A Beaconsfield father-of-two has cycled 100 miles in memory of his friend who died of a brain tumour.
Alex Speculand completed the Ford RideLondon-Essex 100 on May 28 in aid of the charity Brain Tumour Research.
The challenge saw him set off from Victoria Embankment in Central London and cycle through the boroughs of Westminster, City of London, Tower Hamlets, Newham, Hackney, Waltham Forest and Redbridge, before heading into Essex via Epping Forest, finishing at Tower Bridge in Southwark.
He pedalled through some of the most picturesque towns, villages and countryside in Essex, including Epping, Ongar, Great Dunmow, Felsted and Writtle, with a section of the route a replica of the 2014 Tour de France stage that went through Essex.
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Alex’s support of the charity comes from his friend Mickey Radice, who he met at National Childbirth Trust (NCT) classes he attended when expecting his older son, who is now aged 10.
Mickey, who also lived in Beaconsfield, fought a brain tumour for 14 years, undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy, before passing away in February 2019.
He was 45 years old and left behind a wife and two children.
Alex, 40, said: “He was a really nice guy. When it came to his funeral, we couldn’t fit everyone in the church, and it was massive, which I think says a lot about him.
"Many people call him a legend, and he was.
"He had time for everyone and was just the nicest guy you could meet. I hit it off with him immediately.”
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“The thing I’ve found shocking is the number of people who’ve sponsored me that know someone affected by a brain tumour, including one of my parents’ friends who is going through treatment at the moment.
“I want to raise awareness of the disease and the need for more investment in research. I also know how much Brain Tumour Research helped Mickey and am trying to give something back.”
To support Alex’s fundraising, visit www.justgiving.com/page/alex-speculand-1682330582200.
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