Jeffrey Burnside is well known to many people inside and outside of BOB (Bank of The Bahamas Limited) because he is always on the move. Working in the Communications Department of BOB he is responsible for ensuring the timely delivery of important documents and other materials between BOB’s thirteen branches and other important business connections.

But while many people know Jeffrey as the friendly, always positive and ever helpful face of BOB not everyone is aware of his background as a trailblazer in Bahamian sports. Jeffrey was one of the first Bahamians to ever compete in cycling at the Olympics. He and his brother Lawrence Burnside reached as far as the quarterfinal sprints at the infamous 1972 Olympics in Munich, breaking new ground for The Bahamas.

On Saturday, October 26, Jeffrey will ride again, competing not for Olympic glory but joining hundreds of other cycling enthusiasts in the fight against Cancer at the Ride for Hope in Eleuthera. He and his colleagues from BOB, a Purple Jersey sponsor of this year’s Ride for Hope are geared up and excited about the event.

“I love everything about it,” Mr. Burnside says of the 100 mile course that traverses the rolling hills of Eleuthera. “But most of all I’m happy I can support the cause.”

Like too many Bahamians Jeffrey’s family has been touched by the terrible blight of cancer. Three years ago he lost a nephew to pancreatic cancer and says he also has quite a number of friends who have lost loved ones to the disease. But Jeffrey is hoping that his fundraising efforts along with BOB’s generous donation and bank-wide fundraising initiative can help to turn the tide in cancer treatment and prevention in The Bahamas.

“I raised $400 last year and this year I’m hoping to raise $1000. I realize that things are hard for many people right now financially but I’m going to do my best,” Mr. Burnside says. And as his colleagues at BOB will attest when Jeffrey Burnside makes a promise you can take that to the bank!