A SHROPSHIRE man is gearing up for a cross-country cycling endeavor, raising funds for local cancer services and commemorating the anniversary of his wife's battle with cancer.
Andrew Sudlow, from St Martins, will embark on the Coast to Coast Cycling Challenge on October 16.
He has already raised an impressive £1,270 for the Lingen Davies Cancer Fund, a foundation dedicated to ensuring accessible cancer services for residents.
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His motivation for the ride is deeply personal, dedicated to the memory of his wife, Lorraine, who tragically passed away at the age of 59 in November 2022.
Andrew has also faced the loss of his parents and brother to cancer.
He said: “We had no idea anything was wrong, Lorraine went regularly for check-ups and she’d had a recent one.
“She was all clear, and then one day she fell sick."
He continued: “It was stage four, terminal cancer and she was on Ward 23 for a time.
“We were fortunate that Lorraine was given immunotherapy and responded very well.
“We actually had four years together after that, longer than expected when we were given the news and were told her cancer was an aggressive form.
“Everything was going really well until July 2022 and she fell.
“We didn’t know if she had had a stroke but it was a brain tumour.”
As an enthusiastic cyclist, Andrew has previously undertaken several charity challenges, and this time, he's taking on the Coast to Coast journey solo.
He is a retired military veteran working in facilities management, and spent a substantial portion of his retirement caring for Lorraine, alongside their two sons and daughter.
He expressed his gratitude for the tremendous support they received from Lingen Davies, emphasizing the importance of cherishing the extra time they had together, made possible by the charity's efforts.
To contribute to Andrew's fundraising challenge, you can visit his JustGiving page.
The Coast to Coast route had always been on Andrew's bucket list.
It spans 147 miles, commencing in Whitehaven and concluding in Tynemouth, offering him an opportunity to challenge himself and honour Lorraine's memory.
Andrew acknowledged the challenging terrain, stating that there's a significant amount of elevation, with two days of uphill cycling and a more manageable descent on the third day back to Tynemouth.
Despite his relative inexperience with long-distance rides, he maintains a positive mindset.
Over the past few years, he has faced numerous personal losses, including his wife Lorraine, his nephew's brain tumour diagnosis, and the passing of his mother, father, and brother due to cancer.
Andrew draws strength from his three children and five grandchildren.
Laura Morris, representing Lingen Davies, expressed their support for Andrew's endeavour and praised the dedication of the local community's supporters.
“We are so fortunate to have so many brilliant supporters in our community. Andrew is taking on this challenge for incredibly personal reasons and we wish him all the very best with it, we’ll be cheering him on and following his progress,” she said.
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