Croston brothers Ethan and Aidan Banks scored the equivalent of a wonder goal when they cycled the 100km from the village to Anfield, home of their late dad Shaun’s beloved Liverpool FC, in tribute to him.

The duo rode to raise funds for Rosemere Cancer Foundation but instead of achieving an expected donation of around £100 or so, the whole Croston community as well as family, friends and Shaun’s former work colleagues at RLC Calendar Aeroparts got behind them, enabling the boys and proud mum
Julie to present the charity with a cheque for an incredible £19,178.53.

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Julie, who works as a teaching assistant at Astley Park School, Chorley, which did its own fundraising for Rosemere Cancer Foundation as a show of support for her, said: “Last September, I lost the love of my life and my boys lost their amazing dad Shaun to bladder cancer. Shaun was a huge Liverpool
fan and used to take the boys to Anfield.

“Shaun was always into his fitness and used to cycle. It was Shaun’s wish to do a bike ride to raise money for Rosemere Cancer Centre where he received his treatment. Unfortunately, he never got well enough so Ethan and Aidan, who aren’t really cyclists, decided to do it for him in May.”

Julie continued: “We never imagined the level of support we would get. The boys ended up as part of a peloton of 30 plus cyclists from Croston Velo Cycling Club plus others. There was en route support and a reception at the Black Horse in Croston with food and live music when the group got back from
Liverpool.

“The generosity in terms of good wishes and donations has just been unbelievable. We can’t thank people enough. It means the world to us that people have done this for Shaun and also for his dad David, the boys’ grandad and my father-in-law, who passed away in December of another cancer, myeloma.”

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Ethan (21) trained for and completed the cycle on his dad’s bike in his dad’s cycling gear. Aidan (18) had his bike and gear donated by villager Scott Leverington, who also took part in the ride and serviced all the cyclists’ bikes before they set out.

Rosemere Cancer Foundation works to bring world class cancer treatments and services to cancer patients from throughout Lancashire and South Cumbria being treated at Rosemere Cancer Centre, the region’s specialist cancer treatment and radiotherapy centre at the Royal Preston Hospital, and
also at another eight local hospital cancer units across the two counties.

The charity funds cutting-edge equipment, clinical research, staff training and innovative services and initiatives that the NHS cannot afford in order to make patients’ cancer journey more effective, comfortable and stress-free. For further information on its work, including how to make a donation, visit
www.rosemere.org.uk

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