News
Here you will find all the latest news for this event.
- £100,000 target for 1,000-mile cyclists
- Children's charity challenge brings soap star cycling in
- Actor Stops to Get Cash
- Peddle Power For Dobbie and 'Angry Andy'!!!
- Cycling a 'Crazy' 1,000 miles to make wishes come true
- 1,000-Mile Trek in Aid of Cycle of Wishes for Ill Children
- Bad boy Sugden and Dobby set for a ride of their lives MOTO magazine
- ‘Angry Andy’ all set for 1,000-mile ride Oldham Chronicle
- Cycle of Wishes on Heart FM
- Dale star's bikeathon
- A cycle of wishes for Emmerdale star
£100,000 target for 1,000-mile cyclists
Published:19 June 2008 www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk ArticleA FORMER moto-cross world champion has completed a gruelling 1,000-mile charity cycle ride alongside a television soap star.
Jamie Dobb, who won the 125cc title in 2001, and Kelvin Fletcher, who plays Andy Sugden in ITV's Emmerdale, rode from Barcelona to Castle Donington to raise money for the Make A Wish Foundation.
Both completed the journey in 10 days and admitted to feeling both relieved and emotional at crossing the finish line at Donington Park yesterday evening.
Jamie, who was the last Brit to win a moto-cross world championship and lives in Tonge, near Melbourne, said: “It felt good crossing the line. It was pretty emotional, in all honesty. We have all come through a lot together and me and Kelv even had a couple of injuries to deal with as well.
“We just hope that we have helped raise as much money as possible for the charity, which is what this was all about.”
The group of 14 riders set off from Barcelona on June 9 and cycled a route which crossed the Pyrenees, went through France to Le Havre, across the Channel to Portsmouth and then via Oxford to the East Midlands race circuit.
Also part of the group was Jamie's brother, Julian, 43, of Matlock, and friends Matt Groves, 41, and Finbarr Kneafsey, 30.
Keith Flint, lead singer of group The Prodigy, and MotoGP riders John Hopkins and Marco Melandri also cycled with the group for one day of the challenge, called Cycle of Wishes.
Kelvin said taking part in the race was the most challenging event he has ever completed. “It was unbelievably difficult both physically and emotionally and it is something I have never been through before,” he said.
“There were points when I just couldn't wait for the end to come but then when it did, it was quite weird because I was wishing I was back doing it again. All the guys have been brilliant and the teamwork was fantastic.”
The group spent more than six hours a day in the saddle and hope to raise in excess of £100,000 for the charity, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.
Jamie, who has two daughters – Gracie, two and Laila, six – got involved with Make A Wish when the foundation contacted him to arrange a wish for a young boy called Rhys Grundy, who wanted to ride with his hero.
Although he lost his battle with leukaemia in 2003, Rhys was able to spend time with Jamie and go on trips to Donington Park for the MotoGP. Since then, Jamie has raised more than £100,000 for the charity.
Father-of-two Jamie, who retired from competition in 2004 after racing professionally for more than 18 years, said: “There were a few hiccups along the way but we are all glad to come through.
“I saw at first hand the powerful impact that the granting of a wish can have. Hopefully loads of people will now go to the website and donate.”
To donate, visit www.cycleofwishes.com.
Children's charity challenge brings soap star cycling in
Published:16 June 2008 www.portsmouth.co.uk ArticleSoap star Kelvin Fletcher is coming to Portsmouth as part of a 1,000-mile charity bike ride.
The 10-day challenge has seen the Emmerdale actor cycle from Spain through France.
He was sailing across the Channel to Portsmouth today, before heading through Oxford and on to a final leg through Coventry to Donnington Park.
The cycling challenge is raising funds for the Make a Wish Foundation, a charity that grants magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening illnesses.
Kelvin said: 'Working alongside various charities, I have been privileged to meet some exceptionally brave and courageous children who seem so humble and happy despite their awful circumstances.
'It's then you realise just how precious life is. I've been blessed with good health and want to do as much as I can to help those who have not.'
ACTOR STOPS TO GET CASH
Published:13 June 2008 www.leicestermercury.co.uk ArticleEmmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher is to stop and collect cash during the final stages of a 1,000-mile charity bike ride.
The actor, who plays Andy Sugden in the soap, and four friends are cycling from Barcelona to Donington Park to raise cash for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The trip began on June 9 and the weary bikers are expected to reach the Castle Donington racetrack on Wednesday.
He will stop in Hinckley on Tuesday or Wednesday morning.
All money raised from the trip will go to Make a Wish Foundation, which helps dreams come true for children and young people battling life-threatening illnesses.
Mr Fletcher said: "I am delighted to be raising funds for such a fantastic cause.
"The foundation provides important care to individuals fighting life-threatening illnesses and I aim to make more people aware of the charity."
PEDDLE POWER FOR DOBBIE AND ‘ANGRY ANDY’!!!
Published:10 June 2008 www.tmxnews.co.uk ArticleFormer Moto X World Champion and Derby lad, Jamie Dobb, has teamed up with Emmerdales ‘Angry Andy’ – Kelvin Fletcher for what can only be described as ‘the ride of their lives’.
They are taking to the saddle at the Catalonian Moto GP in Barcelona and will be peddling home to Donnington Park.
This will be an excruciating challenge over ten days, cycling from Spain through France, across the water to home soil in Portsmouth, up through Oxford and on to the final leg going through Coventry onto Donnington Park, where the guys will meet the chequered flag after doing a lap of the circuit, to put an end to a gruelling 1000 mile trip.
This expedition will be to raise much needed funds for Make a Wish Foundation. Make-A-Wish grants magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening illnesses. This year the charity is celebrating 21 years of wish granting. Make-A-Wish was founded in the UK in June 1986 and, since then, they have granted over 4,700 wishes. At any given time, over 20,000 children in the UK are living with life-threatening conditions and our aim is to grant 21 wishes a week by the year 2010.
When asked, Jamie’s thoughts of the trip were, ’having retired from competition in 2004, after racing for over 18 years professionally I realised how fortunate I have been. I am blessed with a beautiful family, I have visited many places, met some great people and I am in good health all this can sometimes be taken for granted. I am excited about the task ahead as it will allow me to give a little back and will help grant a few wishes to people who have been less fortunate.’
Kelvin and Jamie are great friends, when asked how Kelvin intends to get through the massive task ahead he replied, ‘when Jamie asked me to get involved with this trip I didn’t have to think twice about it before saying yes. Over the years, working alongside various charities, I have been privileged to meet some exceptionally brave and courageous children who seem so humble and happy despite their awful circumstances. It's then you realise just how precious life is, and unfortunately, how it's often very cruel.
I've been blessed with good health and want to do as much as I can to help those who have not.'
The lad’s trip ends at Donnington Park on Wednesday the 18th of June…
To help them on their way and support this great event, log onto:- www.cycleofwishes.com Where every penny given can help make a wish come true...
CYCLING A 'CRAZY' 1,000 MILES TO MAKE WISHES COME TRUE
Published:26 May 2008 www.thisisderbyshire.co.ukA Former moto-cross world champion is teaming up with a television soap star to cycle 1,000 miles across Europe in just 10 days.
Jamie Dobb, who won the 125cc title in 2001, and Kelvin Fletcher, who plays Andy Sugden in ITV's Emmerdale, are planning to cycle from Barcelona to Castle Donington to raise money for the Make A Wish Foundation.
Their trip will coincide with the start of the 2008 MotoGP race in Barcelona and they hope to arrive at Donington Park racecourse 10 days later for the next stage of the series.
Also joining the pair on the epic trip is Jamie's brother, Julian, 43, of Matlock, and friends Matt Groves, 41, and Finbarr Kneafsey, 30.
Keith Flint, lead singer of group The Prodigy, and MotoGP riders John Hopkins and Marco Melandri will also cycle with the group for one day of the challenge, called Cycle of Wishes.
Jamie, who is the last Brit to win a moto-cross world championship, said: "I can't wait. It is going to be the trip of a lifetime.
"I have been very fortunate to travel the world and meet many great people."
Jamie, of Tonge, near Melbourne, said all four men had been training hard for the trip - with support and coaching from sports scientist Ben Holliss - which goes across the Pyrenees, through France to Le Havre, across the Channel to Portsmouth and then via Oxford to the East Midlands race circuit.
They will be setting off from Barcelona on June 9 and are due to arrive at Donington on June 18.
Father-of-two Jamie, who retired from competition in 2004 after racing professionally for more than 18 years, said: "I think we are all starting to realise how difficult it is going to be.
"We are under no illusions about how hard this will be but the truth is that Cycle of Wishes will be an absolute pleasure to do when we think about the joy the money and support can bring to the kids."
The group, who will be in the saddle for more than six hours a day, are hoping to raise in excess of £100,000 for the charity, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.
Jamie, who has two daughters - Gracie, two and Laila, six - got involved with Make A Wish when the foundation contacted him to arrange a wish for a young boy called Rhys Grundy, who wanted to ride with his hero.
Although he lost his battle with leukaemia in 2003, Rhys was able to spend time with Jamie and go on trips to Donington Park for the MotoGP.
Since then, Jamie has been involved with the charity and has raised more than £100,000.
He said: "I like doing charity work and I just came up with this crazy idea."
Julian Dobb said: "When Jamie asked me to do this, I jumped at the chance of helping the kids and making a small difference in their lives.
"I am really looking forward to this task, as it will be something that I will remember for years to come."
Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher said: "I've done many things over the years to help raise money for charities but never anything as challenging as this."
To donate, visit www.cycleofwishes.com
For more news, visit http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk
1,000-MILE TREK IN AID OF CYCLE OF WISHES FOR ILL CHILDREN
Published:05 June 2008 www.thisiscornwall.co.uk ArticleA perranporth man is cycling from Barcelona to the UK in just 10 days to raise money for children with life-threatening illnesses.
On Monday Matt Groves, 41, will begin the 1,000-mile trek to Donington Park with a host of celebrities, including soap actor Kelvin Fletcher - aka Andy from Emmerdale.
Matt said: "When my great friend Jamie asked me to take part in the ride-out I thought it would be a great challenge for me mentally and physically."
"I am 41 years old I am a keen cyclist and triathlete and this opportunity will enable me to help raise necessary funds for an excellent cause while helping to improve my personal fitness. I can't wait to get started."
'Cycle of Wishes', for the Make-a-Wish foundation, will snake through the Pyrenees, France, across the channel to Portsmouth and then via Oxford to the Leicestshire race venue.
Matt, Kelvin and former motocross world champion Jamie Dobb will be joined each day by celebrities including Kawasaki's John Hopkins and Ducati's Marco Melandri from the world of MotoGP.
For more news, visit www.thisiscornwall.co.uk
Bad boy Sugden and Dobby set for a ride of their lives
Published:09 June 2008 MOTO magazine ArticleFormer Moto X World Champion and Derby lad, Jamie Dobb, has teamed up with Emmerdales 'Angry Andy' - Kelvin Fletcher for what can only be described as 'the ride of their lives'.
They are taking to the saddle at the Catalonian Moto GP in Barcelona and will be peddling home to Donnington Park.
This will be an excruciating challenge over ten days, cycling from Spain through France, across the water to home soil in Portsmouth, up through Oxford and on to the final leg going through Coventry onto Donnington Park, where the guys will meet the chequered flag after doing a lap of the circuit, to put an end to a gruelling 1000 mile trip.
This expedition will be to raise much needed funds for Make a Wish Foundation. Make-A-Wish grants magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening illnesses. This year the charity is celebrating 21 years of wish granting. Make-A-Wish was founded in the UK in June 1986 and, since then, they have granted over 4,700 wishes. At any given time, over 20,000 children in the UK are living with life-threatening conditions and our aim is to grant 21 wishes a week by the year 2010.
When asked, Jamie's thoughts of the trip were, "having retired from competition in 2004, after racing for over 18 years professionally I realised how fortunate I have been. I am blessed with a beautiful family, I have visited many places, met some great people and I am in good health all this can sometimes be taken for granted. I am excited about the task ahead as it will allow me to give a little back and will help grant a few wishes to people who have been less fortunate."
Kelvin and Jamie are great friends, when asked how Kelvin intends to get through the massive task ahead he replied, "when Jamie asked me to get involved with this trip I didn't have to think twice about it before saying yes. Over the years, working alongside various charities, I have been privileged to meet some exceptionally brave and courageous children who seem so humble and happy despite their awful circumstances. It's then you realise just how precious life is, and unfortunately, how it's often very cruel, I've been blessed with good health and want to do as much as I can to help those who have not."
The lads trip ends at Donnington Park on Wednesday the 18th of June...
To help them on their way and support this great event, log onto: http://www.cycleofwishes.com
‘Angry Andy’ all set for 1,000-mile ride
Published:04 June 2008Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher is taking a screen break from angry character Andy Sugden to raise money for children with life threatening illnesses.
While Andy is busy losing his temper and ruining little daughter Sarah’s birthday next week, in real life Oldham-born Kelvin (24) will be slogging away at a 1,000-mile charity bike ride.
The popular ITV countryside series celebrated its 5,000th episode this week, and Kelvin has been a cast regular since he was 12.
But the Oldham Theatre Workshop-trained actor is saying goodbye to the Yorkshire Dales for nine days from Monday
He is heading for Barcelona and the Catalonian round of the 2008 Moto Grand Prix, where the gruelling bike ride will start.
And on June 18 he hopes to be at Donnington Park, in the East Midlands, in time for the British Grand Prix.
Kelvin, who comes from Derker and lived in Royton as a youngster, will be teaming up with his friend, former Motocross World Champion Jamie Dobb and funds raised will be given to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
The charity grants magical wishes to children and young people with life threatening conditions.
Kelvin, who went to Thorp Primary and North Chadderton schools, and plans to soon move back to Royton to live near his family, hopes to raise around £100,000 with the ride.
He said: “I’ve done work for the charity before and it has been a privilege to meet some of the kids the charity’s helped.
“Jamie was also associated with one of the children who sadly died, so that’s his connection.”
Anyone who wants to sponsor Kelvin or find out more can long on to www.cycleofwishes.com
ALL SET: Actor Kelvin Fletcher, right, swops Emmerdale Farm for his bike as he prepares to head off on a 1,000-mile charity ride with Jamie Dobb
Cycle of Wishes on Heart FM
Published:03 June 2008Today the team visited Heart FM to promote the event....
Dale star's bikeathon
Published:03 June 2008 in The Sun OnlineEMMERDALE hunk Kelvin Fletcher has pulled on his cycling shorts in preparation for a mammoth 1000 mile bike ride for charity next week!
Kelvin, who plays Andy Sugden in the soap, has teamed up with ex-Motocross World Champion Jamie Dobb to host the big cycle, which will raise cash for the Make-A-Wish Foundation®.
The ten-day cycle-athon kicks off on June 9 in Barcelona, finishing at Donington Park on June 18, in a bid to support the charity which grants magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening diseases.
Kelvin told us: 'I've never done anything like this before, I'm very excited.
"The Emmerdale cast are very supportive, although they were totally shocked by the magnitude of the challenge, even friends and family have been finding it hard to believe I'm actually doing it!
"But the cause is what drives you forward. And the daily disbelief of others just makes me more determined."
Kelvin, 24, has another challenge on the horizon too - finishing writing and directing a film which will star Shameless favourite Jody Latham.
"It's called Gomez, and it's the life story of the boxer Michael Gomez. We'd already filmed a trailer for it, which went down well at Cannes.
"So we're looking to get funding and finish it for the end of this year." Kelvin won't be appearing in the film himself, but directing is clearly something which comes naturally to him, after growing up on the set of Emmerdale.
He's a man of many talents!
Show your support for Kelvin and Jamie's Make A Wish cycle here.
Read the article on The SUN Online siteA cycle of wishes for Emmerdale star
ITV 1 actor Kelvin Fletcher and Jamie Dobb will host a charity cycle ride this summer for Make-A-Wish Foundation®. The Emmerdale star – better known as TV character Andy Sugden along with 4 friends – will travel over 1000 miles in a bid to raise necessary funds for the cause.
Make-A-Wish Foundation® UK is charity close to Kelvin’s heart. It grants magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening illnesses. It also provides positive, uplifting relief by providing a time of magic and joy for the special children and their families.
The ten-day event will start on 9 June at the Barcelona Moto GP and will finish at Donington Park Moto GP circuit on 18 June. Kelvin and Jamie will be joined each day by a host of supportive celebrities including John Hopkins and Marco Melandri from the world of Moto GP. Members of the public will also have the opportunity to join them on their venture by raising a minimum amount of three thousand pounds in sponsorship money.
“I am delighted to be raising funds for such a fantastic cause,” says Kelvin. “The Make-A-Wish Foundation® provides such important care and relief to individuals fighting life-threatening illnesses and my aim is to make more people aware of the charity.”
“It will be a challenge for Jamie and I to cycle over 1000 miles however, this is nothing compared to the challenges the young people at Make-A-Wish Foundation® have to face everyday.”
“We really need your support in raising as much money as possible,” says Jamie. We would welcome sponsorship from companies or individuals who want to do their bit for the cause – all donations would be gratefully received.”
