Hardened cyclist Gabrielle Collard, who last year cycled from one end of the country to another, writes:

Wansteadium reader Carole Edrich writes:

Hi there,

It’s 19 months since I finished six months of intravenous chemotherapy for aggressive breast cancer and I’m going to cycle solo to Trim in Ireland in aid of a lovely little charity that gives adapted bikes and trikes to kids whose lives have been affected by the disease (cyclistsfc.org.uk)

Depending on how fit I am (40 miles was hard two weeks ago but I’m getting stronger every day) and the extent I get lost (a normal occurrence – a 60-mile ride to Cambridge ended up as 85 because I accidentally circled a village instead of going through it) I’ll be cycling 500-900 miles in two weeks.

Bike Trax has been great and it would be great if Wansteadium readers could sponsor me; for the whole trip, per mile I manage (there’s no guarantee I’ll be able to do it all) or by the millimetres I lose from my waist. The donation site is www.justgiving.com/CyclistOnChemo or you can text a donation to 70070 with the code IRLC99 and the amount they want to donate ie “IRLC99 £1″

I will tweet about the trip from my account @CyclistOnChemo and if I have the energy will post blogs on it wherever I can. Please consider donating – these children have suffered enough.

Thank you

Carole

Following George C Parker’s thoughts about Olympic rentals in Wanstead, Wansteadium reader Suzi writes:

Dear Wanstead property owners.
Please don’t evict your loyal tenants for the prospect of easy Olympic money. I am a loyal tenant and my agreement is up for renewal before the Olympics. I am getting really worried. Don’t penalise us because banks won’t give us a mortgage without an impossible deposit in these dark days. We already pay your mortgage for you, please let us stay here in 2012! Thanks.

Following the opening of the new British Heart Foundation shop in Wanstead High Street, Wansteadium reader Guy writes:

Another charity shop, bad bad bad. The high street doesn’t need another. Is anybody actually attempting to sell Wanstead to young relatively affluent professional families (that Wanstead now has many of)? We need a decent clothes shop for the ladies e.g Whistles, and a family restaurant. Both would be good for the area and make an absolute killing. [Hardware shop] Robert Dyas, which was rumoured to be interested in the area would have been fantastic too. Shop freeholders lower your rents! It’s killing everybody new and putting off enterprising people who would like to set up shop!

Wansteadium’s food blogger Suki Orange adds:
I quite agree about the need for a good family restaurant. The continuing closure of Cook’s (formerly Seasons), apparently for refurbishment, is leaving a gap and I know some people are wondering if it will reopen. Like lots of people, I generally prefer independents to chains, but how often have I craved having a Strada on Wanstead High Street?

On Wansteadium’s Facebook page, Najma adds;
Wanstead has relatively affluent professional families, a decent clothes shop for the ladies and a family restaurant would make an absolute killing yet shop freeholders should lower their rent? It doesn’t quite make sense.

A new feature: a letter to Wansteadium. This comes from Helen Zammett. If you’d like to share something with the rest of  Wanstead, use the form on the right hand side of the page.

The future of Wanstead Hospital is in doubt as Health for NE London has continued with its proposal to close the two rehabilitation wards there.  This is in spite of the overwhelming opposition which the public showed at the meeting held by our local councillors this spring.

Health 4NEL said they had not thought further about the Hospital, which also has an outpatient service. Many people are concerned for the future of the hospital, fearing it may be sold for development.

Helen Zammett