RAOB - GLE
North Durham Proviance
Pride of the Ewar Lodge 9743
Bro. Dave Henderson ROH HM GLO
After attending Grand Lodge for the first time in 2014, although raising money for good causes has always been a big part of RAOB with each minor lodge, PGL and even Grand Lodge raising money in their own way. So apart from the odd article in the journal everyone just did their own thing and were proud of what they had achieved. My own lodge and Province were prime examples of this by supporting good causes with £100 here and £50 there, so it was a no brainer that something needed to be done to advertise and promote the Order’s fundraising efforts.
So along with colleagues at work we embarked upon the C2C cycle challenge over three days in May 2015 and thought why not raise money for charity at the same time but couldn’t decide which charity. After discussing this at lodge level we decided any sponsorship or donations could be divided between the North Durham PGP & Grand Primo’s appeals. So after a letter was sent obtaining permission from my minor lodge and then a letter to our PGL to circulate to minor lodges in our Province, we then sent a letter asking Grand Lodge for permission to send circulate to other Provinces. Let’s just say the response from family, friends, work colleagues and members of the RAOB was phenomenal and the rest is history!
Even though the RAOB Charity Cycling fundraising has now been handed over to Bro Darren Chapman ROH from the Wiltshire Province members of the RAOB still support my local cycling challenges with donations for charity
May 2015 Completed 146 miles C2C cycle challenge from Whitehaven to Sunderland.
Raised £3,220:00 so £1610:00 to GP 2015 Appeal for Debra & North Durham PGP Appeal for Holiday of a Lifetime.
Berwick Falkirk Wheel
July 2016 Completed 117 miles Northumbria Coast & Castles from Berwick upon Tweed to Roker in Sunderland.
Raised £4,694:00 so £1550:00 to 2016 GP appeal for Kidney Research UK, North Durham PGP GP Appeal for Alzheimer’s Research UK and the North Durham Province PGP Appeal for Crohn’s & Colitis Children Charity at the Nail Quinn’s Children Centre, along with £1594 to Nathan Brady the Grandson of the Late Bro Tut Ward’s ROH HM appeal to raise funds for his Great British Gymnastics China expenses.
GNBR End
August 2017 Completed 117 miles Northumbria Coast & Castles from Berwick upon Tweed to Roker in Sunderland.
Raised £4,140:00 so £2070:00 to 2017 GP Appeal for the Order & North Durham PGP Appeal for The Nail Quinn Children’s Centre Sunderland.
May 2018 As part of the First World War Celebrations, we completed a three-day cycle tour around the Battlefields at Ypres in Belgium also laying a wreath at the Menin Gate.
Raised £5,122:00 so £1,700:00 to 2018 GP Appeal for the Order, North Durham PGP Appeal for Northumbria Blood Bikes & Sunderland Royal British Legion Branch.
GNBR Sea GNBR
May 2019 Completed 117 miles Hadrian’s Wall Cycle Challenge from Bowness on Solway to Tynemouth.
Raised £4400:00 so £2200:00 donated to 2019 GP Appeal for British Heart Foundation and North Durham PGP Appeal for Crohn’s & Colitis Children Charity at the Nail Quinn’s Children Centre.
Dave & Robin
May 2020 Planned Arnhem Bridge & Battle Fields but due to Covid19 cycled 300 miles in September completing 383.99 miles.
Raised £2,523:00 so £1,251:00 donated to 2020 GP Appeal for Alzheimer’s Research UK and the North Durham Province PGP Appeal for Crohn’s & Colitis Children Charity at the Nail Quinn’s Children Centre.
Oct 2021 Completed 402.75 miles cycle challenge during October.
Raised £4,585:00 so £2,275:00 donated to 2021 GP Appeal for Alzheimer’s Research UK and the North Durham Province PGP Appeal for Crohn’s & Colitis Children Charity at the Nail Quinn’s Children Centre.
Menim Gate Yepess
September 2022 Completed 519.72 miles in September, average speed 10.7mph with 48 ½ hours Spent in the saddle.
Raised £4,494:00 so £2247:00 donated to 2022 GP Appeal for Stroke Association UK and “Adi’s Mission Fund” Brian Tumour Charity.
Menim
2023 Three cycle challenges. May 2-day challenge from Berwick-Upon-Tweed to Sunderland, June 2-day challenge from Musselburgh to Falkirk Loop visiting the Kelpies and the Falkirk Wheel and in august the Great North Bike Ride from Seahouses to Tynemouth.
Raised £5,661:00 so £2830.50 donated to 2023 GP Appeal for Prostate Cancer UK and the North Durham Province PGP Appeal for Veterans in Crisis Sunderland.
2024 along with several Colleagues from the Linskill Centre we completed the 60 mile Great North Bike Ride from Seahouses to Tynemouth and helped raise over £900 for the Chris Lucas Trust (This Trust was established in memory of Chris who died age 16 of a rare and aggressive form of childhood cancer – rhabdomyosarcoma.). Further donations of £300 was also received so £100 was donated to the North Durham PGP Appeal for Daft as a Brush cancer Patient Care and £200 to Bro Darren Chapman 2024 Charity 500-mile Cycling Challenge for “Tinnitus UK” & “Mind Swindon”.
Musslebrough Poppy Wreaths
2025 once again along with several Colleagues from the Linskill Centre we completed three cycle challenges. (1) 117 miles Hadrian’s Wall Cycle Challenge from Bowness on Solway to Tynemouth. (2) 75-mile River Tyne and River Wear Circular which started at North Shields cycling the C2C along the River Tyne up to Consett then the C2C down the River Wear to Roker then cycle along the coast before taking the ferry back to North Shields. (3) 60-mile Great North Bike Ride from Seahouses to Tynemouth and so far have raised over £600 for the Chris Lucas Trust. Further donations of £345 have also been received which will be divided and donated to the North Durham PGP Appeal for Sunderland Royal Hospital Chest/Clinic ward & McMillan Nurses and Bro Darren’s 2025 Charity 5,000-mile Cycling Challenge.
Tandem
Cycle Rides Since 2015
Year Amount
2015 £3,220.00
2016 £1,241.00
2017 £4,140.00
2018 £5,122.00
2019 £4,400.00
2020 £2,523.00
2021 £4,585.00
2022 £4,494.00
2023 £5,661.00
Total £40,080.00
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