Ben Dorrington
Ben's Three Peaks Challenge in memory of Neil Vines
Fundraising for Neil Vines Trust
Story
I met Neil through his sister Sarah in 2011. He was fun loving, competitive and immediately took to mocking my dress sense and old car! I was struck by how talented he was in the fields of sport and music. I have fond memories of him taking me weight training at his gym and my chest aching for days afterwards! Annoyingly he could also throw a tennis ball much further than me as he liked to prove on several occasions! Positive in the face of adversity Neil is the bravest person I have had the privilege to call my friend.
Neil was just 19 when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour; the cancer was a highly aggressive form that had already spread to his spine by the time it was discovered. You can read more about Neil's story on the website www.neilvines.com. Neil fought this terrible disease for nearly 3 years, undergoing the harshest of treatment regimes that robbed him of his independence. Neil was cared for by his incredibly close family, and I was fortunate enough to share many happy occasions with them before and after his cancer diagnosis. Neil tragically passed away in April this year, having deteriorated very quickly. He left a huge hole not only in the lives of his family, but also everyone that had the pleasure of knowing him.
Neil achieved so much in his all-too-short life, and it was often said that he did more during the last 3 years of his life than many of us would achieve in a lifetime. He was renowned for his positivity and strength, never giving up his fight. Whilst he was poorly, Neil's most notable achievement was his charity static cycle ride from Lands End to John O'Groats, which he completed whilst undergoing Chemotherapy. He selflessly raised over £5,500 for Teenage Cancer Trust and then went on to take part in ITVs Text Santa appeal last year. His video helped to raise over 1 million for the cancer support charity. You can watch his video by clicking the link below.
Neil continues to inspire his family and friends each day, and one way of continuing his legacy was to establish a charity in his name. It is the Vines family's aim to provide other teenagers and young adults with the opportunity to enjoy special weekend retreats with their families - a service that was offered to them on many occasions by other charities during Neil's illness. The Neil Vines trust will offer a fully adapted lodge in a beautiful Cotswold location, where families can spend quality time together away from the harsh day-to-day routine of living with cancer.
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