Lexden plan amazing charity cycle ride challenge for World Squash Day

by | Aug 15, 2018
On Saturday 13th October members at Lexden Squash Club in Colchester are participating in World Squash Day with a frankly massive challenge. They plan to cycle to FIVE different clubs in the region and play a game of squash at each, all in aid of charity.

They have planned a slow-paced route to allow for breakdowns, getting lost and refreshment stops.

If interested, please sign up at the club or contact Mike Hegarty directly. Lexden need cyclists to join them for all or part of the route, as well as players from each venue to play, including at Lexden in the evening!

The route and timings are below:

6 am – Lexden Squash Club
37.12km – 2.5hrs
8.30-9.15am – Ipswich Squash Club
22.4km – 1.5hrs
10.45am-11.30pm – Stowmarket Squash Club
23km – 1.5hrs
1pm-1.45pm – Moreton Hall Health Club
57km – 3.5hrs
5.15pm-6pm – Officers Club
4.32km – 20min
6.30pm-8pm Lexden Squash Club

89 miles / 142.4km

World Squash Day began on 11th September 2001 when squash player Derek Sword tragically lost his life in the 9/11 World Trade Centre disaster. Legendary Lexden MC Alan Thatcher, alongside Peter Nicol, Martin Heath and other professionals began World Squash Day in Derek’s honour and now it serves to unite squash enthusiasts around the world in raising the profile of the sport as well as much needed money for good causes.
Lexden’s Chosen Cause is Florence’s Heroes

The World Squash Day Cycle is in aid of Florence’s Heroes, a charitable fund set up by Chris and Laura Wheat. Their story is below:
Florence was born just over 6 weeks early in 2015, weighing in at a little over 3 lbs. She was immediately admitted to the Neonatal Unit at Colchester General Hospital. At only a few days she was diagnosed with Hydrocephalus (a build-up of fluid on the brain) and then not long after that her Congenital Heart Defects. In total, she spent the first 104 days of her life in 3 different hospital
There are 3 services in her journey so far that we are so indebted to and thus “Florence’s Heroes Fund” was born. It is our pledge as a family to fundraise in various ways, not for Florence herself but for these services to enable them to go on helping other children.
  1. Neonatal Unit at Colchester General Hospital – the care Florence received during her long stay on this unit was exceptional. As a family, we remain thankful to this team every day for everything they did for Florence.
  2.  Acute Neonatal Transfer Service (ANTS) – this is a regional service that specialises in the transportation of sick babies. They have 2 ambulances for the whole of East Anglia. Every shift each ambulance is manned by a driver, specialist neonatal nurse and doctor. They are equipped with a transportable incubator and with every possible piece of equipment that a sick baby may need. This is a 24 hour, 7 days a week service. In total Florence traveled with them 6 times in 3 months.
  3. Royal Brompton Hospital – there are few hospitals in the world that have the skills and expertise to perform open heart surgery to repair defects on a tiny 2month old baby weighing only 5lbs. This hospital is world class and without whom Florence would not be with us today.