Cornwall 2 Cymru by CHOPPER Challenge

To introduce myself, my name is Bob Jones and this year, I reach the milestone age of 50. Rather poignantly, my Dad Malcolm was only 50 when he lost his battle with cancer in 1999. He was cared for in his last days by the brilliant staff at Cornwall Hospice Care (Mount Edgcumbe Hospice). Similarly, my Father-In-Law Roy received fantastic care by the equally brilliant staff at Severn Hospice in Shrewsbury. Our families were so fortunate to have these organisations available to us when we needed them most and without the charitable donations that sustain them, families like ours would not be able to receive this wonderful care.

To mark my 50th year and the 25th year since we lost Dad, my plan is to try and raise some money by cycling a 350 mile route from my childhood home in Cornwall to my current home (from home) Newtown (Powys) Rugby Club, stopping off at Mount Edgcumbe Hospice in St Austell and Severn Hospice in Shrewsbury on the way. Any funds raised will be split equally between these two amazing care providers, in memory of our Dads.

The twist in this one is that along with some mates, this battered old 50-year-old will be attempting this challenge on an equally battered old 50(ish)-year-old Raleigh Chopper, exactly like the one given to me by my Mum and Dad when I was nine! Anyone who remembers riding a chopper will know they are not built for distance, but we will be aiming to cover 50 miles a day over 7 days, finishing on Sunday 16th June, Father’s Day 2024! 💜

Thank you for reading.

Bob Jones

Severn Hospice is with families from the moment they're referred to its care for as long as they need it, and it does this every day, all day for anyone in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Mid Wales who needs that help.

It does this for them for free, but it is not without cost and it can't happen without you. For every £1 you donate, the hospice will spend 88p directly on care – and use the remaining 12p to make another £1.

Last year, all those individual donations meant the hospice could be there when it mattered for 3,000 local families.