We're cycling from Gloucestershire to west Wales, raising funds for Ovacome along the way.
Two years ago we cycled east from Gloucestershire to Essex in two days. This year, we are heading west and crossing Wales.
The same cycling crew as last year: Nick and Sue Wharmby, Andy Wharmby (Nick's brother), Fliss Maton (Sue and Nicks sister in law), Mike Lewis and me...and this year we have Helen Pickup joining us!
We're retracing the steps of a relative of one of our gang (Fliss) who completed in the 1970s on a three-geared bike, solo and with a sleeping bag.
Simon says:
We have chosen to use our ride to raise funds for Ovacome because Libby (my wife) was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer in January 2024.
It’s been a gruelling journey and Ovacome have provided so much support, helping us to understand the medicine, the surgery and the chemotherapy. They've provided hugely valuable emotional support too, including connecting Lib to other women on a similar journey.
The money we raise will make a big difference. For example, just £248 pays for three months of online support groups and workshops for someone diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
A bit about Ovarian cancer:
There is no screening process for ovarian cancer. Two thirds of women are diagnosed late and 27 per cent are diagnosed as a result of an emergency presentation.
7500 women are diagnosed each year, with a 70 per cent re-occurrence rate. 4000 women lose their lives to this disease each year.
If you can help us make a difference to the life of someone affected by ovarian cancer, that would be amazing. Please support us if you can.
Thank you!
Thank you to our Sponsors
£25
Alison Adams
£25
Rory Beet
Pedal power! Shout out to you all for doing an amazing thing for such a great cause!
£50
Karen Wharmby
Good luck! I know you will all smash it, just hope the weather holds!
£25
Matt Grindon
This is a Wet weather bonus !! Fantastic effort today in gopping weather. Good luck tomorrow!!
£250
Clive Edwards
Fantastic effort
£20
Jenny And Gordon
A very worthy cause and one close to my heart. Good luck with the ride!
£50
Grace Pickup
So proud of you all!!! 🫶🏼. Remember there is a pub at the end of the long rainy ride 🤝
£50
Hannah Pickup
Go team !! You are all legends . Pedal pedal pedal !
£10
Savannah Culpepper
Ride like the wind Fliss 💪 This is amazing!
£20
Amanda Davies
Massive good luck Simon a d team. I think you are incredible. Thank you.
£50
The Beets
Good luck Si and team! Riding for such a fantastic charity! Lots of love xxx
£25
Emma Cother
Good luck Si & friends! Amazing effort and so appreciated, Ovacome is such an important charity to me.
£100
James Holland
£50
Pam And Matt Clover
Good luck Sue, Nick and the whole team! Safe cycling and well done on raising for a fantastic cause. We are thinking of you and hope the weather holds off. Sending much love, the Clovers xxx
£25
Catherine Herbert
Go steady on that bridge today! Wishing you luck and thank you for supporting such an important cause!
£25
Anonymous
£100
Andy Wharmby
Legends - one and all- enjoy the rain-
£25
Annabel Venning
Don't get washed away in rainy Welsh Wales! Good luck and well done for taking it on! xxx
£30
Polly & Adam Mclelland
Hope the rain holds off/you have good waterproofs! Amazing effort and a hugely deserving cause. Brilliant - good luck! Xxx
£100
Annie And Oakleigh Wood
May the wind be behind you and the saddle cream effect !! Well done for supporting such a worthwhile cause.
£25
Laura Sands
Great work for a fantastic cause. Keep pedalling!!!
£20
Janie O'sullivan
Incredible undertaking for a fantastic cause- go go go!!
£25
Adrian Blazey
Go team!
£25
Fi Burge
What an incredible fundraiser. Wishing you all great weather and the most succesful fundraising. Sending big hugs to you darling Si and Libby. All our Love, Fi and the Burge family. xxxx
£30
Charlotte Simmonds
Thank you team for everything you doing to raise funds for the wonderful charity Ovacome xxxx
£100
Anthony Maton
Happy Cycling
£10
Alan Govan
£100
Liz B
Well done all and I hope you enjoy it along the way!
£25
Philippa Ashmore
£25
Charlie Pickup
Good luck
£40
Simone Hughes
Best of luck to everyone, especially to my village friend, Fliss! A big undertaking, but such a worthy cause.
£50
Rosie Mallinson
Great effort! Hope the weather is kind to you
£50
Anonymous
You guys are amazing!!!!! Can’t wait to cheer you on ❤️
£50
Helen Eleftheriou
£15
Anonymous
£50
Daniel Webb
A fantastic cause, good luck to you all👏🏆🚴♂️
£10
Rebecca J
Best of luck, Simon!
£20
Rich Else
Go, go, go! Keep on cycling! 🚲
£100
Peter Miller-smith
Dear Simon, wishing you the best of luck for the challenge. It’s a wonderful cause and our thoughts and love to you and Libby, Peter and Mel x
£50
Sophie & James
Good luck everyone on your cycle ride - especially Sue & Nick our old neighbours. An excellent charity to raise for!
£50
Jules Birley
You awesome bunch!! With you in spirit all the way.. Xxxx
£20
Gemma Khan
Really best of luck with the ride Simon and team :) More research is very much needed for these cancers that are less known about. Sending love and healing to Libby, Gemma, Adam, Mia and Leo Khan xxx
£50
Peter Mycoe
Well done to you all & it’s great what you doing Simon & our love to Libby x
£100
Sarah & Mike Beresford/phillips
On yer bike! Good luck Simon, will be thinking of you. Sending much love to you, Libby and Lily .
£100
Puma Growth Partners
Best of luck! From everyone at Puma
£25
Ben Leslie
Good luck Simon and team!
£40
Will Mj
I hope that tailwind appears!
£15
Sarah
£25
Frances Ridout
Good luck Simon!
£50
Vicki Hopkins
Best of luck Simon and team! X
£25
Kay
Good luck Simon! Thinking of you and the family
£150
Kate, Charlotte & Martina
An amazing cause, an amazing family, an amazing challenge – Sending all our love and support as always. 💖 xx
£25
Sean Johnson
£100
John Tarrant
From John and all at DNA
£50
Sarah Cook
What an effort, and what a great cause. Go Simon!
£25
Hazel Brewer
Such an important charity to raise funds and awareness for, good luck!
£30
Talia King
You’ve got this Simon!
£25
Becky Jenkins
Super proud of you - thinking of you with a glass of red in my hand!
£100
Mark Cunningham
Good on you Sisi
£10
Jane Griffin
£50
Mabel Cline-cole
Dear Simon, I wish you all the best for your ride, and I'm especially praying for you, Lib, and Lily to give you all the emotional and physical support to get through. Mabel x
£25
Anna Champion
Simon - thanks for raising awareness of Ovacome - I'm sure like many I hadn't heard of the charity.
£25
Georgia Greer
Good luck & enjoy the ride! Great challenge, great charity. Wishing you all the best.
£50
Michael Nathan
Wishing you, your wife and all your family the very best. So impressed with you (as always) and hope this experience is a good one for you and yours
£25
Phil
Best of luck Simon and team, a great cause well done.
£50
Sarah & Jonnie Evans
Good luck Simon and Team
£20
Angus Griffin
What a great cause Simon. Wishing you all the best on the fund raise!
£50
Mark Bishop
Ride well, Simon! Mark and Sal X
£20
Lara Maton
The support vehicle is ready and raring to go! 🚗
£30
Rachel Dines
Good luck Sue, Si & Nick. Great cause. Much love Rachel x
£20
Michael And Annabel Gibb
Good luck and hats off to such a great team effort. Nick and Sue 👏👏
£25
Kate Tucker
Great cause. Best of luck x
£30
Ali Humphries
very good luck Simon! hope not tooo sore!
£25
Fiona Ollerhead
Wow! So impressive you guys with all of your cycling. Sounds like a brilliant cause and a very personal journey so hoping my donation helps speed you on your way and some support for your cause. Wishing you love, good speed and all that xx
£100
Hardy Parker & That Bloody Woman
I’ve got five willies! My pants fit me like a glove. I’m lucky.
£10
Kay Gilder
Sorry its not much but every little counts right!!! Good luck xxx
£50
Ali Vaughan
Great cause, great challenge, not only will you raise much needed funds i am sure you will be making great memories.
£250
The Brealybunch
Sending so much love and wishing you well for such a fantastic cause- biggest hugs from the Brealybunch xxxx
£5
Oli
£10
Isabelle Wharrad
£25
Ems Millar
Good luck cyclists. Ovarian cancer is a scarily silent disease we must fight it and go in strong 💪 fantastic charity and much needed funds. Safe cycling from The Millars xx
£20
Milly Wharmby
Good luck to you all! I’m already really proud of you all. Ride safe, take care of each other, and enjoy it (or try to)! I’ll be cheering you on all the way!
£25
Amanda Reichwald
£25
Mark Davies
£25
Eggi
Nick - you are only allowed to use 3 gears..! Good luck.
£45
Brigitte
well done on supporting such a worthy cause.
£50
Sebastian Lewis
Very happy to support you riding for such a good cause
£50
Stephen Woodward
Best of luck with the trip, Simon. Very happy to support.
£10
Niccola Butker
Good luck Team Libby (and those doing all the cycling!)
£100
Margaret Wallace
£50
Elizabeth Lewis
£25
Grindo
Best of luck to all of you !
£50
Richard Nellyer
Great cause. Smash it team!!
£25
Rosie Lewis
£25
Milly Lewis
£50
Rachel Lewis
£10
Rach B
Go Simon! Another brilliant challenge. Xx
£25
Drew P Balls
Cycling always damages my back wheels.
£50
Norma Stitz
From all of us at Madam Wu's House of Pleasure
£100
Caspar
Well done ML
£30
Julia Skan
Well done Simon and the rest of the team. Enjoy the ride and raising funds for a great cause.
£30
Martha Holden
£50
Tanya Milner
Go Simon and team. So very proud of you all - and Libby. Xxx
£28
Lucy Ryan
What an awesome effort for a great cause!
£20
Jo Cotter
Thank you for all the wonderful things you are doing helping others. Keep on being amazing. Thank you, Jo
Hope it's not too wet!