Keith's Fundraising Journey: Turning Grief into Hope, One Pedal at a Time.

Having recently faced the heartbreaking loss of his sister to cancer, Keith wanted to channel his grief into something remarkable: organising a fundraiser to raise money for the Centre for Cancer Immunology at the University of Southampton. Keith had read about the incredible work taking place at the Centre in a recent edition of Hartley News; he was excited to hear about development of personalised cancer vaccines and their potential to spare patients from the harsh side effects of traditional treatments such as chemotherapy. 

Keith saide "It was as if the stars aligned. I was angry about my sister passing, and I though if I'm angry, I might as well do something about it."

Keith committed to a daring challenge - an old-fashioned jailbreakbike ride, using a £10 bike that he had found on Facebook Marketplace. Embarking from Norwich, Keith's two-week journey led him to Harwich, where he caught the ferry to Holland. From there, he then travelled across Holland and Germany, finishing in the Czech Republic, and flying back to the UK. 

Keith embarked on this journey without a strict plan; He simply wanted to cycle and see how far he could get. To make his challenge more exciting, he also decided to camp on the way. He was astonished by the generosity of others, as he even met an individual who graciously offered the use of their backgarden for his camping needs! He was extremely grateful for all the people who helped him out along the way. 

Keith cycled over 830 miles and raised over £1,200 for the Centre for Cancer Immunology. Keith hopes that his fundraising story will inspire others to plan their own adventure and raise money for the Centre. 

He summed it up: "I want to inspire others to go on an adventure. Reaching the Czech Republic riding from Norwich on my ten-pound bike certainly was an experience I'll never forget."

If Keith's story has inspired you to fundraise, please contact us at commfr@soton.ac.uk, or visit our fundraising page for tips and ideas to get you started. 

 

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Contact Us If you have any fundraising ideas, or need additional support with your fundraising, please do not hesitate to contact our our Direct Marketing Fundraising Officer, Zoe Chapple, and she will be happy to help, or you can fill out our form below Click here to register your interest in fundraising Email: commfr@soton.ac.uk Telephone: +44 (0) 23 8059 7796