Daughter greets cyclists at end of Ride for Robbie

Family of a man who died from cancer were at the finishing line to welcome riders who took part in a third charity cycle ride in his memory.

Spalding postman Ade Mills was one of those to take on the 120-mile Ride for Robbie to raise cash for cancer charities in honour of his former colleague Robbie Coats.

Robbie died from the disease five years ago.

And despite a few issues with the sat nav and a puncture, the riders returned to their starting point in Pinchbeck just about on schedule.

Ade was joined by Malcolm Smith, the former owner of Weston Post Office and Stores and Steve Allison, a postman from Sawtry in Cambridgeshire.

The trio were joined on the return leg of the ride from Walpole St Andrew by Tony Quinton, of Surfleet, who has taken part in the past two rides.

Ade said: “Tony is an inspiration and gives hope to other cancer sufferers everywhere as he is now six years in remission after major reconstructive surgery after having cancer in his chest.

“We started off in bright sunshine and a fairly strong wind, which accompanied us for most of the way, but despite a few technical issues with the sat nav, which made following the route difficult, we had a good ride with only a slight delay due to a puncture.”

As well as family and friends, the four riders were greeted at the finishing line by Robbie’s daughter Natalie Coats, who was there with her two daughters Katie and Kiera and her one-week-old son Barkley.

Ade said: “I just want to thank my friends, family and the people on my three rural postal delivery routes for their amazing support and generosity in making this year’s ride another success.

“I came up with the idea for the charity foundation in Robbie’s name five years ago and it keeps getting better and better.”

Ade now plans to take the venture in a different direction, but said there will always a cycle ride every two years.

He also hopes one day to organise and participate in a Spalding to Paris Ride for Robbie and a Land’s End to John O’Groats one.

He said: “I realise that i could not do any of this without the help and support I get from the very special people in my life, especially my girlfriend Annette Wade and my mum Annette Mills.”

Ade hopes the total amount raised from this year’s ride will be close to £1,500 and that will take the total raised in the last five years close to the £7,000 mark.

Anybody still wanting to sponsor Ade and his team can do so at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/rideforrobbie