WHY?

In celebration of the unforgettable life of Geoff 'Pikey' Pike, 1963-2025.

Since showing symptoms of Dementia in 2016 and a formal diagnosis of Frontal Temporal Dementia (FTD) in 2017, we progressively lost Geoff over the last nine years, with the final farewell in August this year. It was truly heart-breaking to watch.

Dementia has to be one of the cruellest conditions known to man, Geoff's FTD subtype was Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) meaning his primary symptoms were communication related, particularly reducing his vocabulary to no vocabulary and leaving him no ability to understand the written or spoken word.

Other symptoms more generic to FTD emerged over time - for example, neglecting personal hygiene, OCD behaviours, loss of social norms, stopping all household contribution, eating with fingers and incontinence. Geoff spent the last five months of his life confined to bed until he finally passed away peacefully in his sleep with his wife Helen at his bedside.

Currently there is no cure or treatment for FTD of any subtype but trials are underway with encouraging signs to date, one of which Geoff was an early participant. Funds donated to the National Brain Appeal are invaluable as they aim to transform the lives of the millions of people living with neurological and neuromuscular conditions. They drive advancement by funding pioneering research, innovative treatments and world-class facilities – over and above what the NHS can provide

Since the charity was set up in 1984, they have raised more than £56m for ground-breaking projects.

HOW?

Twelve months of fundraising with events, challenges and sporting fixtures and all (in the words of Lennon/McCartney) 'With a little help from my friends'

November 2024 saw the launch of THE GEOFF PIKE CUP, the brilliant rugby fixture between two local 'rival' teams, Geoff's former club Oakham RFC and Stoneygate FC. The two fixtures last season helped raise a staggering £5,300 for the National Brain Appeal. Fantastic!

We were so lucky to have Geoff attend both matches in Uppingham and Oakham, with the latter seeing Geoff in high spirits and very vocal around the pitch and clubhouse. Sadly this was to be one of his last outings before permanently taking to his bed. One would never have envisaged that the next fixture would be the first memorial game.

April 2026, Oakham again host the Geoff Pike Cup, welcoming Rushden & Higham RFC Vets to the Showground. The cup has been recovered from Rhino's kitchen (sorry Helen!) polished and the high standard of rugby on display promises to match the excellent pre-match lunch. The vino will flow!

As we raised another glass to 'Pikey' over a curry following Geoff's wake, friend of over 45 years 'Mat Revitt' suggested we do 'something a bit different' for the upcoming Leicester Half Marathon... 'Let's run it three-legged !!!'

Back in 2024 Mat coached me round the course as I began my marathon training. I struggled to keep up as he excitedly bounced from one side of the road to the other, throwing high-fives, collecting sweets, ice poles and even chocolate bars (!) from the brilliant supporters out on the course.

On each of the few 'successful' training runs it was clear to see it was going to hurt, it was also apparent it's not too dissimilar to packing down in the second row of a scrum so the initial awkwardness of putting an arm around another bloke was quickly muted. As with my last few games with the 'Mighty Oaks', now two slow to play in the backs, we decided that in 'Donkey Row' Mat wears 4 and I wear 5, both having a preferred leg and like a scrum, we both need to be going in the same direction, hopefully forwards... No problem, until he catches a glimpse of a bag of Jelly Babies.

It was a fantastic day, amazing pre-race support from local radio meant spectators and fellow runners had heard about our quest, I'd like to say we laughed the whole way round but there were plenty of times we had to dig deep and really put in a shift. The single-file bridge over the River Soar was a comedic challenge but the only thing that brought us down was a lone traffic cone on Charles Street, neither of us spotting it as we waved to the crowds on the pavement.

A Thursday night back in November saw our charity Quiz Night in the barn at the beautiful Old Oak Farm Vineyard in Preston. A teams of 4 event, each entry included dinner and a prize draw ticket for a romantic stay for two at the vineyard Woodcutters Cabin. An amazing prize for which we are so grateful. Tickets sold out quickly and the event was a real success.

The brilliant Jon Wilson rocked out twenty guitar riffs for a LIVE music round, boosted by a round of applause after each one. Everyone really was THUNDERSTRUCK!

First fundraising event of 2026, a Coffee Morning in the village hall in Belton. The support from the village and local community is always fantastic and in truth, humbling. Donations of items for the raffle, baked goods to sell and offers of help in the kitchen. I think this is the event I worry about the most, what do you do with 100 eggs if nobody turns up??

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