Fight cancer for children.
I am cycling from Preston UK to Pescara, Italy in hope of raising funds to help fight cancer in children.
Starting on the 1st of July 2023 I will set off from my brothers bedroom in Preston and will be on the road to Pescara, Italy for as long as it takes to get there.
Why?
During the Covid 19 Pandemic in 2020, as a family we had some devastating news. After 10 weeks of speaking to doctors over the phone my younger brother, Massimo, eventually got a face to face appointment and a blood test. Massimo had been diagnosed with a rare leukemia.
Massimo was able to beat this leukemia once and have a bone marrow transplant. However, the leukemia returned and, after a 2 year rollercoaster battle, sadly my brother passed away.
I have never met anyone as strong and courageous as my brother. For me he is, and will always be, an inspiration.
I have chosen this specific challenge as cycling isn’t something I am particularly experienced in. My longest ride on planning this is around 20 miles! However, the task I am going to undertake will only take a fraction of strength, courage & resilience that Massimo had.
Why Pescara?
Massimo was very proud of his heritage. His family on his fathers side are from Pescara, Abruzzo Italy, a place where he unfortunately never got the chance to visit.
When he passed away I made him the promise in my head that he would see Pescara through my eyes & this is the reason I have chosen to end my journey there.
Why alone?
I am going to complete this challenge on my own to represent the challenges that Massimo faced whilst in Christie’s hospital during the Covid 19 pandemic.
He was unable to have visitors of any kind and was also unable to mingle with others in the hospital, other than nurses & doctors coming in his room for treatments etc.
Massimo missed his family tremendously in hospital and not being able to have visitors made this even more difficult for him. Due to this, I will be leaving behind my own family, including my wife and two young daughters, in order to complete this alone. Even this will not be a fraction of the difficulties that Massimo faced.
He was alone, taking on his biggest battle, showing his strength & bravery, fighting whatever was thrown at him. A situation most of us will never have to face.
Why The Azaylia Foundation?
Massimo was treated at the Teenage and Young Adult ward at Christie’s. Despite the difficulties he was going through, what upset him the most was seeing young children going through similar situations and treatments.
Whilst fighting his own battle he was aware of Azaylia Diamond Cain and what she was facing at such a young age.
Stories such as Azaylias broke his heart.
I believe that Massimo would have chosen a cause that would help the children facing similar situations as him and Azaylia.
I have followed Azaylias story and what her parents, Ashley and Safiyya, have done founding the Azaylia foundation.
The Azaylia foundation are committed to advancing early diagnosis and new treatment availability in the UK, while at the same time supporting children fighting cancer by helping them access treatment not covered by the NHS. They want to change a system that considers childhood cancer to be rare, and as a result, has been underfunding childhood cancer for too long.
Please visit theazayliafoundation.com for all the information on this charity.
I believe this charity would sit close to his heart and therefore have chosen for donations to go to them.
The plan (this will constantly change/update up until the date)
On the morning of July 1st 2023 starting at Massimo’s bedroom in Preston, I will start cycling my long journey to Pescara.
So far I have estimated this, using mapping systems, to be around 1800 miles.
I have the whole month of July to make it happen but would like to complete this journey in 3 weeks.
I am planning on cycling 80-100miles per day.
Route - The route I had in mind was heading down to dover - ferry to Calais - Belgium - Germany - Alps - Italy - Pescara. (The alps may be a problem here so I may need to rethink my options)
Accommodation - currently I have three options in my head:
1) A support vehicle such as a camper van following the route which can meet me at certain check points. (This can hold spares for mechanical reasons, food & water etc.)
2) I can go bikepacking (storing all of my gear/ spares/ clothes/ tent in panniers on my bike) I can check into hotels, airbnbs & hostels as I see fit.
3) Planning ahead with Hotels, hostels, Airbnb and utilising ‘Warmshowers’ & ‘couchsurfing’.
Current sponsors:
Williams Handbaked - Food & Accommodation
@williamsbaked
www.williamshandbaked.co.uk
Merlin Cycles - Bike
@merlincycles
www.merlincycles.com
Walmsley Tree Contractors - Equipment
@Walmsleytreecontractors
www.walmsleytreecontractors.co.uk
Dedicated Personal Training/ Dedicated Supplements - Sports nutrition guidance & supplements
@dedicatedhq
@dedicatedsupplements
www.dedicatedhq.com
Keep Pedalling- Advice & Equipment
@Keep_Pedalling
www.keeppedalling.co.uk
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@preston2pescara (fundraiser page)
@theazayliafoundation
@billy_dedicated
Organizer
Billy Walmsley
Organizer
The Azaylia Foundation
Registered nonprofit
Donations eligible for Gift Aid.
