The John Lindsay memorial Torr Head Cycle Challenge raises £8,000 for Haematology.  The event which took place on the tough Antrim Coast route in late September 2003 was hosted by Carrickfergus Cycling Club - Team Madigan.  It was in memory of their colleague John Lindsay who sadly lost his fight against cancer earlier that year aged 37.  All the proceeds raised went to Ward 10, Belfast City Hospital who gave John exemplary care throughout his illness.  Pictured in the above photograph (at the Belfast City Hospital, 25 March 04)  presenting a cheque for £6,000 plus two Dell Laptop Computers worth £2,000 are from left to right: Jim Falls (senior) a close friend of John and also a member of Team Madigan, and Staff Nurse Paula Moore who diligently looked after John throughout his illness, Paula was delighted to be involved in the presentation and receives a Lap Top from Jim on behalf of the Ward.  Jim Falls (junior) also a very close friend of John through Motorcycle Racing thanked the Hospital staff on behalf of John's girlfriend Helen Bryans and John's family who were very keenly involved with the event and indeed made substantial donations them selves.  Helen personally selected the computers for patients use.  Loaded with all the top of the range programmes the computers will help patients in many different ways.  

Painful memories spent with John at the Hospital made it difficult for Helen to attend the presentation, however her thoughts were very much on the night and of all those people who did so much for John.  Ward Sister Debbie McKelvey who also cared for John with great compassion receives the second Lap Top, this time from the event organiser Alan Welsh - Treasurer of Team Madigan Cycling Club.   Debbie went on to say " we have fond memories of John, and I want to say very many thanks indeed on behalf of everyone involved at Ward 10 Haematolgy Belfast City Hospital, it was a terrific effort by all concerned.  Patients and their families will benefit greatly from the computers and Parker Knoll easy chairs that will now be bought for the Ward.   The chairs will allow relatives to be close by their loved ones throughout the day and night". 

John's family, Helen, the Heamatology Ward of Belfast City Hospital and Team Madigan Cycling Club all wish to sincerely thank those people, who kindly took part in the event or helped in any way to raise such an amount of money.  On 26th September this year (2004) the John Lindsay memorial Torr Head Cycle Challenge will raise funds for the Myeloma Foundation, a charity helping to deal with cancerous blood plasma cells found in bone marrow.  If close to the same amount of money can be raised this year, it would be terrific, so if you can, please make a big effort to support the event.  Details and entry forms will be available nearer the time from - Madigan Cycles, Carrickfergus or from the club web site www.team-madigan.org.uk and distances of 20-miles, 50-miles and 70-miles will again be on offer along with the usual refreshments.