LOYAL FRIEND REMEMBERED THROUGH CHARITY CYCLE ‘PILGRIMAGE’

Our thanks and congratulations to the friends of Ipswich Town fan, Rob Percy, who have successfully completed a cycling ‘pilgrimage’ in his memory.

Rob Percy

Six of Rob’s friends re-enacted the journey he would make to Portman Road every match day and cycled a cumulative total of 670 miles in the process.

We are very proud to be one of the three charities they supported in Rob’s memory, with over £3,000 raised.

Our thanks to all the riders and everyone who supported them – and our thanks to Rob Balaam for the information below.

Rob Percy, originally from Sandy, Bedfordshire, sadly passed away last November at just 47 years old.

Recently, six of his friends cycled a cumulative total of 670 miles to remember him and his commitment to friends, family – and Ipswich Town FC.

Rob had been an Ipswich Town fan for over 40 years, and a season ticket holder for most of them, regularly making the trip initially from Sandy to Ipswich with dad, Jim, and when he moved to the Nottinghamshire/Lincolnshire border this commitment didn’t fade.

Jon Balaam, Stuart Harrison and Adam Maciejewski, all former colleagues from Rob’s time as a Rights of Way Officer at Bedfordshire County Council, set off from Rob’s parents’ home in Sandy to cycle the 80 miles to Portman Road, the home of Ipswich Town FC.

With a crowd of supporters and a send-off from the Sandy Scouts bugler the cyclists headed east.

The ‘Riders 4 Rob’ arrive at Ipswich Town

But by the time the Sandy cyclists had departed, a team of Rob’s childhood friends had been on the go for two hours!

Battling heavy rain and headwinds, Colin Taverner, Alex Gazzaniga and Robert Goldstone had set out on a 140 mile journey from Rob’s home on the Nottinghamshire/Lincolnshire border.

The two teams met up in Lavenham in Suffolk before cycling the last 20 miles together into Ipswich, with a crowd cheering them in to the finish at the football ground.

The cyclists posed for photographs next to the statue of Sir Bobby Robson, former Ipswich Town and England Manager, before heading for some much needed refreshments!

Together, they have raised over £3,000 which is being split between the Woodland Trust, Macmillan Cancer Support and the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

For anyone wishing to donate, please visit: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SomeoneSpecial/Ride4Rob