Chicks lay golden egg for charity

PICTURE: From left, Julie Russell, general manager of York Against Cancer, with Kate Mallender, Jess Walsh-Banks and Alison Holmes (PICTURE, David Mallender)

A group of ‘chicks’ have laid a golden egg for charity with a 160-mile cycling challenge.

Jess Walsh-Banks, a British Cycling-trained volunteer lead rider, took eleven novice women from around Stamford Bridge under her wing and got them in shape for the four-day charity ride around the North York Moors and coast.

The team called Jess their mother hen and they were then promptly christened Jess’s Chicks On Tour.

The riders conquered 11,000 feet of hill climbing around Scarborough, Whitby and Hutton le Hole and raised an impressive £2,660 for our work.

The money came from the cyclists’ JustGiving page, but also from hotel staff, cafés and members of the public that they met along the way.

Jess and two of the team, Kate Mallender and Alison Holmes, presented the money to our general manager, Julie Russell.

“All of us have been touched by cancer in some way,” said Kate. “We all know someone who has been affected by it, so it is a cause close to our hearts.

“We were exhausted but exhilarated at the end of the four days – what an experience it was!”

“The ‘chicks’ did brilliantly,” said Julie. “Without the kindness and determination of people like these we couldn’t provide our services, and we think they’re amazing.”

The team is not resting on its laurels. The women have been out and about regularly since their adventure, and Jess is already plotting a new challenge to set her chicks next year.