4 Charity Events from the '80s
West London HOC have taken part in many fund raising events for Charities. In the '80s raising over £16400* in today's values.
In order to attract attention and interest they had to be fairly demanding for people to buy into them and sponsor the cause.
Below are bookmarks to the stories behind how money was raised for these fantastic causes. Or simply scroll down to read them all.
*Using a CPI inflation calculator
The Gunnar Nielson Cancer Foundation
Royal Marsden Hospital Children's Cancer Ward
No.1 The Gunnar Nilsson Cancer Foundation
In 1982 West London Branch joined forces with their North London friends in a charity fund raising event at the BMF Rally in Peterborough. A presentation was later made to the Gunnar Nilsson Cancer Foundation of £65 (current value £293).
Gunnar Nilsson was a Swedish Formula 1 driver in the 70s. He had a successful career winning the Belgian Grand Prix - for more details checkout https://sfcriga.com/the-sad-story-of-gunnar-nilsson.
In the foreground of the pic are founder member of West London Branch Joy Penberthy on her treasured 400/4 and Pat Rotherfield on his immaculate CX500.
In the background, marked with green arrow is a young-looking Graham Gull. Can you spot Jude and Jon also?
The group ringed in red are a couple with two young sons who used to accompany on club runs. Dad took the elder boy as pillion, whilst Mum on her RS250, used to strap the younger boy to her with bungee hooks in case he dozed off!
As featured in the Autumn issue of Golden Wing 1982
Gunnar Nilsson's Formula 1 Grand Prix-winning Lotus
Which has the fastest 0-60mph time?
The Gunnar crew outside The Royal Marsden
No.2 The Wishing Well Appeal for Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital
We were well received by the staff on our arrival who were delighted with the total of £1985 which was raised.
(over £6800 in current day value)
In July 1988 we parked our Bikes up and set off on foot, linking up with a couple of other local bike clubs. We were collecting for The Wishing Well Appeal in aid of the Great Ormond Street Hospital.
So we walked from Osterley Tube Station (on the A4 Great West Road) to Great Ormond Street Hospital in Central London WC1.
We were later presented with a Certificate of Merit
Jude with the Cheque presentation
No.3 November 1988 - Cot Death Research
Lands End and back in a Day
By November 1988 West London were looking for challenges further afield when planning Charity Events.
The point was, that they had to be fairly demanding for people to buy into them and sponsor the cause.
So it was that the run to Lands End and back in a Day was plotted. Over 600 miles in one day. This was in aid of Cot Death Research and as Jude's Publicity sheet shows we started getting organised with a support van acting as back up with change of clothing in case of bad weather. 15 HOWLERS went out.. leaving The Cabbage Patch pub in Twickenham at first light and 15 came back.
Jude's sponsorship documents
£1733 was raised
This would be £5945 in current day values
The end of the road!
Here is the acknowledgement from The Foundation for the study of Infant Deaths - very warm in their appreciation - and amazed with our efforts
A total of £1733 was raised (which in current day values would be over £5495)
No. 4 June 1989 Royal Marsden Hospital Children's Cancer Ward - John O' Groats and back in a Weekend!
B/W pic reproduced from Golden Wing magazine 1988
Following our successful 'There and Back in a Day', we had to go bigger and further. So at 6.00am on a Midsummer's morning, 10 of us set off on the 689 mile (each way) trip to John O'Groats. It took us 15 hours to get there, and we were pleased that it stayed light until well after 11.00pm.The journey home took even longer as I suggested we took the 'scenic route' over a series of roller-coaster blind-summit hills on the A68. Jude's VF400 gave the best fuel economy at 55mpg. We raised over £1000 (over £3430 in current day values) for the rebuilding of the Princess Chula Childrens' Ward at the Royal Marsden Hospital which specialises in cancer treatment.
Time to reshape your backside!
Petrol stations were few and far between in the last 100 miles. And sheep in the road had to be carefully negotiated.
Jude's VF400 proved to be the most comfortable bike judging by the fact that the rest of us were happy to stand up in the evening at the bar
We can go no further - well done everybody