The LCEF 4th anniversary is fast approaching and this has been yet another eventful and rewarding year. The fund has been growing from strength to strength, getting more and more support from the courier community and the wider cycling community.

The European Courier Calendar, our last fundraiser, has been a huge success and has been sold out all across Europe and further afield – so thanx to all of you out there who helped out and got your kit off – some of the proceeds went to the Warsaw Kurier Fund and some of it to the guys in Edinburgh to help them out with the organisation of the European Cycle Messenger Championships 2012. We’re hoping to give them another £500 soon so the sale of the calendar can benefit all the European couriers out there who given their time and energy. More calendars are on their way to London soon so if you didn’t get one, get in touch!!

The last month or so has seen several cycle couriers being involved in very serious accidents, all involving HGVS. The LCEF has paid out over £1000 to these riders who will be out of action for the next few months. One of them, Andrew Robinson, is still in hospital after a second operation on his leg and is not expected to ride again for another 6 months at least. Here’s Andy recuperating at home, squeezing out a smile for the camera.

One rider we haven’t been able to help though is Henry Warwick. Henry, a veteran courier, was killed 2 weeks ago after a collision with a coach on Bishopsgate in the CIty of London, which makes him the 9th London bicycle courier killed whilst at work. A memorial ride was held last Friday from the Foundry to the spot where Henry lost his life. About 200 people came, mostly messengers, to pay their respect and say their last goodbye. Accidents like these remind you how dangerous this job can be, even for the most experienced among us. So ride safe out there and don’t even think of undertaking that lorry when it’s turning left, you might not make it.

Following this tragedy and a post on the LFGSS forum highlighting the LCEF and our aim, we have received many donations from the general public, cyclists and non-cyclist alike from all over the UK. So thank you again for your generosity, it’s greatly appreciated and will go straight into the pocket of injured riders.

We will also meet this Thursday (23rd of February) around 7 o’clock at The Foundry to take a slow ride to the corner of Lower Thames st and Queen St Place EC4 to remember our friend, Sebastian Lukomski, who died whilst working on that day 8 years ago … not forgotten.

We’ll keep you posted with our coming fundraisers; a possible 4th anniversary party, the annual Donkey Derby and the much anticipated 5th edition of London’s Calling, which will be held in June as pre-event to the ECMC 2012 in Edinburgh… website up and running soon.

In the meantime, we have just received our biggest order of LCEF cycling caps, so if you need some stylish headgear, drop us a line. (These are also available at Look Mum No Hands on Old St, Velorution on Gt Portland St and Fullcity on Leather Lane).
And to keep you warm, hoodies are on coming soon all the way from Scotland and the House of Pistard: http://www.houseofpistard.com/).

Last but not least, Darren “Dazzler” Coxson has left the LCEF committee to apply himself to his studies, so we wish you all the best and thanx for your time and efforts over the past 4 years. You will be missed!