A SOLIHULL financier is going for gold after pledging to complete 20 triathlons in 50 days, as a tribute to his late mum.
Spencer Costley is on target to complete the mammoth seven-week sporting challenge this week, ahead of his 50th birthday – he is the same age as his mum Janice when she died 22 years ago.
Since July 6 Spencer has covered a total of 1,032km running, swimming and cycling, and the head of financial control at Paragon Bank in Solihull, has already smashed through his target total of £1,000 for charities Molly Ollys and Myton Hospice.
He said: “My mum lost her three-year battle with leukaemia on Valentine’s Day in 2002 aged 49.
“This year I’m 49 so wanted to do a big charity challenge in her memory. On September 22 I will be exactly the same age as my mum when she died. The 50-day challenge is important to me too. It’s symbolic as she never made 50.
“This has been a significant challenge but I have spent a lot of time remembering how funny, loving and generally brilliant my mum was.
“Myton and Molly Ollys both support terminally ill patients and mum would certainly approve of the great work they do. Molly Ollys is this year’s nominated charity for my company, Paragon Bank.”
It’s the precious memories that have powered Spencer through while running every day, cycling most days and swimming three times a week. But he often reflects on those subsequent lost years without, not just a mum, but a grandmother to his three children.
Spencer, who lives in Coventry, said: “Mum would be super proud, although she would have laughed and called me crazy for doing this, but she loved life and doing crazy stuff makes life more fun.
“My most precious memories of her are her laughter, always being silly but also very kind and loving. She always looked for the fun in life.”
Molly Ollys was established in 2011 by Rachel and husband Tim following the death of their eight-year-old daughter Molly from a rare kidney cancer.
The charity works to support children with terminal or life-limiting illnesses and their families and help with their emotional wellbeing. As well as providing wishes, they donate therapeutic toys and books to both children directly and to hospitals throughout the UK.
The therapeutic toy lion called Olly The Brave who has his own Hickman line and a detachable mane which helps to explain and normalise the effects of chemotherapy.
Myton has three hospices in Coventry, Warwick and Rugby – as well as Hospice Inpatient beds in Coventry and Warwickshire – which care for people living with a wide range of life-limiting illnesses including respiratory, heart and neurological conditions, cancer and organ failure.
For more or click here to donate to Spencer’s Myton Hospice or here for Molly Ollys.
