A FATHER of two cycled 100km with six friends in memory of his beloved nan, grandad and father-in-law.
Tom Burbridge, from Redditch organised the ride to honour their memory and in the process raised more than £2,100 for Primrose Hospice, a charity close to the family’s heart.
The team cycled through the Cotswolds visiting Evesham, Dumbleton, Stratford and Bidford on Saturday, August 24.
Cycling alongside Tom were Nick Robertson, Ian Sweeny, Mark Jowett, Alex Hulston, Adam Higgins and Richard Currier.
A welcoming party celebrated the return of the 36-year-old’s ‘Burbridge and friends fundraiser’.
“This year has been difficult with the death of my nan Molly Burbridge – she was the epitome of fun and laughter – and is missed very much.
“Additionally, over the past few years I have lost my grandads and father-in-law who were both great people and I thought it was time to do something to honour them and raise money for something my nan loved and meant a lot to them all – Primrose Hospice.”
Training was tough for the senior project manager but he has a touching way of overcoming the challenges he faced.
“Training was hard. I have two young, beautiful children and time away from them while doing the four hour training sessions was tough.
“However, I listened to songs that reminded me of the people I was doing this for.
“The right song always seems to come on when the training was at its hardest.”
Tom chose Primrose because it had looked after many of his family members over the years and his nan Molly had worked at the charity’s Headless Cross shop.
“Primrose is a fantastic local charity. It means the world because I know how much it gives back to people like me,” he said.
Sarah Harris, community fundraiser for Primrose Hospice, said: “What a lovely way for Tom to remember his nan, Molly, and his granddad and father-in-law.
“We want to thank him and everyone who took part in the cycle ride as part of ‘Team Burbridge’.”
