Blazing Saddles

Nine intrepid Quicksilver cyclists took part in the gruelling 140 mile Sea to Sea route over three days in June to support the Teenage Cancer Trust (North East) charity.

Teenage Cancer Trust grew out of the dedication and passion of a group of women who discovered the plight of teenagers with cancer by chance.

Whilst fundraising for a children's intensive care heart unit at Guy's Hospital, London, they met a mother whose son developed cancer at 13. He was treated at times in a children's ward or alongside old people - making the experience far worse for him. The women met the young man's consultant who explained that not only did young people have to face the trauma of cancer, its treatment, and isolation from their peers at a very sensitive stage of life, but that they also tended to get rare cancers.

The women went on to raise funds to build the very first Teenage Cancer Trust unit at the Middlesex Hospital in London in 1990.

The route chosen by the   team encompassed the UK's most popular 'challenge' cycle route passing through the northern Lake District before climbing the Pennines, 'the roof of England', and then descending to the railway paths of County Durham, finishing their challenge in Tynemouth.. It included Black Hill, the highest point on the National Cycle Network (609m) and the Consett-Sunderland railway path and sculpture trail.

The total raised for the Teenage Cancer Trust by the intrepid Quicksilver cyclists amounted to £1645.50.