A WESTBURY woman who was successfully treated for cancer is aiming to raise £1,500 for the national charity Turn2us by cycling 250 miles in 24 hours.
Nicki Wills recovered from cancer to remove a malignant cervical tumour in early 2015. She was unable to work because of her illness. As a supply teacher at the time, not being able to work meant she had no money coming in.
Desperate for help she found Turn2us; the charity that helps people in financial difficulty.
The charity gave her a grant – without which Nicki said she would not have been able to survive and would probably have ended up homeless. Nicki is now planning to raise money for Turn2us in memory of her father.
During her battle with cancer last September Nicki lost her father, also to cancer. Her father was a keen cyclist and in 1961 he cycled the 250 miles in a 12 hour time trial in North Worcestershire.
Nicki says, “I would like to give back to Turn2us and I cannot think of a better way than cycling to dad’s old cycling club in Worcestershire and back home again in 24 hours.”
Family and friends have pledged to support her whilst she cycles the planned 250 miles in July. Some intend to cycle some parts of the journey and others will follow her in a support vehicle. Her partner Jon, whom she says has supported her through all the traumas of last year, will cycle the entire distance with her.
Nicki is urging people to support her complete this challenge in memory of her brilliant father and the charity that helped her when she really needed it.
She said: “There are 13 million people living in poverty in the UK. Helping me raise funds for Turn2us means they’ll be able to help more people experiencing extreme financial hardship get back to stability and turn their lives around to build better futures for themselves and their families.”
You can support Nicki by donating through Just Giving: www.justgiving.com/Nicki-Wills and find out more about Turn2us by visiting turn2us.org.uk
