AN INSPIRATIONAL Uphampton man has harnessed pedal power and cycled 112 miles raising nearly £3,000 for charity.
Chris Wilkinson cycled the Ring of Kerry in Southwest Ireland to raise funds for Acorns Children’s Hospice in memory of his daughter Anna.
In January 2016, 18 months after being diagnosed with a brain tumour, Chris’s daughter Anna sadly died. She was just 16 years old.
Anna was taken to a special facility at Acorns for the Three Counties based in Worcester, where Chris and his family were able to spend precious final moments with their daughter.
The 52-year-old said: “Anna was given a beautiful bedroom and we were encouraged to take some of her belongings with us to make it just like her own room.
“We visited her as often as we liked whilst the funeral arrangements were made and this was an incredible support for us and our family.
“We know Acorns relies on fundraising to continue, so the cycle ride was just a small way of giving back and saying thank you.
“The staff at Acorns were there to comfort and support us whenever we needed it, night or day.
“This family support is still continuing and has been a constant source of strength and comfort for us.”
Joining Chris on the ride were friends Mark Tanser and Yvette Pygott, with Janine Tanser and Chris’s wife Wendy Wilkinson forming the support crew.
Lynne Carter, head of fundraising at Acorns, said: “We are so incredibly grateful to Chris and his team for taking on this challenge and for the money already raised.
“Thanks to his generosity we will be able to provide more care and support to families going through similar situations.”
Visit www.justgiving.com/myc-cycleforacorns to donate or visit www.acorns.org.uk to take part in your own fundraising event for Acorns.
