August 5, 2014 10.17 am This story is over 115 months old

Lincoln cyclists smash Ryan Smith fundraising target

Riding for Ryan: Two Lincoln accountants have raised almost £3,000 for a charity set up after a local teen suffered a serious head injury whilst cycling without a helmet.
Oli Phillips (25) and Sam Mosedale (26), who work at Duncan & Toplis’ Lincoln office.

Two Lincoln accountants have raised almost £3,000 in aid of the charity set up after 17-year-old Ryan Smith suffered a serious head injury whilst cycling without a helmet.

Oli Phillips (25) and Sam Mosedale (26), who work at Duncan & Toplis’ Lincoln office, completed their D&T Riding for Ryan challenge by visiting the firm’s ten offices in just two days (Thursday, July 31 and Friday, August 1).

They were cycling in aid of the Ryan Smith Foundation, and to raise awareness of cycle safety.

Ryan Smith, from Lincolnshire, was involved in a cycling accident while he was not wearing a helmet.

He suffered a severe head injury, but is making a steady recovery and is expected to leave hospital soon for the first time since his accident.

The two fundraisers began and ended their ride in Lincoln and visited offices in Louth, Skegness, Boston, Spalding, Stamford, Melton Mowbray, Grantham, Sleaford and Newark.

Along the way they were joined by 13 colleagues who cycled some of the route in support: Tim Godson, Leigh MacDonald, Jon Jackson, Sarah Clyde, David Kime, Sue Higham-Diggle, Edwin McClarty, Andy Howett, Debbie Chambers, Sabrina Horton, Tony Shearer, Simon Shaw and Ian Phillips.

Sam said: “Oli and I have been amazed by the support that we have been shown at each step of our Riding for Ryan journey.

“Our usual training runs have been around the 25-mile mark, which meant that after completing just the first leg from Lincoln to Louth we had already beaten our previous personal best!

“We were fortunate to have Ryan’s dad Mark cycling with us for the whole of the first day. We really enjoyed his company and infectious enthusiasm and we chatted about Ryan’s progress and the fantastic work that the foundation is doing.”

The fundraising total currently stands at around £2,800, well over the original target of £2,010.

There’s still time to donate. Visit Duncan & Toplis’ website to find out how.