Bike stolen from fundraising cyclist Zoe Fletcher (From York Press)

Bike stolen from fundraising cyclist Zoe Fletcher

9:09am Thursday 2nd September 2010 in

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A FUNDRAISER’S ambition to cycle the length of Britain in support of her father who has terminal cancer has been shattered after her bike was stolen.

Zoe Fletcher, who recently cycled 300 miles from London to Paris on the bike, raising £1,400 for Macmillan Cancer Support, said she was devastated her next challenge for the charity would now have to be abandoned.

She said she had locked up her £600 white Trek ladies hybrid bike in the cycle racks in Castle Street car park while attending York Crown Court for jury service on August 9 – but on her return, it had gone.

Zoe, 32, who works as Macmillan Cancer Support’s regional events co-ordinator, said: “There’s no way I can buy an expensive bike like that again, so that’s the end of the Land’s End to John O’Groats trip for now.

“Thanks to some dreg of society with no conscience, money has been taken away from people living with cancer.”

It was while Zoe was cycling from London to Paris that she received the news her father, John Bruntlett, had been diagnosed with prostate and secondary bone cancer.

She said: “When we arrived at the Eiffel Tower at the end I just burst into tears. It was very emotional.

“Working for Macmillan I’ve met a lot of people who have been affected by cancer, but when my dad was diagnosed it really hit home.

“It has spurred me on even further to raise money for the charity because our family may need their medical, financial or emotional support in the future.”

Zoe, who lives in York city centre, sold her car and took up cycling about two years ago in a bid to get fit, save some money and do her bit for the environment.

She said: “I’m sure a lot of people will be thinking that ‘it’s only a bike’, but it is not just a bike to me – it was my lifeline.”

The Press revealed last month that five bikes a day are being stolen in York despite a number of high-profile police operations to drive down the crime.

If anybody has any information about Zoe’s stolen bike, phone North Yorkshire Police on 0845 60 60 247.