HOSPITAL staff will be using pedal power to honour the memory of a much-loved friend and colleague.
As part of Ark Day tomorrow (Friday), employees at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT), which runs Basingstoke hospital, will be cycling 237 miles on two static bikes that will be in the main reception area at Basingstoke hospital.
The group from the trust’s infection prevention and control team along with some friends will travel the equivalent distance from Basingstoke to Hayle in Cornwall – the home town of Hazel Gray, a popular lead infection prevention and control nurse who died in March 2018 after battling cancer.
The Pedalling4Pounds 2019 riders are raising money in Hazel’s memory and to support Ark Day – the 24-hour fundraising drive pulling in the pounds for Ark Cancer Centre Charity’s £5million appeal that will help fund a new cancer treatment centre at Basingstoke hospital.
Tanya Matthews, infection prevention and control nurse, is one of the driving forces behind Pedalling4Pounds 2019 and she will also be one of the first two riders to get the pedals turning at 8.30am on Friday.
Tanya said: “We are delighted to take part in this fundraising event in memory of Hazel and to support Ark Day, and it would be great to see lots of HHFT colleagues coming to support us on the day.”
Hazel’s husband David, who is an Ark Cancer Centre Charity supporter and a member of Basingstoke Hospital Male Voice Choir, will be among the volunteers collecting donations on the day.
Merv Rees, HHFT liver cancer surgeon and Ark Cancer Centre Charity trustee, said: “Thank you to Tanya and the team for organising the Ark Day static bike ride.
“This is a great way for HHFT colleagues to support Ark Day, and it is also a lovely memorial tribute to Hazel, who was a supporter of the Ark charity and the cancer treatment centre campaign.”
Ark Day is the day-long fundraising event which aims to give everyone in the borough the chance to help raise the £5 million needed to fund a much-needed NHS cancer treatment centre at Basingstoke hospital.
To donate to the riders visit
pedalling4pounds.co.uk.
The Gazette will be running a live blog on Friday, covering all Ark Day fundraising activities. Send details of what you are doing for the day and any pictures to newsdesk@basingstokegazette.co.uk.
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