We are happy to announce TOFS 2024 RideLondon team!
- Richard Moore
- Bhaskar O’Shea (own place)
- Ricky Roberts
- Mark Russell
- Andrew Wasley
Want to join the team? Click here to apply.
Please read on to see their stories and consider supporting them via People’s Fundraising.
Richard Moore
In 2012, our daughter Lily was born without much of her oesophagus. The condition, OA/TOF was identified the day she was born and so started the journey that began with ambulances, surgery and intensive care, that now outwardly appears like nothing ever happened.
Part of the reason for her incredible outcome with this condition was the invaluable support of the TOFS charity. Connecting us with experts and specialists as well as parents also experienced in this rare condition meant we were able to learn so much and get the best possible help, guidance and techniques to guide her through the early years.
Amazing moments such as the first time she was able to swallow difficult foods, manage her own eating and now inhale platefuls of pretty much anything are a testament to the help we’ve received from TOFS.
I ran the marathon for them back in 2014 and now, almost 10 years on, want to do my bit again in the 100 mile (160km) bike race “RideLondon” for them.
This is a small charity for a rare condition. And, as such it doesn’t get nearly the amount of funding that it could, compared to bigger charities. So many new parents of OA/TOF kids are right now going through anxiety, worry and blind spots that this charity can help them with. Do consider donating a little to help them and I promise to never let up when my legs start to burn!
Your support and donations make you all so awesome!
Bhaskar O’Shea
After already conquering London on foot (by completing the 2023 London Marathon for TOFS), Bhaskar has decided to take it on by bike too!
Using his own place, Bhaskar is riding the 100 mile course in support of TOFS and his nephew who was born with oesophageal atresia.
Ricky Roberts
Hi, I am Ricky. Father of 4, my youngest, Chester, was born in December 2020 with OA/TOF. He underwent surgery at 2 days old to separate his fistula and to connect his long gap, this was followed by 10 further surgeries over the 1st year of his life.
Prior to Chester’s birth my wife and I had no idea of this condition. We were informed he had been born with OA/TOF and were pointed towards TOFS for information and support. We relied heavily on the charity’s materials to educate our selves on what the future had in store for the whole family.
I am taking part in RideLondon-Essex 100 as I am a passionate cyclist of all forms and I love a challenge.
This will tick another event off alongside riding John o’Groats to Land End, running the London marathon twice and completing many half marathons for different causes over the years.
Chester is larger than life and loves to ride his bike. He never lets his conditions hold him back and by the age of 2 ½ already had his first gold medal at a balance bike downhill event, was riding his pedal bike and loved riding the ramps at the skate park.
He will be in London cheering me on with my wife and 3 daughters and I will be thinking off them all, especially him during the 100 miles, desperate to see him at the finish line.
I feel so grateful for this place in the event and the opportunity to give something back to such an amazing charity which we rely on heavily, and believe we always will.
Mark Russell
My son Caleb was born in July 2022 with OA/TOF.
Within hours of being born, Caleb was taken from Darlington Memorial Hospital to the Children’s hospital at the RVI in Newcastle where he underwent corrective surgery.
The whole experience in those first few days was frightening, but thankfully we had a whole support network around us that provided everything we needed.
Caleb then went on to have an Aortopexy to try and improve his Tracheomalacia, again at the RVI. Thankfully it helped and he improved.
As all parents of children born with OA/TOF know, you go from one issue to the next. Blue episodes, paramedic visits, stressing about weaning. It’s a lifelong journey.
Thankfully TOFS is with us all the way and has been an enormous source of support and information.
I was excited to get the message from TOFS that I had been selected to represent them at the 2024 Ride London 100 Mile event. It gives us an opportunity to try to give something back.
I’m a keen cyclist but since the arrival of the little ones I’ve not had the time I used to. So this is going to be a tough challenge! I look forward to meeting my teammates and providing support.
Andrew Wasley
I’m taking part in RideLondon in support of TOFS. TOFS is a charity which means a great deal to me and my family, As our son, Matthew now aged 34 was born with OA/TOF.
A talented footballer at 6’4 and he’s gone on to own his own estate agency in Gloucester and is a father of a lovely daughter with another child on the way. I hope this gives hope to those parents of children who have challenged with OA/TOF, as Matt has not allowed his condition to stop him from achieving things in life.
