Express & Star

From Mallorca to Molineux: Wolves fan Stu cycles 1,300 miles for cancer charity

He has cycled more than 1,300 miles in 22 days to raise funds for a blood cancer charity.

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Stuart Walker and his cycling partner, Ondina Varela, took in some stunning views during their 1,300 mile charity bike ride

Stuart Walker’s challenge has taken him from sunny Mallorca to his hometown of Wolverhampton in just over three weeks.

Stuart, who was raised in Pattingham but now lives and works in Mallorca and Austria, was inspired to take on the challenge to raise funds and awareness for the charity A Gift To Lift.

A Gift To Lift was set up in 2014 by Alex Hopwood, who was going through harsh treatment for leukaemia.

Stuart pictured with family in Wolverhampton after completing his epic bike ride

She started by creating jewellery and headbands that could be sold as gifts to help provide other patients with a little lift.

She received chemotherapy, radiotherapy and two bone marrow transplants, but unfortunately died in December 2014.

Alex assigned close friends and family to carry out the roles of trustees of the charity.

A Gift To Lift now continues to raise money to support blood cancer patients, donate towards blood cancer research and work towards Alex’s dream of buying a holiday home in Norfolk for blood cancer patients to spend quality time with their loved ones.

Stuart and Ondina started off their 22-day cycle in Palma Nova, Mallorca

Stuart became involved in the charity after his brother had an accident on a horse that left him paralysed from the neck down.

Stuart now sits on the board of directors for A Gift To Lift, which is in Leicestershire, and was keen to spread the word about the charity in his hometown.

He hopes to raise at least £5,000 for the charity.

Stuart was joined by his colleague Ondina Varela and their journey, which started in Palma Nova.

They then jumped on a ferry to Barcelona and cycled through the Spanish city of Girona, into France and onto Toulouse, Bordeaux and Caen, before catching a ferry to Portsmouth and heading through Oxford, Leicester and ending up outside the Express & Star in Queen Street, Wolverhampton, yesterday – ready for the Wolves match.

Stuart enjoys a brief but well-earned rest during his 22-day challenge

Stuart said: “I came across the A Gift To Lift charity so I decided I wanted to get involved with them and soon became a board member.

"For me, this challenge was about raising awareness for the charity. The charity’s aim is buy a holiday home for those with blood cancer to use in Norfolk.

"The challenge just kind of came up when I thought about what I wanted to do. I was going to do it on my own but then Ondina agreed to do it with me so we decided to get organising.

“It was really difficult to organise the whole challenge, sorting our bikes, where we were going to stay – the whole riding aspect was actually a lot easier.

Ondina and Stuart

"The first week we really enjoyed, it was sunny and it was really exciting. We had spent so long planning it it was great to actually get out there and ride.”

On arriving into Wolverhampton yesterday, he added: “I was quite emotional the last 10 kilometres. Last night in Leicester because I hadn’t finished the challenge yet I thought it was all fine.

"But now I kind of don’t want it to end – I just want to carry on cycling. I hadn’t had a puncture for the whole journey but 33 kilometres away I had one on my front tyre.

“I managed to fix it but then I had another one. But I am absolutely over the moon to finish.”