A team of cyclists from Anglesey will be pushing through the pain barrier – but it’s all in a good cause.
The trio from Peninsula Home Improvements, in Gaerwen, will be raising money in memory of bricklayer Nigel Jones by taking part in a charity bike ride.
Nigel, who lived in Mochdre, near Colwyn Bay, lost his battle against kidney cancer in August 2010 at the age of just 45.
Peninsula’s Managing Director Ken Grayson, Installations Manager Justin Lewis and Service Manager Brad Mayhew are now in training for the gruelling 70 mile ride at the end of June.
All the proceeds will go to Kidney Research UK and the bike marathon is being organised by Nigel’s uncle, Bryn Williams, and his brother Peter Jones.
Bryn is Sales Manager with Bolton based Pearl Windows, one of Peninsula’s biggest suppliers.
Ken Grayson said: “The family were devastated when Nigel lost his brave battle against cancer.
“Bryn has always been very supportive to our charity fund-raising efforts so taking part in the charity ride in Nigel’s memory is the least we can do.
“I used to be a keen cyclist but I’ve not done a lot of riding recently so we’re going to have to do quite a bit of training to get ready.
“We’re going to have to push through the pain barrier – but it is in a very good cause.”
Bryn, who lives in Bodelwyddan, is extremely grateful the Peninsula trio are joining the “brutal” ride on June 30.
He said: “Nigel was a fantastic man who never had a bad word for anybody and would do anything for anyone. He was that sort of guy.
“He was my sister Rhiannon’s son and left his lovely wife Julie behind when he died. Julie and Nigel didn’t have any children and she has never got over his death and probably never will.
“Nigel worked alongside his brother Peter, they were both bricklayers, for many years. Pete and I decided to work together to raise funds for Kidney Research in his memory.”
Bryn added: “The Challenge is a 70 mile bike ride with 10 cyclists, who are all over the age of 40, taking part.
“I’m thrilled a team from one of my best customers, Peninsula Home Improvements are taking part in the ride.
“Ken Grayson, has been very supportive and I’m delighted the team of three, including Ken, will be joining us along with some of my colleagues from Pearl Windows.”
“We will leave the Faenol Fawr Hotel at Bodledwyddan at around 10am on Saturday, June 30 heading for Denbigh after that there’s a long climb to Bylchau and another to the Sportsman’s Arms.
“We then ride over Denbigh Moors and drop down to Pentrefoelas then along the A5 to Betws-y-Coed, through Llanwrst and back on the coastal route through Rhyl. We then aim to finish back at the Faenol Fawr for a deserved pint or two!”
“We have to help fund research into the link between certain proteins that cause kidney cancer and through this research, hopefully an effective treatment can be found.
“The research is being carried out at the University of Bristol as is important because, at the moment there is no cure for kidney cancer and chemotherapy simply has no effect.
“By raising money there may eventually be a cure and just knowing that a life can be saved in years to come makes it all worthwhile especially as we are doing the challenge in Nigel’s name.”
