Veterinary surgeon Gareth Hateley and his 17 year old son Ben will set off on 12 August to cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise funds for VBF - the charity which supports veterinary professionals.  Gareth Hateley is the Honorary Secretary of the British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA) which has supported the VBF for many years. 

Along the 1,000 mile journey they will be staying with other veterinary surgeons and hoping for donations and a good breakfast before posting a photograph of their hosts each morning on Vetlife’s Facebook and Twitter

Gareth was inspired to do the ride having seen how VBF supported a brilliant young veterinary student called Clare that he was at Cambridge with after she developed a brain tumour.   Clare was delighted to hear that Gareth and his son are going to do the ride for VBF and commented: 

“ ‘I never thought it would happen to me’ is perhaps a hackneyed phrase but, nevertheless, a true one. As students, we imagine our veterinary careers stretching out happily before us until we retire, financially secure after our lives as vets. But, unfortunately, things don’t always work out like that − as in my case. The VBF can’t turn the clock back and change lives, but they can lighten the load enormously for vets and their families who have not been as lucky as others.”

Donations can be made on-line or by sending a donation cheque made out to “VBF” and marked GH on the back to the VBF office at7 Mansfield Street, London W1G 9NQ.  If you are happy to Gift Aid your donation, please state this and provide your name and address with the cheque. 

You will be able to follow Gareth and Ben’s progress on facebook.com/VetlifeVBF and twitter.com/VetlifeVBF.