On Sept 7th this year, Penarth Lawn Tennis Club member Alan Cozens will be cycling approx. 200 miles from Bangor in North Wales to Penarth, using Wales National Cycle Route 8, arriving back Sept 10th. The aim is to raise as much money and awareness as possible for Velindre Hospital Cardiff and Marie Curie’s Holme Tower hospice in Penarth.

The original idea for the ride came about when club member, and well known Penarthian, Stuart Munro (Hoss) was receiving exceptional palliative care for Cancer at Holme Tower Penarth which would sadly result in Stuart’s untimely passing in Jan 2021. At this time, Stuart gave Alan his bike with a request that it was to be used to raise money for the fight against cancer. Covid got in the way of plans last year, but everything is now in place for September and Hoss’s bike will be used by Alan throughout on the challenge.

Sadly, cancer was to strike again in October 2021 with club chairman Pete Jones, another well known Penarthian, sadly passing after a very long battle with this cruel disease. As a result, the club decided to join with Velindre Cancer Centre as it’s chosen charity partner for 2022/23.

Discussing the fundraising challenge with Gill Munro and Jan Jones, widows of Stuart and Peter, it was agreed that we would aim to try and raise equal amounts for the two charities. In order to do this we would ask you kindly to please split your donations equally between our two events if you are happy to do so. Please donate as much as possible to these two important and wonderful centres of excellence for the treatment of and care for cancer patients.

Alan commented “I got to know both Hoss and Pete through the tennis club and we became firm friends. Both had a huge zest for life and this shone through as they battled so bravely against their illnesses, as it did in everything they did for the tennis club, as both members and Chairmen. It’s an honour to be doing this challenge to raise much needed funds in their name and in particular in response to Hoss’s request.”

More information on the two charities can be found using the following links

Velindre

Marie Curie