Businessman raises £44,000 for local cancer patients.

Online, April 5, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Sheffield businessman, Mark Wilson is part of a dedicated team that has raised £44,000 for his home city's specialist cancer hospital, Weston Park in recent years.

Mark, director of WD Bathrooms, co-organises the Wharncliffe Weekender bike race, supported by his friends and cyclist Steve Peat - winner of the downhill mountain bike world championship in Australia last year.

In February, Mark, Steve and his fellow organisers Andrew Hardman, Wendy Duggan, Max Feetham, and Maxine Gregory were invited to Weston Park to hand over their latest donation of £15,000 which will support the Teenage Cancer Unit. The money has been used to improve the unit for teenage patients with items such as plasma TVs, chairs, games consoles and a juke box.

Mark said: "It is great to be able to put something back into the community. We are all from Sheffield and chose Weston Park as we have family and friends who have been treated at the hospital. It is amazing to think we have managed to raise £44,000 for cancer patients so far and are very grateful to everyone who supports us each year."

The Wharncliffe Weekender has been running for four years and involves more than 800 keen cyclists of all ages and from across the country, paying to race around a unique course at Hallfield Head Farm, Wortley, just outside Sheffield. 2010 is a year off but the race will return in 2011.

"We look forward to the Weekender every year but we are having a break in 2010 because we are all so busy with work and family and cannot give it 100 per cent," Mark said. "This is not the end as we will be back in 2011 and want to raise even more money for Weston Park."

In the meantime, bike enthusiasts can keep up to date on news about the Wharncliffe Weekender and Steve Peat at www.wharncliffeweekender.com