A brain cancer patient who died part-way through an ambitious cycling challenge “would be so proud” of his friends and family for completing it on his behalf.
Andy Jones, a fitness instructor and mountain leader from Hertfordshire, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma (GBM) last April after becoming more susceptible to the cold and experiencing bouts of confusion, night sweats and extreme tiredness.
The father-of-three underwent surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy but, sadly, died in a hospice in January this year. He was 57 years old.
Andy (below), who founded and owned PowerFit Outdoors, embarked on a virtual Land’s End to John o’ Groats (LEJOG) cycling challenge in December to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research.
He began his epic 1,189-mile journey on a Turbo Trainer and continued it on a MOTOmed system after being admitted to a hospice, managing a total of 56 miles before passing away.
As his health deteriorated, Andy reached out to family and friends to help add to his total.
In the weeks leading up to his passing, Andy’s supporters clocked up an additional 303 miles in virtual and physical rides.
On 24th March, the remaining 830 miles were realised during a spin event at Sopers House in Cuffley, where Andy’s nephew Dan Marriott (pictured top with Angela) is a personal trainer and fitness instructor.
The charity spin event spanned seven-and-a-half hours and saw an army of 160 people take part in 15 30-minute sessions.
Andy’s friend and business manager Angela Charalambous, from Barnet, North London, said: “Andy would have been astounded by the amount of support people showed by turning up and giving it their all. He’d have been exceptionally proud of his mum, Eileen, who is 89 and cycled a mile, and his youngest daughter, Elyse, who’s 10 and managed six miles.”
Angela also organised a Wear A Hat Day celebration to support fundraising in Andy’s name. With cash donations made throughout these two events and money paid to a fundraising page Andy set up, more than £7,500 has been raised so far. This is enough to sponsor more than two days of research at any of our four Centres of Excellence, each day costing £2,740.
To add to Andy’s fundraising tally, visit www.justgiving.com/page/andysvirtualcycle
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