On 16th September 2021, one of my favourite people died of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. I knew Geoff Hill for longer than I didn't: amongst other things, it's Geoff's fault that I'm a Crystal Palace fan!

He was funny, smart, daft, great company, full of energy and ideas and it's hard to believe that he's not around anymore. Geoff was a fantastic dad to Emily, Olivia and Alfie, and a wonderful husband to Nat. I know he’ll always be loved and missed and very fondly remembered by them, and also his mum Pauline, dad Robin, siblings Matt and Laura, and his many friends.

I never knew that every fourteen minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with some form of blood cancer. Until his dying day, Geoff was working hard with Cure Leukaemia so that no one else would have to go through what he had gone through.

Nat recalls, "I remember ironing him a shirt for an online meeting that he held with Cure Leukaemia’s board in the weeks leading up to his death. For two hours he spoke with them. He asked questions, gave tips and ultimately inspired them. ‘Aim high’, were his parting words to that board. They were completely bowled over."

This September I'll be getting back on the bike and joining some proper cyclists for 10 days and cycling between some of the Trials Acceleration Programme (T.A.P.) Centres that are run by Cure Leukaemia in the United Kingdom. The total distance will be well over 1100 rolling miles, so it’s no cakewalk!

There is an element of serendipity to this challenge as it will fall on the two year anniversary of Geoff's passing, and the tour will be led by ex-Crystal Palace captain and Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia survivor, Geoff Thomas.

He knew Geoff through Cure Leukaemia and was good enough to come to his funeral, as was Palace chairman Steve Parish. I hope that the notion of me struggling around the UK some way behind GT would give GH a chuckle!

Cure Leukaemia's sole aim is to eradicate blood cancer within a generation by funding their T.A.P. centres in cities all across the UK: Belfast, Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, Oxford, Cardiff, London, Southampton, Bristol and of course their HQ based at the Centre for Clinical Haematology in Birmingham.

This network enables the accelerated setup, recruitment to and delivery of new blood cancer clinical trials that connect patients of all ages and from all parts of the UK with potentially life-saving treatments not currently available through standard care.

So that's whys and the wherefores. You and I know it's a terrific cause: every pound donated will go to Cure Leukaemia to fund nurses, drugs and therapy treatments, so please, please help and give whatever you can to honour Geoff's memory.

The target is a mighty £5000. If we reach that amount, I’ll add £1000. In Geoff’s words, “Aim high”!

All the best,

Simon.

PS Two more favours, if you can? Please share the living daylights outta this fundraiser on Facebook, Twitter or wherever, and please think about becoming a blood donor.

PPS I'll be keeping a blog going at https://cheersguv.blogspot.com/

Cheers Guv'!