A MOTORBIKE-loving south Warwickshire duo are taking on the Saddlesore 1000 Challenge in aid of a cause close to their hearts.
Eight daring riders, including James Ricardo and Nigel Maris, are embarking on a journey to ride 1,000 miles on motorbikes on Wednesday September 6.
To make it even more challenging, they have a time limit to complete the journey in under 24 hours, all while raising vital funds for The Myton Hospices.
James said: “When we were having discussions on which charity to support, Myton was an obvious choice for me. Someone else mentioned Myton, and I knew Nigel also had personal connections, so it was a no brainer.”
James’ mum, Andrea, was diagnosed with a stage four brain tumour in September 2016.
Starting chemotherapy and being in and out of hospital for months, Andrea was admitted to Warwick Myton Hospice in early 2017.
After six weeks at Myton’s Inpatient Unit, Andrea died on March 28 2017, six months after her diagnosis.
Nigel’s first-hand experience with Myton started with his first wife, Lynn, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1991, spreading to her brain. Lynn spent two and a half weeks at Warwick Myton Hospice where she spent her final days. Lynn died in 1995.
Nigel’s third wife, Mel has been battling cancer for 20 years. Initially diagnosed with breast cancer, it has now spread to her bones, skull and liver, and prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Mel was given a prognosis of three to four years. It is her wish to receive end of life care at Myton when the time comes.
Both James and Nigel developed a love for motorbikes from an early age, making this ambitious challenge a perfect fit for their fundraising efforts.
Initially setting a target of £1,000, the group and their supporters have gone above and beyond and have already raised over £3,000.
