Streatham man pedaling for seven hours for charity in memory of cycling champ grandad
A business development manager will virtually tour more than 250 miles across South London for seven hours for charity in memory of his beloved grandfather.
Streatham’s Cameron Fraser will remember his late Papa Jack as he saddles up for an epic cycling challenge for Prostate Cancer UK on Sunday (April 26th).
On what would have been London Marathon day the 39-year-old will virtually cycle loops of the capital for more than seven hours via online cycling platform Zwift to raise money for the leading men’s health charity.
The event forms part of the new 2.6 Challenge, a campaign launched after the Virgin Money London Marathon was cancelled due to the Covid-19 outbreak – last year £66.4m was raised at the iconic event. But fundraising for Prostate Cancer UK, like thousands of other charities, has been hit by the pandemic – so their life-changing research, critically, is currently at a standstill.
Talented cyclist Fraser unfurling an ambitious 262km ride, in his spare room.
Cameron’s grandfather Jack Fraser was an accomplished grass track cyclist, once beating the British
champion twice in the same day in the Highland Games in the 1940s.
Sadly Jack died of prostate cancer in 2000, so Cameron will be riding a continuous 11.6km loop which passes iconic sights such as Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace and Big Ben, and finishes on the Mall, to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK.
“Papa Jack was always on a bike and was one of my main inspirations for getting involved in cycling,”
said Cameron, an accomplished rider who is now part of the Nuun-Sigma Sports-London cycling team, ranked eighth in the UK.
“The stories of him beating the British Empire champion are legendary,” he added. “He was a regular at the Highland Games and would take his bicycle on the back of his motorbike! He was still cycling all the way up to his final days.
“He meant so much to me, my family and so many other people. He was a legend in the Scottish Borders where most of my family still are, and so many people were sad to lose him.”
Cameron’s love of cycling started in his early teens, and he admitted 26 miles or 2.6 hours would have been far too achievable, before coming up with his marathon-day masterplan.
His wife Clare will ensure he is fuelled and hydrated throughout his ride, with Cameron only planning to stop for toilet breaks. And he will also host live Q&As on his Facebook page during the ride and is hoping the ride will be public on Zwift, so others can join him.
“Until recently I didn’t know much about prostate cancer, but it’s been an eye-opening experience to learn more, particularly about its prevalence.
“I’ll be thinking about lots of things on Sunday, about Papa, my dad and family and cycling friends I haven’t seen for a while. Hopefully they will join me on the challenge. My ultimate goal is to raise awareness and raise those funds for Prostate Cancer UK.”
Kicking off at 9am, he aims to be finished around 4-5pm and to sponsor him go to
https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CameronFraser7