Ben, my son, and I wanted to do more than just send a cheque to a charity, we wanted to do something to remember Thomas, so we decided to cycle between his two favourite places. Lots of our friends said they would like to join us. Lets hope we can raise some money for the amazing charities that supported Thomas and his family.

My cousin Ted, Thomas's Dad, has written Thomas's story below.

Thomas died of a brain tumour when he was 13. It was his second brain tumour. His first was when he was just 1. He had two surgeries, chemotherapy and proton beam radiotherapy before he was 2. His second tumour reared it's head in March 2020 just as the world was locking down for COVID. Thomas went through more surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy again but the treatments didn't keep things at bay and he died at home 2½ years later surrounded by Becca, Ted and his two younger brothers Evan and Dewi.

Despite his illness Thomas always strove for excellence. He had aspirations to be an architect and would spend hours building things, with Lego, with Kapla, or with Grandpa in the wood workshop. He made a kit go-kart with Grandpa one summer and it still goes up and down the fields at the farm with his brothers in it. Thomas played the drums (taking his grade 2 when he was on chemo) and county level hockey. He loved his school and managed to keep going in right up until the month before he died.

The bike ride links Thomas's two favourite places. Liverpool his home and the farm where he spent so many happy days sanding wood and nagging Grandpa to make something else with him. Thomas was born in Liverpool and was a proper Scouser. He loved his tracksuits and sports wear, yet also embraced the farm and the countryside.

In his last few years, Thomas and the family received help from so many people and the bike ride gives us a chance to give back. The charities that helped were:

Claire House - Liverpool and the Wirral's children's hospice www.clairehouse.org.uk

Chics (Liverpool's children's cancer charity) https://www.justgiving.com/liverpoolchics

Molly Olly's Wishes. www.mollyolly.co.uk

We have also supported The Brain Tumour Charity. www.thebraintumourcharity.org (please mention Thomas so that money is channeled towards children's brain tumour research)