In June, I’ll be cycling roughly 1,600km from Land’s End to John o’Groats (LEJOG). Here’s why…

My Mum, Penny Brown, completed her own “LEJOG” thirty years ago, in 1994. Purely by chance, she met my Dad on the Caledonian Sleeper on her way home.

Mum was a keen cyclist, accomplished artist, and talented musician. She played Viola at the Royal Opera House, and wrote and illustrated children’s books. She had plans to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in 2007, but was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and told that the trek would have to wait. Unfortunately, we found out her cancer was terminal around the time of my 11th Birthday. She deteriorated quickly, and passed away at home 4 months later, on 3rd March 2008.

During the time she was ill, our Macmillan nurse, Ann, was a key support. She helped me, my Dad, and my younger siblings understand what was happening and start to process our grief, as well as supporting Mum herself through the terrifying experience of cancer.

I’m fundraising for Macmillan to allow them to continue providing this same support to other families in our situation. Losing a parent was never going to be easy, but Macmillan were there to guide us through the difficulties.

We’re in a cost of living crisis so please only give what you can. If you’ll excuse the pun, every Penny counts!

Thank you so much,

Iz x

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