Leeds workmates' coast-to-coast bike ride for Prostate Cancer UK in memory of much-loved colleague
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The nine colleagues, from Leeds-based Club Insure and its sister companies within the wider Romero Group, are currently in training to cycle 173 miles from east to west coast in September - in memory of the company’s late associate director Lloyd Pinder.
The father-of-two, of South Milford, was 43 when he was diagnosed with a severe form of prostate cancer, in 2016, and was given between five and 10 years to live.
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Hide AdSadly he died in September 2020 but during those intervening years, Lloyd threw himself into fundraising for Prostate Cancer UK to help other men in the future and raise much-needed awareness of the disease which kills one man every 45 minutes.
In that time his fundraising included taking part in Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling’s march in 2016, raising £6,000, organising a ball for Prostate Cancer UK raising £10,000 and joining the Leeds March for Men at Roundhay Park in aid of the charity.
Now his former colleagues are determined to keep his memory and philanthropic spirit alive and have come up with their impressive two-wheeled challenge.
It follows a long-term agreement between Club Insure and Prostate Cancer UK which sees the company donate a percentage of its profits each year to the charity.
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Hide AdJustin Romero-Trigo, Romero Group CEO, who had been Lloyd’s friend for over 24 years, will be among those embarking on the gruelling ride.
He said: “Losing Lloyd was devastating to all of us. We couldn’t sit idly by and let countless more men go through what he did.
“That’s why I wanted to do something together with the fantastic team I have around me to give back even more to the charity.
“I’m proud that so many of Lloyd’s friends and colleagues have risen to the challenge and I hope that together we’ll do Lloyd proud.”
The ride will be no mean feat.
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Hide AdSpanning two days, from September 24, the team will climb over 2,200 metres on the 173-mile route from Morecambe to Bridlington - stopping at social and working men’s clubs across the country to help raise awareness of the disease.
Managing director Simon Mabb, who will also be taking part, said: “We’ve got a great team around us and it’s all in memory of a man who I’m proud to have called a friend.”
In an interview with the Yorkshire Evening Post before he died, Lloyd said he had had no symptoms of his prostate cancer until he saw blood in his semen, when he immediately went to the doctor - but by then it was too late.
He spoke of tackling his diagnosis “head on”, adding: “I knew I couldn’t just sit around waiting to be statistic.”
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Hide AdBut, having exhausted all treatment options available to him, Lloyd admitted the chances of him benefiting from his fundraising would be slim.
“But its not all about me, it’s all about the next generation. The songs of my friends who are in their teens and raising awareness for them too,” he said.
The Romero Group team hopes to raise £10,000 for Prostate Cancer UK.
To donate visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/clubc2cFor more information about Club Insure, visit: https://www.club-insure.co.uk/
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