Wedding Dashers: Cycling to Italy in aid of Ovarian and Prostate Cancer
Tuesday 11th June 2024
UK
Humphrey Heylen
3582
Wedding Dashers: Cycling to Italy in aid of Ovarian and Prostate Cancer
Hello!
At the end of May, Damian and Humphrey will be setting off for an epic 18-day cycle from Kent to Salerno. Covering over 1400 miles and through two mountain ranges, they'll aim to arrive in time for the marriage of their beloved brother/son, Jacob.
Initially, this adventure started off as a fun father-son bonding experience, and an opportunity to work on their pre-nuptial T-shirt tans.
However, in recent months, the struggle of a close family friend with Ovarian cancer has reminded us that this is also an opportunity to raise money for causes that need our support. Target Ovarian Cancer does fantastic work helping those suffering with the illness as well as funding early diagnosis efforts, and we're proud to be supporting them.
At the same time, we'll also be raising money for Prostate Cancer UK. 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, so please remind the men in your life (especially those over 50) to get checked. Early detection is incredibly important for what is often a very treatable disease.
Any donation is hugely appreciated. And, if you'd like to stay up to date with our journey, we'll be uploading regular highlights here, and you can follow our exact route on Strava.
Grazie Mille!
Day 18 Morcone to Salerno: 67 miles
1400 miles later and we made it! A beautiful last days riding with a warm welcome waiting in Salerno. Thank you for all the donations, now on to the wedding!
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Day 17 Vasto to Morcone: 79 miles
A brutal headwind threatened to dampen spirits on the penultimate day but we persevered. Some gorgeous views going over the Apennines.
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Day 16 Porto San Giorgio to Vasto: 95 miles
A lovely but very hot ride down yet more of the Adriatic coast, complete with a beautiful sea side cycle path. Turning across the Apennines tomorrow for the final two days!
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Day 15 Pesaro to Porto San Giorgio: 75 miles
More rolling down the Adriatic coast. Stumbled across a Harley Davidson convention in Senegallia. Only three days to go!
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Day 14 Bologna to Pesaro: 95 miles
Another long day powering in a straight line down the Via Emilia, passing through a number of beautiful towns. Finally reached the Mediterranean!
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Day 13 Piacenza to Bologna: 108 miles
A long, hot, bumpy day ending in the beautiful city of Bologna. Bodies are tired but spirits are high!
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Day 12 Monza to Piacenza: 61 miles
Day 11 Bellinzona to Monza: 79 miles
A beautiful morning cycling past three lakes (Maggiore, Laguna, and Como) before picking our way through Italian suburbia to to Monza.
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Day 10 Fiesch to Bellinzona: 69 miles
Rerouting over the St. Gotthard pass resulted in a very cold climb to over 2000 metres. Efforts were rewarded when the clouds cleared to show the valley below
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Day 9 Martigny to Fiesch: 68 miles
A very wet day cycling up the valley to Fiesch. Plans to tackle the highest paved mountain pass in Switzerland the next day were scuppered by bad weather closing the pass.
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Day 8 Geneva to Martigny: 71 miles
Day 7 Clairvaux les Lacs to Geneva: 64 miles
A soggy day going over the Jura mountains, the sun came through just as we started to descend to Lake Geneva
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Day 5 Noyers to Beaune: 79 miles
Night four in the beautiful French village of Noyers
This event has finished.
£5,571.00
+£862.50 Gift Aid
raised of £3,000 target
by 86 supporters
Supporters 86
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D3 months, 2 weeks
Dave Elgy
Sorry this is a bit late. Great achievement by you both, very well done!
Loved hearing all about the wedding.
Wishing you all the best with the treatment Damian.£ 20.00
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4 months, 2 weeks
Anonymous
£ 20.00
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4 months, 2 weeks
Anonymous
Una grande impresa. Miki e Mariateresa
£ 50.00
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P4 months, 2 weeks
Penny Rolfe
Amazing achievement, congratulations wishing you all the best!
£ 10.00 (+£2.50)
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M
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R4 months, 3 weeks
Rachel and Jacob
Great progress Uncle Damian and Humphrey!! Keep pedalling!
£ 30.00 (+£7.50)
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J4 months, 3 weeks
James Ingram
Best of luck Damian, make the most of what freewheeling you get!
£ 20.00 (+£5.00)
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A4 months, 3 weeks
Andy Collins
Good luck to you both, have a great time and stay safe.
£ 50.00 (+£12.50)
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H4 months, 4 weeks
Halcyon Hirst
Humph - you rock. Super cool and inspiring challenge. Big love
£ 20.00 (+£5.00)
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N5 months
Nicole Robertson
Fantastic cause Damian, good luck and all the best for the ride.
£ 10.00 (+£2.50)
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T5 months
Torquil and Rachel
Good luck on the trip and have fun. So sorry not to have been able to ride with you.
£ 200.00 (+£50.00)
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T5 months
Tom B
Good luck Humphrey - hard to find many better causes. Go hard and enjoy it too!
£ 10.00
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5 months
Anonymous
Go well mate
£ 25.00 (+£6.25)
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T
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S5 months
Sof :)
You two are bonkers & brilliant rolled into one big bundle of smiles and inspiration! Have a great trip & wedding, safe travels xx
£ 100.00 (+£25.00)
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E5 months, 1 week
Ellie G
Chapeau! (As I’m told they say in the world of cycling) best of luck to you both xxx
£ 25.00
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S
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D5 months, 1 week
Daly's
Damian, its 1400 miles as long as you don't get lost. Assume you're carrying the wedding rings on the journey.
£ 250.00 (+£62.50)
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S5 months, 1 week
Stuart Hill
Well done Damian and Humphrey for taking on this great challenge and raising money at the same time for worthwhile charities! Boa sorte, as my wife might say!
£ 50.00 (+£12.50)
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D5 months, 1 week
Deborah Karen Tribe
Good Luck, have a good time.
Both worthy causes£ 50.00 (+£12.50)
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A5 months, 1 week
Aneta
Best of luck to you both! Have fun and enjoy the ride :).
Worthy causes!£ 50.00 (+£12.50)
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R5 months, 1 week
Richard Crabtree
Fantastic cause Damian and hopefully a fantastic trip too! Good luck to the pair of you and enjoy the wedding!
£ 50.00 (+£12.50)
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C5 months, 1 week
Clackie
Good luck guys, Humphrey if Dad is taking his panniers your be fine as they are like a tesco express.
£ 10.00
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