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Mar 2022

Last Updated: 11/03/2022

Starbeck nurses to embark on mammoth charity cycle ride

by Thomas Barrett

| 12 Mar, 2022

The couple hope to raise £30,000 on the trip, which will begin in May, for Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) a non-political and non-religious charity they are both passionate about supporting.

Starbeck nurses Andy Dennis and Tracey Hill are to embark on a mammoth 2000km charity cycle ride from Amsterdam to Gibraltar.

The trip is to raise money for a charity close to their hearts, which offers vital medical care for those who need it around the world.

The couple hopes the journey will raise £30,000 for Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

An impressive £115,000 has already been raised for the charity to reach their overall target of £200,000, which was set in 2010.

It's the third major fundraising effort they have undertaken for MSF. In 2011, Mr Dennis walked from Amsterdam to Barcelona and in 2016, the couple cycled across the USA.

Ms Hill said:

“We are raising money to give to MSF so they can use it to help people who are desperately in need of healthcare. That’s relevant right now as MSF are in Ukraine. We’re trying our best to get the word out to raise as much money as we can.”

Ukraine crisis

MSF's medical teams act fast to save people’s lives in conflict zones, natural disasters and epidemics and go to where they are needed most.

MSF works in over 70 countries and has health workers in Ukraine at the moment.

Specialist teams are in hospitals in the war-torn country treating wounded people, providing surgical care, emergency medicine and mental health support.

Mr Dennis said donations big or small are greatly appreciated.

"There's no such thing as a small donation, it impacts someone somewhere.

"£3 can pay for an oxygen mask, for example. We can't change the world but you can change the life for the person sat in a clinic and bring them healthcare access they wouldn’t normally have."

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'All about grit'

The trip will take three months, which they will break up so they have time to rest and connect with local media outlets to promote the fundraiser.

Mr Dennis is an ICU nurse at Harrogate District Hospital and Ms Hill is a dermatology nurse at York Hospital. Both of their employers have supported them by giving them time off with some unpaid leave.

Ms Hill said the endurance trip will be "all about grit".

"You find out the core of you, you peel back so much and you know how determined you are. It’s all about grit, can you tolerate being dirty every day? If you find a river, you go for it."

Mr Dennis added:

"What Tracey described is the every day life of the people we are raising money for. We are choosing to do this to make a bit of difference."

Proud Starbeck man

Mr Dennis has a reputation in Harrogate as a caring and compassionate member of the local community.

The proud Starbeck man said, "I'm not Bob Geldof", but wants to show how anyone can make a difference in the world.

He said:

"I was no achiever but I was interested in biology at school and it was the only subject I was good at. Combine biology with compassion you find nursing at the end. It's an incredible job, it might not look attractive with jaded looking nurses on the TV during covid, but I've travelled the world."

All money raised for the trip, which they have called Ride To The Rock, will go to the MSF and the couple will pay for all expenses themselves. It will start in May.

They are also looking for corporate sponsors too. You can email Andy at andy4msf@pm.me for more information.

Their websites are www.andy4msf.com and www.thecyclingnurse.co.uk

To donate, visit the JustGiving page.

Thank you for your interest in this story

Starbeck nurses to embark on mammoth charity cycle ride

Ukraine crisis

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'All about grit'

Proud Starbeck man