The Nello – “Il Ventesimo” – June 30th, 2019
by Marc Millon
It’s hard to believe that this year’s Nello century cycle in aid of Force Cancer Charity will be the 20th: “Il Ventesimo”. The classic 100 mile ride over the roof of Exmoor and back, as well as the shorter but no less challenging 57 miler, have been achieved by literally tens of thousands of cyclists over this period and in the process an aggregate total of more than £900,000 has been raised to allow this important local organisation to serve our community and help so many in times of need.
When more than 20 years ago, in October 1999, I pledged at the funeral of Topsham restaurateur Nello Ghezzo to begin a commemorative cycle ride in his honour and memory, we never could have believed or hoped that such a positive and life-affirming event would result from our community’s collective sadness and grief. Nello’s death from cancer at the age of only 50 had come as a terrible shock to everyone. It was only two years earlier that Nello and I had cycled from Topsham to Venice, Italy (where he was from) to raise money for Force.
Thus, at the end of June, 2000, some 90 cyclists lined up on Topsham Quay to embark on a route that he and I had originally ridden while training for our cycle to Venice. That first ‘Nello’ was a true Topsham community event, with friends and customers of Nello’s Ristorante riding, scores of people contributing generous quantities of wonderful home-baked and -made foods for the cyclists to enjoy en route, and with so many Topsham people volunteering to help with the logistics of the ride and with manning the various support stops along the way. Even the medals in those days were uniquely handmade, a piece of pasta lovingly super-glued onto each.
Over the years, the ride has grown and and grown, with more cyclists than ever excited to take on the ‘Nello challenge’. Over this same period, Force Cancer Charity has grown and grown, expanding its essential support and treatment role within Exeter across the wider Devon community. We were delighted and proud that the substantial sums that early years of The Nello Century Cycle Challenge raised were able to be put directly towards the construction of the Force Cancer Support and Information Centre that has become such an important and valuable hub for those touched by cancer. Force’s important services and support work continues to grow, both from its Exeter home as well as in new outreach centres in Okehampton, Tiverton and Honiton. This vital work is only possible through the constant and diligent efforts of Force’s fundraising team, and the immense support of volunteer fundraisers in communities throughout Devon.
This year’s ride, “Il Ventesimo”, will take place on Sunday June 30th and I am looking forward to it more than ever. Sarah Daniels, Force’s dynamic fundraiser who has organised The Nello for more than a decade, expects demand to be greater than the 1500 places usually available. ‘There is already immense excitement for this year’s 20th Nello, “Il Ventesimo”,’ she says, ‘We want to make sure it is an extra special occasion for all who take part. The Nello is our most important single fundraising event, of course. We have set ourselves an ambitious target of raising £100,000 from the ride this year and wouldn’t it be fabulous if “Il Ventesimo” is the year that takes us over the £1 million mark! Equally important, we will do everything to ensure that this year’s special ride is a real celebration of all that The Nello stands for.’
I am aware that these days the vast majority of cyclists taking part in The Nello may never have known Nello – in fact, this year there will certainly be cyclists taking who were not even born when he made Topsham his home. Yet I feel more strongly than ever that Nello’s spirit, his love of community, his zest for life and living, his enjoyment of food (food has been and remains an incredibly important part of The Nello) still continues to inspire this wonderful event. This is in no small measure because similar values underpin Force in everything that this dynamic charity aims to achieve. Quite simply, The Nello remains as it always has been from the start: a special life-affirming sporting challenge in support of a very special life-affirming organisation.
We hope that this special year, “Il Ventesimo”will inspire more people than ever to take on The Nello challenge. If you’ve never ridden The Nello before, we urge you to get your entry in early and to begin training in the coming months; if you rode The Nello in the early years but haven’t ridden it again for a while, then rediscover the beauty of the route and the satisfaction that comes from taking part in an event that brings so many people together to ride, eat, support, laugh, cry, suffer, celebrate, remember, and, above all, to raise lots and lots of money for Force.
Kim and I look forward to seeing you – at Force fundraising events throughout 2019 . . . and on the start line!
If you would like any advice about doing The Nello (training tips, local cycling routes), if you would like to organise an “Il Ventesimo” fundraising event, or help in any way, please don’t hesitate to contact me by email marc@quaypress.com
