22 football fans on their bikes
to send eye
cancer girl (6) to swim with Dolphins in Florida
6 October 2003
22 Mansfield Town FC fans are pedalling from Mansfield to Doncaster
to raise funds for Chelsea Barsby (6) from Skegby in North Nottinghamshire,
so she can swim with Dolphins in Florida and meet her all time
hero Mickey Mouse in Disneyland.
Chelsea was born with eye cancer (retinoblastoma)
in both eyes and has lost the sight in one while she only has
20% vision in the other.
The 22 cyclists, aged from 13 - 41+, will be mounting
an array of bikes, including one pair on a tandem, on the 18th
of October when Mansfield take on Doncaster Rovers at Belle Vue,
Doncaster. They will set off from Mansfield's ground at Field
Mill, Mansfield before making the 35.5 mile trip to Belle Vue
in time for the game.
They will be cycling round the inside of the Doncaster
Rovers ground just before the match and collecting money as they
do so.
Chelsea is the official Mansfield Town Mascot on
the day and will walk out onto the pitch with the players at the
beginning of the match. Simon Lee, Managing Director of Nottingham
based Pharmaceutical Profiles Ltd will be at the match as a Doncaster
Rovers fan but will be supporting Chelsea when he presents her
with a cheque for £500; Pharmaceutical Profiles Ltd are
sponsoring the two riders on the tandem, Trustee of the Chelsea
Barsby Campaign, Graham Parker and his 13 year old daughter Megan
Cregg-Parker.
The tandem riders are also being sponsored by Sherwood
Pines Cycle Centre as it Sherwood Pines who are providing the
tandem so that father and daughter can make the ride together.
One of the sponsored ride organisers Graham Parker,
formerly of Mansfield and now living in Sheffield told how he
has been overwhelmed by the support for Chelsea; "The way
Doncaster Rovers, the public and Stags fans have responded to
our call for help has been amazing. Everything is now in place
to make this another fantastic day when people from Mansfield
and its surrounding area show just how big their hearts are by
supporting the Campaign. We had an amazing day last season when
we rode to Nott's County and have every reason to believe we will
on October 18. "
Mansfield based Redfearn Coaches are supporting
the riders by providing a coach to bring them back from Doncaster.
Among the leading pack of cyclists will be Chelsea's
dad Neil, of Kirkby, who has witnessed first-hand the bravery
and courage his daughter has shown in the last six years: "Swimming
with dolphins has proven therapeutic value and we hope it will
give Chelsea a massive boost. It's every little girl's dream to
see Mickey Mouse and we want to make sure Chelsea fulfils that
dream while she can."
The sponsored bike ride is the second annual ride
in support of the CBC by Mansfield Town fans. Last season they
rode from Mansfield to Nott's County prior to the local derby
at Meadow Lane. They raised over £9,000 which was used to
purchase specially imported computer/video equipment for Chelsea
to use in school. The special lap-top has its own video camera
mounted on top so that it can transfer images on the blackboard
to the lap-top screen - Chelsea can't see further than two feet.
The specialist equipment cost several thousand
pounds and is thought to be the only one in the North Midlands/South
Yorkshire area. It was purchased in partnership with the local
Social Services who now own the equipment so it can be used by
others when Chelsea no longer needs it.
The target for this year's ride is £5,000
so Chelsea can make the trip to America
