Local resident takes on 24-hour cycling challenge to raise funds for Ashgate Hospicecare’s Urgent Appeal
Tom Hodgson will cycle 315 miles on an indoor cycling machine for 24 hours straight to raise vital funds for patient care at a time when the Ashgate Hospicecare’s funding has taken a huge hit due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Tom Hodgson has previously been taking doorstep portraits of his neighbours to raise funds for the hospice’s Urgent Appeal, and now aims to cycle the distance from North Derbyshire to Dartmouth on an indoor cycling machine, starting on 3rd June for 24 hours straight.
Tom’s friend and fellow cyclist, Zach Law, recently took on the 24-hour indoor cycling challenge and has so already raised over £7,000 for Ashgate Hospicecare. Tom said: “I was truly inspired by the gruelling challenge that Zach took on, and the fact that he was able to raise so much money for the hospice.”
“I will be asking Zach for tips about how he coped, but it’s fair to say that this is going to take all my strength and determination, and will no doubt be the most physically and mentally challenging task I’ve ever set myself.”
Tom knows the importance of raising funds for the hospice as just over two years ago his father, John, was taken into hospital with a suspected heart attack. It transpired that John was actually suffering from a bleed caused by a tumour on his spleen. His family were told that the only treatment available was palliative and to prepare for the worst.
Tom said, “When my dad suddenly became ill, it was a huge shock for our family. After being told the gut-wrenching news that he wasn’t going to recover, all dad wanted was to stay at home and be cared for by my mum and us. He didn’t want to go into hospital to die.”
It was only with the help of Ashgate Hospicecare that Tom’s family were able to fulfil John’s wish as they were supported to care for him at home. Unfortunately, in the last days of his life, John became so unwell that caring for him at home was no longer possible and he had to go onto the ward at the hospice for round the clock specialist care.
Tom continued, “We couldn’t have wished for him to be in a more caring and compassionate environment. We received so much care and kindness from Ashgate, and thanks to them, there is now an endless support network for my mum as she tries to rebuild her life. I don’t think that until you have seen the support and care from the hospice first-hand you can truly appreciate what they do for people in their local community.”
“We had no idea about the services that Ashgate Hospicecare delivered until our family needed them. I’m determined to raise this money for the hospice because I know there will sadly be more families who will face a similar situation to us, and who will need the support of the hospice during their darkest times. We all need to do our bit to help them, so they can continue to be there for our community.”
Tom will be taking on this mammoth challenge on 3rd June, in honour of his father’s 74th birthday, and aims to cycle the huge distance of 315 miles on his indoor cycling machine in 24 hours, only stopping for comfort breaks.
The whole challenge will live streamed on YouTube here.
To show your support for Tom and to make a donation to Ashgate Hospicecare, go to Tom’s fundraising page: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/RidingDerbyshireDartmouth24.
Click here to find out more about Ashgate Hospicecare
