Coast to coast for CLIC Sargent
Matt and Caroline Loughrey plan their latest
challenge
Since Emily Loughrey's death, her
parents Matt and Caroline and youngest daughter Jessica, 22, along
with family and friends, have been raising money for CLIC
Sargent.
Matt, 47, who works at Brompton
Academy in Gillingham, has already completed two epic bike rides in
Emily’s memory.
The first was 1,000 miles from Land's
End to John O’Groats in 2008. Matt, Jessica and six friends, set
off on what would have been Emily’s 23rd birthday and reached the
other end of the country 10 days later on the first anniversary of
her death.
In 2009, Matt got back on his bike to
cycle 1,300 miles from Chatham to Gilbratar, along with three
friends.
On his next feat, in March, Matt
will be cycling on his own across America, with just his wife
Caroline, 46, in a support vehicle, travelling up to 160 miles a
day.
The Loughrey family hope to raise
£25,000 which could pay for a CLIC Sargent nurse to work in Medway
for a year and bring their total to £100,000.
Matt said: "Coast to coast across
America is the ultimate challenge for a cyclist. I will be cycling
for 20 days, with just one rest day in the middle.
"I'm apprehensive about doing it because I
don't want to fail or let Emily down. I want to be able to complete
it in the time I've set myself."
The former Pride in Medway finalist
added: "When we started with the Land's End to John O’Groats bike
ride we didn’t realise how successful it would be in Emily’s
name.
"I think fundraising will always be
part of our family. It helps me cope with Emily’s death. When I’m
on the bike it gives me time to think and I think about Emily a
lot.
"Emily will be on my mind every day
when I travel across America, whispering in my ear and helping to
keep me going."
If you would like to help Matt
reach his target, find out how you can donate by clicking here.
12/01/12
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