Eight-year-old Lily, diagnosed with leukaemia last year, enjoying herself on a new bike provided by Cyclists Fighting Cancer
A cycle shop has opened its doors in Surrey Quays shopping Centre – but this is a cycle shop with a difference.
The Charity Bike Shop is run by Charity Cyclists Fighting Cancer, they have set up in the unit opposite Superdrug, opening to the public on Saturday. March 1. The organisation takes donations of secondhand bikes, refurbishes them and sells them. All the profits are used to buy new bikes for children living with or recovering from cancer.
“What you see when you walk in is a bike shop, but the bikes are second-hand. We do servicing, repairs, and sell second-hand bikes and parts,” says Cyclists Fighting Cancer’s founder and Chief Executive Mike Grisenthwaite. “The combination of cycling, recycling and kids with cancer is what people say differentiates us.”
Some of the bikes they provide to children are modified for specialist use. “We’ve got some specially adapted trikes and bikes with gadgets for kids who’ve lost their limbs, struggle with control of their hands or have weaknesses on either side,” says Mike. “But 85% of the bikes we provide are standard ones.”
16-year-old Leo was diagnosed with leukaemia last year and spent six months in hospital. The treatment has affected Leo’s walking and strength. His dad says: “Leo loves his trike. It gets him out and gives him a good work out. The bike is helping strengthen his legs. He gets his brothers and sister involved and tries to race them over the park!
“These kids are in treatment for three to four years typically. They miss out on so many stages of development because they’re in hospital, or too weak to do things. The bike is a conduit to getting back to having a normal life.”
Mike understands the benefits of exercise while undergoing cancer treatment personally, having spent five years overcoming blood cancer.
“Before I had cancer I’d done Ironman triathlons,” he says. ”When I got cancer, I wanted to know if I was doing myself any harm by training at that level. So, I looked at scientific surveys, and everything points towards it being a positive thing. Cyclists Fighting Cancer is a vehicle to express the benefits of physical activity for people with cancer.”
The opportunity to move into Surrey Quays Shopping Centre arose after Mike met British Land’s Asset Manager Georgina Weller on a fundraising cycle ride to Italy. She offered him the space and the lease was signed the next day. “Georgina and [British Land’s Joint Head of Canada Water] Roger Madelin organised everything,” says Mike. “It’s going to give us an opportunity to get a foothold in London – we’ve always been a regional charity.”
The arrangement has helped the charity secure backing from ING bank, and from Balfe’s Bikes, who are running a trade-in deal where in return for an old bike donated to Cyclists Fighting Cancer, they’ll take 10% off the price of a new bike.
Cyclists Fighting Cancer are appealing for donations of old bikes, cycle clothing, spare parts people have got lying around… anything related to the sport. Even bikes in poor condition are welcome – if it’s not viable to fix them, they can be stripped for spare parts and sold.
They’re also on the lookout for volunteers to help out at the shop. At their Cheltenham shop they’ve got 40 volunteers and “it would be great to get anywhere near that” at Surrey Quays, says Mike. “We’re looking for people ideally with some experience – but we teach people how to fix bikes too. Some people start by cleaning the bikes, then move on to mending punctures and pick up more skills.”
He adds: “We’re a small charity, and this is probably the biggest development that we’ve been presented with in 20 years. It’s down to us to take the bull by the horns and make it work. We’re very grateful to British Land for the opportunity and can’t wait to meet the community.”
If you want to get in contact with Cyclists Fighting Cancer, please visit their Instagram page: @thecharitybikeshoplondon and @cyclistsfightingcancer
