Pub regulars get on their bikes

PUBLIC SPIRITED: From left, Sally Barrett, Tania Hayhoe, Martin Wright, Mark Thompson, landlord Keith Reeves and Mandy Thompson

...CARING regulars at the Black Prince pub in New Haw are preparing to get on their bikes to raise money for a cause dear to their hearts. Landlord Keith Reeves and more than 20 of his customers are to pedal 40 miles along the Downs Link from Guildford to Shoreham on September 25th, to generate cash for Georgie's Fund.

Georgie's Fund was set up in February this year in memory of eight-year-old George Hayhoe who died the month before from a rare cancer called neuroblastoma. The disease attacks cells involved in the development of the nervous system and around 100 children are diagnosed with it each year. Most are under five.

George, who lived in Garden Close, Addlestone, with his parents Tania and Peter and older brother Jack, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at the age of four and braved operations and chemotherapy. After he died, his parents set up Georgie's Fund to raise money for research into neuroblastoma in the hope of finding a cure. They have so far raise £6,000.

Tania, a teaching assistant at Darley Dene Infants, said: "The support we have had from people is magnificent. We are especially grateful to Keith for organising this bike ride and to Tesco for providing buses." The supermarket has offered to ferry everyone to Guildford and take them all back to the Black Prince in Woodham Lane, New Haw, at the end of the day.

Keith said: "Many of us are parents so we wanted to help and a sponsored bike ride seemed like a good way to do it." Collection buckets placed at the bar have so far netted £500 and staff hope to make even more by holding a buffet and bingo after the bike ride. Local businesses will also be asked to donate prizes for a raffle. To find out more, visit www.georgies-fund.com...

Article from "The Surrey Herald" 22nd September 2004

Pub pedallers' push

"...REGULARS from a New Haw pub have raised more than £10,000 for a charity set up in memory of an Addlestone boy who died of cancer. Staff and customers at The Black Prince have collected the money in memory of George Hayhoe, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at four and died in January aged eight. His parents set up Georgie's Fund to raise money for research into the illness in the hope of finding a cure.

On September 25, 33 people from the Woodham Lane pub cycled around 40 miles from Guildford to Shoreham to raise money for the fund. Georgie's mother, Tania, is a teaching asistant at Darley Dene Infant School. She was delighted with the efoorts of the regulars at The Black Prince, and said: "They have my hugest thanks for everything they have done and continue to do. I've heard they want to make it an annual event so we look forward to next year's."

Article from "The Surrey Herald" 17th November 2004

Press Cuttings

Pub regulars get on their bikes

Pub pedallers' push