Public thanked as Tour de Connor raises £35,100 for charity
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| Sam Cunningham, Rev Andrew Ker, and the Rev Bill Boyce, celebrate the success of their St Brigid's Tour de Connor in raising £35,100 for Friends of the Cancer Centre. |
CYCL1STS who recently passed through Lisburn as part of the 'Tour de Connor' challenge have thanked the people across the Connor Diocese who helped raise £35,100 for the Friends of the Cancer Centre.
Rev Bill Boyce, rector of St Brigid's, Mallusk; curate, the Rev Andrew Ker, and parishioner Sam Cunningham cycled 351 miles over six days, calling at every church in the Diocese. As well as raising money for the Friends of the Cancer Centre, the cycle was also a tribute to Bill's wife Sandra, who died on June 6 last year after her own battle with cancer. At every stop the cyclists picked up a List of Remembrance containing the names of those cancer victims remembered in each parish.
The end result was a Book of Remembrance containing hundreds of names which was dedicated by the Archbishop of Armagh Alan Harper at a Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving in St Brigid's on June 6. Archbishop Harper, who gave the address, said: "I cannot think of a more positive and creative response to something as tragic as losing your spouse than to put all of your energies into fighting the disease that took her and great credit to Bill and all taking part in the Tour de Connor, and to the people of Mallusk who have supported their rector so generously, especially in this last difficult year. It is a great privilege to be here."
Gordon McKeown, Chairman of the Friends of the Cancer Centre, said the money raised by the Tour de Connor team had been 'absolutely fantastic.'
Rev Andrew Ker, who organised the event described it was a 'spectacular' week.
"It was wonderful," he said. "The miles disappeared under our wheels. Each morning it was tough going for an hour or so and then we just settled into our rhythm and got on with it."
Donations can be still be made online at www.justgiving.com/Bill-Boyce, telephone donations via calling the Friends of the Cancer Centre on 028 9069 9393, or by cheque, payable to 'Friends of the Cancer Centre', marked on the back with 'Tour de Connor,' to:Friends of the Cancer Centre, Belfast City Hospital, Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7AB.
Ulster Star
18/06/2010
