Devon Cricket Board - Orchard saddling up for 280-mile charity ride

Orchard saddling up for 280-mile charity ride

PLYMSTOCK cricketer Dave Orchard is going to be fully fit for the new season as he is about to embark on a 280-mile bike ride for charity.
Orchard is saddling up on Thursday morning to ride from his Plymouth home to St Albans in Hertfordshire.
The aim of the ride is to raise money for a hospital and charity supporting his six-year-old niece, who suffers from a rare genetic disorder.
Bessie Davies, who lives in St Albans, was only four when she was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis.
Within weeks of an MRI scan revealing brain tumours and optic nerve tumours, Bessie had deteriorated from having mild symptoms like pins and needles in her arm, to being unable to get out of bed, falling over all the time and ultimately being confined to a wheelchair.
She was referred to Great Ormond Street Hospital for a course of chemotherapy and physiotherapy to treat tumours on her brain and optic nerves to try and get her back on her feet.
Orchard is aiming to cover the 280 miles in four days to raise money for Great Ormond Street and the Neuro Foundation, which has given Bessie’s family invaluable support.
Friends and family are joining Orchard on the ride – as will a teddy bear mascot donated by Bessie.
The target is to ride 80 miles a day and to finish on Sunday lunchtime.
Said Orchard: ‘I really wanted to do something to help.
‘Bessie has been so brave and is a real inspiration to us all.
‘I’ve been training whenever I can, even cycling the Great Ocean Road when I was holiday in Australia recently so hopefully we’ll make her very proud.’
The fund raising has gone really well so far with around £10,000 already pledged.
To help victims of this little-known condition, visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/dudu08 and make a donation.

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