A STRONG-WILLED woman is taking to the saddle in memory of her Silhillian husband.
Student Marketing Manager, Sophie Oldacres has organised a two-day bike ride setting off on Saturday (September 23) to raise money for the Brain Tumour Research charity.
The mum-of-two will cycle over 200km from his hometown of Solihull, to the family home in Chippenham along with Simon’s family, close friends and work mates.
Simon Oldacres went to Alderbrook School and Solihull Sixth Form, and leaves behind friends from his days as a student in the borough.
Sheryl Harrop, mum of two of Simon’s closest friends said he was much loved and respected, and his death had left a huge hole in so many lives.
In 2013 Simon was diagnosed with incurable brain cancer glioblastoma, a leading cause of death in children and adults under 40.
He died last December, aged just 37.
And Sophie – who works at Bath University – and the team are cycling to raise money to fund vital research, which receives less than one per cent of national cancer funding.
Sophie said: “Simon was a keen cyclist, and post-diagnosis in 2013, a good cycle was his equivalent to counselling. He rode to many of his appointments at the BRI in Bristol from Chippenham, which was always recorded in the oncologist’s notes because it was so unusual.
“Friends and I wanted to do something in Simon’s memory that had the potential to make a genuine difference so that, one day, there might be a real hope for others facing this diagnosis.
“And whilst Simon was a regular and able cyclist, this is a genuine challenge for me! Please help spur me on over some of those challenging hills and make the 210km worthwhile by donating to fund vital brain tumour research.”
has already raised over £5,800 – enough to fund more than two days of research at a UK centre of excellence for brain tumour research – and hopes to raise much more.
Visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/simon-oldacres-cycle to donate to the cause.
