A LARGE convoy of motorcyclists are gearing up for a charity ride across Dorset this weekend to raise money for a six-year-old boy with a rare tumour.
The ride is being organised by John Bramble, from Chickerell, whose grandson Stanley was diagnosed with a brain tumour in December last year after he suffered from migraines and was later admitted to Great Ormond Street Hospital.
His family, who live in Harlow, Essex, hopes to raise as much money as they can to provide memories for Stanley and his relatives.
Mr Bramble expects around 200 bikers will turn up on the day for the 50-mile loop around the county, starting in Dorchester, all dressed in Stanley’s favourite colour; lime green.
“We are fundraising for the memories of the future and for the family because they have not done anything since December together,” said Mr Bramble.
“They are now able to move into University College Hospital London, having been told before it would be Manchester or Germany - which concerned us with the flying.
“Stanley started another round of treatment on Monday, he’s got that for six weeks and his parents will be there for the full seven weeks - having just finished seven weeks of chemo.
“But things are a lot more positive now, not long ago we were thinking he maybe had five or six years left.
“However, they have managed to get out 95% of the tumour, which has left him deaf at the moment because all the remaining tumour is around the ear canal.”
Following the success of the operation, which removed most of the tumour, Mr Bramble says the future is a lot more positive currently.
He continued: “Stanley has been amazing the whole time, he is always happy and he cannot believe what people are doing for him.
“We have a surprise video planned on the ride of all the bikers dressed in his favourite colour lime green.
“We’ll make our way towards Piddlehinton, through towards Blandford, Shillingstone, Sherborne and then Middlemarsh where we will all stop at the Hunters Moon for an hour in Middlemarsh for an hour.”
Mr Bramble has set a target to raise £15,000 which will be spent on activities for the family, helping pay for bills while the parents are with Stanley in hospital and adaptions to their home - so far they have raised £11,284.
He hopes to see as many people turn out for the bike ride, which departs Dorchester at 10.30am, both to take part in the ride and wave them all on, with further information available via the Fundraising Ride For Stanley Facebook page.
Donations can be made via https://www.gofundme.com/f/lets-help-little-stanley-on-his-cancer-journey
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