Simon Lambert’s five-year-old son Archie died in January this year after nearly two years of treatment for a DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma) brain tumour.
The seven-day cycle ride ‘Leith to Leigh’ will take place on 15th April 2024 and hopes to raise £10,000. The planned route has a special meaning; driving from Edinburgh to Southend, via York, was one of the last trips the family took with Archie.
The 51-year-old has made it his mission to raise as much money as he can to support the charities that cared and supported his son during his illness, including Little Havens, a children’s hospice in Thundersley. In January 2023, Archie’s condition deteriorated and was cared for by the local hospice at the end of his life.
Simon chose the cycling challenge as a tribute to Archie who loved to cycle with his dad, along with his favourite toy duck resting on the handlebars. The same toy duck is placed on the handlebars of Simon’s bike to remember Archie.
Back in July, Simon took on the 54-mile London to Southend Ride to start his fundraising and so far has raised more than £3,000 for Little Havens, Young Lives vs Cancer, Abbie’s Army, The Unbeatable Eva Foundation, Torbay Holiday Helpers Network, Thumbs up For Charlie, Gold Geese and Make-a-Wish UK.
Speaking about Little Havens and the care his family received during Archie’s last days, Simon said, “We are eternally grateful for the support and memories they gave us. I was truly humbled by the help and support from the nurses and carers at the hospice.
“There was nothing they wouldn’t do for us, and helped us all. It gave us a place where we could just concentrate on spending what time we had left with Archie as a family. I’d hate to think of what it would be like without this place for other families, so hope I can raise some funds to go towards this amazing charity.”
Simon continued, “I was humbled by how much people helped and how Archie just carried on without any self-pity. I want to return this in some way by riding my bike, which Archie loved to go out and about on. I also made a promise to him to do the best I can to raise funds for the charities that helped us, so have been training to do as many charity bike rides as possible.”
To support Simon with a donation, please visit www.justgiving.com/team/ArchieLambert
Published Monday 9th October 2023
