Gary is taking on three epic cycling events later this year to raise money for the Hospice. He’s riding in memory of his mum, Diane, who was given end-of-life care by Willen at Home in 2024. During Diane’s final months, Gary saw the difference our support was making to his family and committed to designing his toughest challenge yet.
My mum, Diane, was the landlord of a pub in Buckingham. She was the life and soul of most things most of the time! She knew her own mind and loved spending time with her family.
Choosing quality of life
We unfortunately found out in September 2023 that Mum had cancer. The only thing they could offer her was immunotherapy. She asked doctors how much of that treatment time she’d spend being ill and they said quite a large majority, so she chose not to go down that route.
It was all really fast for us. She had her 70th birthday party six weeks early in a local pub. Then things kind of slid downhill from there. She passed away at home in April 2024 under the care of Willen at Home.
“Willen at Home were an absolute godsend…My sister and I could never have done it on our own.”
Tough time made easier
Willen at Home were an absolute godsend. Mum was very proud that her and Dad owned their house, so she never wanted to die anywhere other than at home. The only way that I feel she would have been able to do that was with the support of Willen at Home. My sister and I could never have done it on our own.
It was a tough time, but thanks to Willen at Home it didn’t feel quite so tough. They couldn’t have done more for us. We were very well supported as a family. One of the things that made it easier was that the Willen at Home team could do Mum’s medication for her symptoms. They could do all the little things that we would otherwise have had to get a doctor in to do. Mum didn’t have to be distressed when she didn’t need to be. She didn’t have to be moved if she didn’t need to be. And I think that made a hell of a difference to her end of life. It was much more relaxed.
One number to call
The biggest thing that allowed me to relax when it came closer to Mum’s time was not having to find which phone number to ring for advice. It was one number for Willen at Home and it was all taken care of for us, which gave us the time then to sit with Mum and just have those last three or four days that we wouldn’t have had if she had been somewhere else.
“I decided, even when Mum was still with us, that a fundraising challenge was something I had to do.”
None of us know what needs we’re going to have as we get older, or even next week to be honest. If Willen at Home didn’t exist, that care at home wouldn’t have been available to us. That’s why I decided, even when Mum was still with us, that a fundraising challenge was something I had to do.
A bucket-list ride
I’m doing three cycling events in 2026 to raise money for the Hospice. The first one will be London to Paris in July, which I’ve chosen to do on my own because it reminds me of my dad, who we lost in 2019. The bucket-list ride for most cyclists is Land’s End to John O’Groats. So I’ll be doing that one in September and on my own as well, because I don’t feel it’s fair to try and get anyone fit enough to join me! Three days after I get back, I’m doing London to Amsterdam with my son, Joel.
“Doing an 11-day ride, from Land’s End to John O’Groats, is slightly daunting.”
I’ve done London to Paris five times before, so I know the route and where I need to knuckle down. But doing an 11-day ride, from Land’s End to John O’Groats, is slightly daunting. It’s a bit like doing several ultra marathons back-to-back!
Chomping at the bit
Joel is joining me for London to Amsterdam. He’s the most laid-back 17-year-old you’ve ever met in your life. He chose to do the ride in memory of his nan, but this will be the first time he’s ever done any kind of cycling challenge. He’s only recently started riding a road bike. We’re just getting him used to his feet being clipped in! He’s chomping at the bit to start though. I think he’ll be absolutely fine. He’s a sportsman at heart and is determined to finish the ride.
‘If I can, you can’
I’ve started a podcast called ‘If I Can, You Can’. The idea is to show anyone who’s got an interest in raising money for a charity that it’s doable. I don’t know how many times people have said to me, ‘Oh, I couldn’t do that.’ You can!
My fundraising target is £5,000 over the three rides. Joel has a target of £3,000. That’s the minimum we want to raise, so there’s a lot of organising to do between now and the rides. Everyone’s feeling the pinch financially at the moment, so what we want to do is give people some kind of experience for their donations. Hopefully race nights, quiz nights and restaurant ‘set meal’ nights.
A real need for fundraising
“When you think about the £9.6 million that the Hospice needs to raise each year – that amount still blows my mind.”
Our £8,000 isn’t going to make a massive splash on its own, when you think about the £9.6 million that the Hospice needs to raise each year – that amount still blows my mind. But if no one did any fundraising, the Hospice would get nowhere near it.
The requirement for funding was a lot more than I expected. But it showed me that there is a real, real need for all of the effort that goes on in and around Milton Keynes to raise money for Willen Hospice.
Peaceful final weeks
“I think Mum’s final weeks would have been a lot harder without Willen at Home.”
Ultimately Mum got to die where she wanted to die. Without that care being available in her home, it wouldn’t have been an option. I think Mum’s final weeks would have been a lot harder without Willen at Home. If we’d had to wait for medication changes, for anything really, it would have been unbearable for her, which would have made it a lot harder for everyone else around her.
I can’t imagine Willen Hospice not being there, which is why we’re doing our bit to try and make sure that doesn’t happen.
You can find out more about Gary’s challenges through his podcast at www.shows.acast.com/if-i-can-you-can-from-bigbaldmediacycling
