A Cramlington company, inspired by the bravery of a teenager who died from a rare form of cancer, has raised more than £4,500 for the charity – Jessica’s Sarcoma Awareness – she started from her sickbed.
More than 30 employees of the HTL group alongside supporters of the charity, including Jessica Robson’s dad Trevor, cycled 100 miles over two days from the company’s HQ to Alnwick and back again.
The ride, called the HTL 100, is the third time the company has used pedal power to raise money for Jessica’s Sarcoma Awareness. For the past two years teams of riders have completed the gruelling coast to coast route and, already for 2018, plans are being drawn up for a new challenge: cycling between Edinburgh and Cramlington.
HTL Group MD Paul Storey said: “We were approached by lots of local charities, but we decided we could help most by adopting one of them. When we met Jessica’s parents their story touched all of us.”
The company’s Marketing Lead Faye Mann added: “The charity’s become very close to all of our hearts.”
Trevor Robson said: “We can’t speak highly enough about the kindness of the people of HTL and the efforts they go to raise money for Jess’ charity.”
Jessica was only 18 when she died three years ago after a brave fight against Sarcoma Cancer. She started the charity to help other teenagers and children affected by cancer.
Her parents Trevor and Julie and sister Nicole have continued her work, helping to raise more than £160,000. Half of the money has been donated to other charities – the Teenage Cancer Trust and Sarcoma UK – whilst the Robsons are waiting to hear if they will be granted planning permission to build lodges at Henshaw near Haltwhistle to provide free respite breaks for ill children and their families. The money raised by HTL will go towards the project.
During her illness Jessica, her parents and sister Nicole spent time together, away from hospitals, in a caravan on the Northumberland coast.
Those memories have inspired the Robsons to provide the same experience for other families. “It will allow children and teenagers fighting cancer and their families to have free breaks to spend quality time together and create everlasting memories,” said Julie.