Hi, Thanks for your time, and donation, it's going to a very good cause. A very brief overview of my story... and mums;

Mum received "the news", in March 2017..... Cancer, and it was stage 4. The primary was lung with secondary tumours in the lymph nodes. The development was fast and there was no cure.

She decided that she was not going to have chemo, so opted for immunotherapy. At first it worked and treatment was shrinking the tumors. But then the cancer hit back, HARD. 

In mid October 2017, I received a call from mum, at my home in France to say the prognosis was not looking great. I'd visited at easter for three weeks and had the most incredible time with mum and the rest of our family. 

So I was of the thought that I would not go out until the  last stages. But another family member called me to say that she was hoping I would come out. I was on a plane on the 31st of October and planned on spending about two weeks before returning home.

A side note; I'd signed up for the Etape Du Tour in mid October after completing a tour of the Touraine, a two day event of 184 km on the first day, and 149 km on day two. So I wanted a new challenge for 2018. This is a bike race for 15,000 amateur cyclists, it's raced in early June and takes place on exactly the same route as pros race as part of the Tour De France several days later.

While is was out (in Australia) I also wanted to get in some training in the sun so did a few rides early in the day and spent the rest of my time with mum. 

On the last day before flying out I had an big accident and don't remember any of the events at all. I was doing a 20km ride (fasted) before going out to breakfast with my brother and parents in Armidale. Mid ride I had an accident, which resulted in concussion and short term (6-7 hours) of memory loss. I had grazing all down my left side and I also suffered a fracture of my sacrum.

Somehow I got back on the bike and rode the 25 minutes back to mum and dad. They took me straight to hospital. I still don't remember any of the morning at all, not sure I ever will. 

I spent two nights in hospital, and another 10 or so days with mum and dad before heading home. In hindsight this was actually a massive bonus to spend more time with mum.

Mum was not in the best state at all when I left. She was listless and sleeping most of the time. She was flown to Newcastle on Thursday the 30th of November, as the doctors were going to drain some of the fluid from her around her heart. But she was too weak to undergo the op. 

She was with my brother and father when she died on the 4th of December very early in the morning. 

Since then we have had a very loving cremation and memorial service in her honour. It's so good to know she's no longer in pain, but is very definitely missed, and leaves a void in our lives as she was such a large presence to everyone who knew her.

I have decided to ride the Etape in her honour and would be most appreciative of any donation you can give. Thank you in advance, Charlie

P.S Just so you know, donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and secure. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to Tour De Cure. They allow you to donate in most currencies. This makes it the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for you & the charity.