6:50am Monday 6th September 2010
By Paul Teed
A professional cyclist who died five years ago will be remembered at a special fundraising event to help talented young riders achieve their dreams and race in Europe.
John Ibbotson, who lived in Withybed Corner, Walton-on-the-Hill, was a health conscious and athletic 27-year-old when he was suddenly killed by an undetected heart condition on September 27, 2005.
He had just retired from professional cycling and devoted his time to coaching, helping aspiring riders to meet their goals.
Dozens of cyclists will descend on Walton-on-the-Hill on Sunday, September 26, to take part in the John Ibbotson Fund’s Cake Quest, riding between tea and cake shops in Surrey along four different routes.
Mr Ibbotson’s fiancee Samantha Maskell, 28, who now lives in Ashtead, set up the fund which has raised thousands of pounds towards sending young riders abroad.
She said: “His mum and I set up an account immediately after his death as many cheques began to come in. We quickly raised over £5,000 and decided we wanted to put something back into cycling.
“With the help of some good friends in the cycling community we set up the John Ibbotson Fund. We hold regular fund raising events where we raise at least £2,000 at each event. We continue to work hard to raise money as we require £5,000 a year to send two young, aspiring cyclists to a team in France or Belgium with accommodation.
“Our aim is to give as many cyclists as we can the opportunities that John had, with unlimited advice, guidance and support.”
Mr Ibbotson died of arythmagenic right ventricular dysplasia. It left the cycling community in shock and led to it trying to raise awareness of sudden cardiac death in young people.
Professional cyclists Sean Yates and Dan Lloyd have helped the fund by coaching some of the riders and finding them teams.
Mrs Maskell, a nursery school teacher, said Mr Ibbotson loved finding the best tea and cake shops on his training rides around Surrey and Sussex.
The fundraising event will follow four routes named after his favourites - the 15km off road fairy cake ride, the 60km Jaffa cake ride, the 110km carrot cake ride and the 150km fruit cake ride.
Cyclists will need to pay £20 to take part, or £10 for under 16s, and will start and finish at the Walton-on-the-Hill community centre, in Breech Lane, Tadworth.
For more information and to apply for a place, visit www.ibbocakequest.com.
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