon realised Jack wasn’t progressing as he
should.
In
May 2012 he was diagnosed with spastic diplegic Cerebral Palsy, and has
to wear a lycra suit for his posture, have splints to help with his
balance, and use sticks or a walker to move.
The
only chance he has of walking unaided is by having a Selective Dorsal
Rhizotomy operation, which is only available in Missouri. His parents
are currently trying to raise the £66,000 to get him there and pay for
the procedure, equipment and rehabilitative physiotherapy.
Sam’s Haven
Set
up by Paul and Louise Merrick after their late son Sam spent many happy
holidays at Haven Holiday Park in West Sussex, Sam’s Haven provides
respite breaks for terminally or chronically ill children being treated
at Portsmouth’s Queen Alexandra Hospital.
The
charity raises money constantly throughout the year to pay for the
caravan’s upkeep and fees, and to provide four to five day breaks for up
to 15 families a year - more, if fundraising allows.
Harbour Cancer Support
Based
in Gosport, Harbour Cancer Support gives practical and emotional
support to anyone who has been affected by cancer, whether they are
someone who has been diagnosed with the disease or their family, carers
and friends.
The
service offers a safe haven overlooking Portsmouth Harbour for people
to spend time in a calm environment, where trained staff and volunteers
are on hand to listen, give advice and help in finding information. The
organisation also offers a befriending service, counselling,
complementary therapies and support for children.
Kitbags and Berets
Kitbags
and Berets is part of the Alzheimer’s Society, and it is an activity
group that specifically helps former service personnel live with
dementia. The Portsmouth group enables like-minded people to get
together and share their experiences in a relaxed environment at the
John Pounds Centre, such as veterans with dementia, their family, carers
and friends.
Pompey In The Community & Pompey Supporters’ Trust
PITC:
Formerly part of Portsmouth Football Club but now a stand-alone charity
which retains close ties to the club, PITC’s ethos is simple - to get
people moving, to promote health, and to contribute to educational
standards across the city.
PST:
As well as being the majority shareholder in Portsmouth Football Club,
the PST supports a number of fan groups and initiatives. Money raised
through the York2Pompey cycle ride will be used to fund a number of
PST-led specific community projects that use Fratton Park and the
football club as a focal point.
Two of the projects benefitting from our fundraising in this area will include the Disabled Supporters’ Association and the Pompey Pals project.
DSA: The money will be used on practical ways to help and assist disabled supporters attending matches at Fratton Park
Pompey
Pals: To help fund a series of projects and events commemorating the
battalions of soldiers recruited from around Fratton Park who served in
World War One.