Team to fund BMX project using pedal power to get to Paris
Seventeen-year-old Tom Slater, of Benham Hill, was killed last year on the A339 between the Robin Hood and Vodafone roundabouts.
Now a charity fund has been set up to provide an area of leisure facilities, activities and opportunities for youngsters – and the first big fundraising event is a three-day sponsored cycle ride to Paris.
Tom’s father Paul ‘Curly’ Slater, said that they needed to raise about £25,000 – with Greenham Common Trust pledging to double people’s donations – to build a new bike track and seating area at Henwick Worthy Sports Ground to replace the old single ramp.
He said: “The BMX track was somewhere that Tom spent a lot of time. He always said ‘why can't we have a proper one there?’
“It is something that we wanted to do and something that needs doing. We just want to help the local community.”
A 35-strong team of friends and family members will take on the challenge to cycle from Tom’s memorial bench in Henwick field to the Eiffel Tower – a total of 232 miles – starting on Sunday, May 19, exactly a year since he died.
Mr Slater said that each participant will pay for their own travel, accommodation and food so that every penny raised will go directly to the Thomas Slater Fund. He added: “Most of the people taking part are people who knew Tom, but others just wanted to help out.”
Recently banners have started appearing around Newbury and Thatcham printed with the logo and the words ‘What’s it all about?’ Mr Slater said that this was his way of encouraging people to talk about the fund and log on to the website.
Volunteers will also be collecting donations in Northbrook Street, Newbury, this Saturday , from 10am until 4pm.
To sponsor the team and to find out more visit