Written by Neil Williamson, supporter of St Ann’s Hospice
As an avid cyclist, I’m excited to be taking on this European adventure by cycling from Lisbon to Manchester to raise money for two charities close to my heart.
My mum was cared for by St Ann’s Hospice by the Hospice @ Home team and at their Little Hulton site. After my mum died in 2017, I almost immediately started bereavement counselling with Hazel Wilcock from the hospice.
Hazel was instrumental in helping me through some of the darkest and toughest times of my life. I was devastated to hear she died in 2021 when I tried to get back in touch with her, so I ever since I have wanted to push myself to raise as much money for the hospice in her memory.
Another charity I am supporting is the Jamie Horrocks Trust. Jamie was a friend of mine, we were friends since being teenagers and played football together for over 10 years. He was well loved by everyone in the local area and is sorely missed. The trust was established in February 2015 in memory of Jamie who took his own life in 2013, aged 37.
The trust raises funds in Jamie’s name for community-based projects that reduce the risks and support those affected by suicide.
I have always been mindful that I wanted to take on a particularly challenging fundraiser, and losing these people close to me has given me the motivation to dedicate myself to this.
I’ve set the target of £8000 to raise, as I attempted this challenge last year and raised £5000 but had to drop out as I injured myself and couldn’t continue. I am determined to finish my challenge this time.
Taking on this cycling fundraiser again, I want to raise even more to beat last year’s efforts and make myself to do something that’s going to push me far beyond anything I’ve done before!
As well as covering over 2000 miles, I’ll be riding up hills that are equivalent to riding up Everest nearly 3 times – almost 80,000 feet of climbing!
I’m hoping to cycle at least 130 miles a day, with my target set at 16 days to cycle from Lisbon, down to near Gibraltar and then up through Spain and France before I arrive back in England and up to Manchester.
I’ll be cycling by myself and carrying all my gear with me so I’m as prepared as I can be with supplies to camp and keep myself going!
Both charities mean so much to me, I want to honour both of them with my fundraising. I’ll be forever grateful for St Ann’s Hospice who supported my Mum, and on the back of that support she was able to live again for a short period before she died.
Please donate if you can to my Just Giving page, it would be amazing to give as much as possible to the charities that I have such special connections to – https://www.justgiving.com/page/neil-williamson-2023.
I will be setting off from Lisbon on Wednesday 24th May, you can keep up to date with my cycling progress on my Instagram @n_will.i.am.son or Strava:www.strava.com/athletes/802261.
