Friends of Watford FC season ticket holder, Sam prepare to cycle 200 miles this weekend, between Leicester and Watford, to raise funds for research into skin cancer.
In the early morning of Saturday 6th May, 15 of Sam Keen's friends and colleagues are cycling approximately 100 miles from Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford to the King Power Stadium in Leicester. There, they hope to find light relief watching the Leicester City v Watford FC Premier League fixture at 3pm.
The next day, Sunday 7th May, with very sore legs (and maybe a few sore heads if Watford win), they will be cycling back to Watford again. Over the course of the weekend, the group of amateur cyclists will be covering over 200 miles in total!
The group are cycling in memory of Sam Keen, their friend and Watford season ticket holder who passed away following a seven-year battle with malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer, five years ago. The Sam Keen Foundation raises money to fund cutting edge treatment into melanoma at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London and so far have raised an amazing £465k, funding two research fellows and improving the services offered to cancer patients at the hospital.
Although some of the team are experienced riders, many are complete novices, and have had to put in many miles in preparation for this ride. The group includes Sam's school friends Stu Foster and Paul McGowan.
Mr Foster, 32, an assistant Head Teacher, said: "It's going to be a gruelling 200 miles, especially for those of us new to cycling, but our memories of Sam will help to spur us on - that and the prospect of an unlikely win for the Golden Boys at the Premier League champions.
“Sam was kind, caring, funny and completely selfless. He would always care about other people more than himself despite suffering terribly for years with aggressive cancer and multiple painful operations.
“Training and fundraising every year in memory of Sam and for a great cause has helped bring us closer together as friends.”
If you would like to help raise funds for the Sam Keen Foundation and support this great team of cyclists, go online to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/leicester-Watford.
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