On his 63rd birthday my Dad was diagnosed with aggressive, advanced prostate cancer. After only a few days of letting that news sink in, he decided to face it head on and fight! He stopped drinking alcohol and coffee, stopped eating red meats and refined sugars, ate only organic food. He swapped his traditional pedal cycle for an electric assisted mountain bike and went out and had some wonderful adventures for as long as he could.

Dad absolutely loved his bike and getting outdoors. He would ride miles and miles in a day. Often telling people later on that he used to ride 60 miles a day and how could he get better so he could do that again.

Cancer took away so much from Dad. His freedom, his future, his ability to walk, and later some of his cognitive functions. But it never, ever, took his courage, spirit or bravery.

On the 22nd August 2018, he finally stopped fighting.

John Eastwood hospice cared for Dad in his last few weeks with us. They also have cared for me, and my family. The hospice relies 100% on donations and yet it is such an important piece of our healthcare in the UK. Please give generously to continue the help and support they offer to patients and their families throughout very difficult times.

Dad rode the Devon Coast to Coast a few years ago and asked if I wanted to do it with him. I’m overweight, unfit, have a dodgy knee and a cheap bike that gathers dust. I politely declined. Today I inherited Dad’s bike and I am going to ride that coast to coast on his bike to raise money for John Eastwood hospice. But I’m also going to make sure that I continue to have adventures on Dad’s bike far beyond this ride.

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