Story
In July 2016, Will Bayliss, Rupert Maitland-Titterton and his son Toby are cycling from Land’s End to John O’ Groats for Cancer Research and The Shropshire Blood Trust Fund. We start on the 16th July and aim to finish the ride in ten days, averaging 100 miles per day. We are cycling in memory of Richard Bayliss; father of Will, a great friend of Rupert and Godfather to Toby. Richard died in June 2015 of the blood cancer Myeloma at the age of forty nine.
We are raising money for two charities. Firstly, the Shropshire Blood Trust Fund which is part of the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust Charity. Richard received incredible care resourced by this fund. If you choose to donate to the Shropshire Blood Trust Fund then your money will go towards refurbishing the ward where Richard was treated and spent many weeks. Our second charity is Cancer Research UK, as the sooner this dreadful disease is history, the better.
In 2000 Richard and Rupert attempted the ride but only made it to the second day as Richard was knocked off his bike! Just before Richard died, Rupert vowed to him that he would complete this ‘Unfinished Business’ with Will. Richard was a very keen cyclist, riding across Europe and even Pakistan in his youth and was constantly mountain biking with his four children before his diagnosis. It therefore feels very appropriate that this challenge takes place on two wheels, finishing something he would have loved to have completed himself.
This challenge is not simply a charity ride but one that is
inextricably linked with a great man who we all hugely miss.