My wife Philippa was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (a Blood Cancer) on 20th April 2022 and very sadly died on 22nd April 2022 while being treated with Chemotherapy at St James’s Hospital in Leeds. Leaving three young children aged 12, 10 and 6.

We are raising funds for research into treatments of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. Currently the survival rate for the type of Blood Cancer that Philippa had is just 10%. Research can made a real difference, through the work of BloodCancerUK the survival rates for childhood Leukaemia has improved from just 10% to over 85%. We want to support the same for Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.

With BloodCancerUK we are funding a specific research project into Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. A 3 year fully funded research programme will cost £300,000.

On May 4th 2024 (also known as Star Wars Day) I’ll be attempting to ride to the highest point on Earth and the closest point to Philippa in Heaven, to the top of Mount Everest. From sea level that is climbing 8,848m or 29,029ft!

I’ll be cycling on a hill in Birstwith that passes St James’ Church where Philippa is buried and Belmont Grosvenor School which Philippa was heavily involved in. The hill is steep….17% gradient as you pass the school and to complete the challenge I’ll need to complete the climb (and descent) 90 times. I expect to take around 20 hours of cycling starting at 4am and finishing at midnight.

Some of my great friends will be supporting riding with me and on the side of the hill cheering on. You are all very welcome whether on two wheels or not!

In April 2023 to mark the first anniversary of Philippa’s death I cycled 1,600kms from Land’s End to John OGrouts in just 8 days. 200kms a day, 2000m of climbing and around 12 hours of cycling every day for 8 days in a row.

I was supported all the way by three friends on bikes (Richard Baldwin, Adam Ellis and Anthony Frazer) and Miles Foster in the support vehicle.

Our story has been captured on our Instagram page

https://www.instagram.com/team_badger_lejog/

I’m delighted that through all these efforts we raised £200,000 towards this goal.

Thank you to those that have supported us so far.

I hope with your support we will this year be able to fully fund the vital research into this awful condition.

James, Isabel, Alice and Thomas