What do I have to thank St Catherine’s Hospice for?

In January 2023 my dad was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer. Although he was cared for at home by my mum, the support provided by St Catherine’s was invaluable.

My dad passed away in April 2023. Sadly, three months later my mum was also diagnosed with terminal cancer. Despite having radiotherapy, the cancer was aggressive and my mum went downhill quickly. We cared for her at our home in her final few months until she passed away surrounded by family in February 2024.

At a time when the NHS was under massive stress, St Catherine’s was the driving force, the glue that held everything together, the ones organizing everything, “cracking the whip” with the doctors, district nurses, hospital departments etc. Providing total support for those suffering AND the families of those suffering. They can only continue to do all this with the support and financial help from the likes of you and me.

I never realized just how much St Catherine’s provide for my community. Those who have experienced this, know how brilliant they are. Those who haven’t, I hope you never need to. But if you do, every member of St Catherine’s will be there, standing tall at the front of the queue ready to provide every element of support you need.

So now it’s my turn to repay them and try to raise some vital funds for the hospice. I don’t want to do something “fun” or easy. I want to do something that will push me to my limits, something that will take me close to breaking point, something that I feel I am more likely to fail at than to succeed.

In early April 2025 I plan to cycle from St Catherine’s Hospice to San Miguel de Salinas in southern Spain (via the Portsmouth to Santander ferry). I plan to do this within 7 days, including 36 hours on the ferry. Why San Miguel de Salinas? My mum and dad had a second home there and spent 25 happy years there. We also had many happy holidays there with them. So….

Total cycling mileage will be over 900 miles, in excess of 150 miles a day in the saddle.

I am a novice cyclist who will be 50 at the time of the challenge, so I have less than 4 months to turn myself into a pedaling machine. Follow my story here, support me in my challenge, support St Catherine’s Hospice in their immense work, and let’s see if this old git can overcome the odds and beat the clock #spaininsevendays 🚴