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Two teenage cyclists are to lead a team of eight cyclists on a 1000 miles route from Bournemouth to Sardinia in a bid to fundraise over £25,000 to purchase a special minibus for sedcat ( South East Dorset Community Accessible Transport) BAT Bus service. Will Nurse from New Milton and Paul Rickard from Poole, accompanied by family and friends, started their journey from the Castlepoint Shopmobility unit on 2 August and will cycle down through France, Switzerland and Italy.
Fundraising cyclists with supporters and Margaret Nurse (Centre)
The idea for the two week sponsored ride was inspired by the service offered to many people in the area who depend on the specialist transport offered by the charity to the infirm and disabled, including Will’s grandmother Margaret Nurse, a BAT bus member who travels regularly in her power chair to Castlepoint for her weekly shopping needs.
Alison Morrison, Deputy Community Transport Manager for sedcat (South East Dorset Community Accessible Transport), the organisation that operates the 2 BAT Buses, said that so far the 16 year olds have received sponsorship amounting to £6,000.
“We are in desperate need of upgrading our small fleet of mini-buses; there are so many more elderly people in our community who are in desperate need of help with transport. Increasing access to the community is an important step in the battle against loneliness, isolation and depression; once people find the BAT Bus their lives are often much happier and more fulfilled.”
Anyone wishing to sponsor and support Will and Paul should contact Alison Morrison on 01202 598295 or call into the Shopmobility unit at Castlepoint or look online at www.sedcat.org.uk
by admin