Ria Melvin, the inspiration for our Fundraising Group, Raising4Ria, was remembered at the weekend as a group of her university friends and football teammates, mum Carol and sister Kaz, cycled from Loughborough to Brentwood in Essex.
Ria’s Riders set out on Saturday 6th May from Loughborough University and cycled to Bedford on the first leg.
By the time they reached Ria’s final resting place on Sunday, there had been a couple of falls, lots of banter, a puncture and a loose chain, as well as lots of sharing of fond memories of Ria.
To date, the cycle challenge has raised close to £2,900, inspired by Ria, who graduated from Loughborough with a first class BSc Hons in sport and business management. Ria was diagnosed with a glioblastoma (GBM) in December 2018, aged 23. She underwent the standard treatment of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, as well as immunotherapy in Germany, but nothing could save her.
While undergoing treatment, Ria worked with the charity to fundraise and campaign for change and last year her family set up Raising4Ria to continue her legacy. So far the Fundraising Group has incredibly raised more than £107,500 to help find a cure.
Kaz said: “Mum, Dad and I are so grateful to Ria’s university friends for now making this charity bike ride an annual event for Raising4Ria.
“We are so moved that they want to keep Ria’s memory alive and raise money for Brain Tumour Research at the same time. Ria would have been laughing at us doing this crazy challenge again, but also very touched as she loved cycling and her time at Loughborough University.”
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