In November 2020 we lost our amazing friend Rory at the age of 28 due to complications from a failed stem cell transplant, following six intense months of treatment for a rare form of leukaemia.

Rory had a passion and dedication for his work as a civil engineer and always had a keen fondness for bridges, something which his University friends took great pleasure in joking with him about. Rory was also a keen cyclist and had completed several multi day cycles as well as completing triathlons.

When we heard that his employers Vinci were putting a plaque in memory of him on the bridge on the M4 which he had been working on upon his diagnosis, we knew as a group of university friends that we had to cycle from Newcastle to the bridge in memory of him.

So a group of us will be setting off from Castle Leazes student halls in Newcastle and cycling over 300 miles to the M4 outside Reading over four days this Easter. All money raised will go towards Blood Cancer UK, a charity which helped Rory enormously following his diagnosis with Leukaemia, and one that he had plans to do his own fundraising for.

Please help us in raising as much as possible to support a cause which is so close to all of our hearts. Your support means a lot. We would love if anyone wants to join us en route and look forward to seeing familiar faces on the bridge Easter Monday.

Thank you

Tom Preene
Jarlath McAteer
Darren Marshall
Alex Pearce Alvarado
Nicola Bassett
Benedict James
Alex Smith
Holly McCarthy 
George Taylor
Robbie Hoare
Sarah Duckworth