A Harrogate man, whose wife died just 36 hours after being diagnosed with leukaemia, is cycling the equivalent of Mount Everest to fund vital research.
James Badger, who lives in Kettlesing, last year marked the first anniversary of his wife Phillipa’s death by cycling 1,600km from Lands End to John O’Groats.
He raised £200,000 towards his £300,000 target, which is funding a research project into Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML).
Mr Badger’s late wife was diagnosed with AML at the age of 42 and died less than two days later – leaving him and their three children behind.
Now, to mark the second anniversary of Phillipa’s death, Mr Badger and two friends will climb the equivalent of the world’s tallest mountain on a bike.
Instead of flying to Nepal, Mr Badger will cycle up and down Lackon Bank in Birstwith 90 times to cover the 8,900m distance.
The 1km hill, which runs past Phillipa’s grave at St James’ Church, has a 16% gradient at the start and averages around a 10% gradient as it continues.
Mr Badger said:
“To mark the second anniversary, I wanted to do something a bit different. Whereas our Lands End to John O’Groats challenge was very tough, it was spread over eight days and a lot of people have tackled that ride.
“Climbing the equivalent in height of Mount Everest in one day is something that not so many people have done. It is also closer to home and we’re hoping lots of people will come out and support us on the day.
“This is quite an extreme thing to attempt and is going to definitely be a harder challenge than last year. But for me it is also very personal, as we will be cycling past Philippa’s grave at St James’ Church in Birstwith 90 times before finally reaching the highest point on earth.”
Philippa Badger died within just 36 hours of being diagnosed with leukaemia, leaving behind her husband James and three young children.
The three-year research project into AML began at Cardiff University in January. Mr Badger is hopeful he can raise the final £100,000 to complete the project.
He also said:
“Through the work of BloodCancerUK, survival rates for childhood leukaemia have improved from just 10 per cent in the 1960s and 70s to almost 85 per cent.
“Research can make a real difference and AML has not had the same level of funding and research that childhood leukaemia has had, which is why it is so important for us to fund this research project.”
Mr Badger told the Stray Ferret he is feeling “very motivated for the ride” and said passing his wife’s grave on every lap will keep him going. He added:
“It will be a much harder challenge than cycling from Land’s End to John o’Groats, physically and mentally, keeping going for 20 hours will be very tough, but with support of friends and family I am confident I’ll make it to the top!
“Training is going ok, but this is something I’m not sure I can ever fully prepare for!”
Mr Badger will take on the ‘Rise to the Stars’ challenge on Saturday, May 4.
He, along with friends Richard Baldwin and Adam Ellis, will start their challenge at 4am and hope to complete the ride by 11pm.
Mr Badger’s three children will support him during the challenge, and he welcomes anyone to watch them throughout the day.
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Million pound house draw comes to Harrogate
A million pound farmhouse near Harrogate could be won for just £10 in a prize draw.
The American company Omaze today announced the 17th century property between Hampsthwaite and Birstwith, which also comes with a guest cottage, as its latest million pound prize draw.
The draws, which take place every two months, raise money for charities and Omaze keeps 20 per cent of net proceeds. The firm said it has raised £13.25 million for charities since its UK launch in 2020.
Omaze’s latest property in Nidderdale, which is its first in the Harrogate district, will generate funds for Blood Cancer UK.
The gardens of the house near Birstwith
The winner will receive £100,000 in cash as well as the farmhouse, which is estimated to have an annual rental value of almost £50,000.
Blood Cancer UK supporter, Celia Imrie, who starred in the film Calendar Girls, has backed the draw.
She was reunited with original Calendar Girls Tricia Stewart and Lynda Logan, as well as Lynda’s husband Terry, the famous calendar’s photographer – to mark the launch of Blood Cancer UK’s latest partnership with Omaze.
The Calendar Girls reunited to support the cause.
In a promotional video, Lynda joked:
“It’s only 10 minutes away from where I live so I’ll be popping round for a cup of sugar.”
The draw closes on July 30 for online entries and August 1 for postal entries.
James Oakes, chief international officer at Omaze, said:
“By offering this beautiful property, along with £100,000 in cash, we’re giving people the chance to live mortgage and rent free for the rest of their life – as well as raising money for charities whilst introducing them to brand new audiences.
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Local headteacher running London Marathon to support school family
The head of a Nidderdale school will take part in today’s London Marathon to support a family affected by blood cancer.
Nathan Sadler, headmaster of Belmont Grosvenor School in Birstwith, will be taking to the streets of the capital this morning to raise money for Blood Cancer UK.
He’s running in memory of Philippa Badger, whose three children were pupils at Belmont Grosvenor, who was just 42 when she died from acute myeloid leukaemia last year.
Mr Sadler is raising money to support her widow James, who is aiming to raise £300,000 for research into the condition.
At the same time as the marathon begins, Mr Badger will be setting off on an eight-day cycle ride from Lands End to John o’Groats with three friends.
Mr Sadler said:
“As a school community we want to do as much as we can to support James and his family in their fund-raising efforts in memory of Philippa.
“James is a truly inspirational man who is driven to raise the funds needed for what could be a life-changing research project. All money raised on my JustGiving page will get added directly to James Badger’s fundraising pot, to help reach his target.
“I am proud to wear the Blood Cancer UK colours and am looking forward to the electric atmosphere on Sunday, especially as other members of the BGS Community will be running and spectating in London as well.”
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A keen runner who has already completed seven marathons, Mr Sadler will be taking on three more in the next four weeks. As well as London, he will be running in the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon on May 14 and a final 26.2 miles at Windermere on May 21.
To support Mr Sadler’s marathon efforts, click here.
Mrs Badger died just 36 hours after being diagnosed with AML on April 22 last year. Her children were aged 12, 10 and six at the time.
AML has a survival rate of just 10% and husband James is hoping to fund a three-year research project to improve its understanding and treatment.
Along with Richard Baldwin, Adam Ellis and Anthony Fraser, Mr Sadler is aiming to raise £100,000 through the 1,600km bike ride alone. He has already reached three-quarters of that target on his JustGiving page.
Dad to cycle 1,600km to fund research into late wife’s cancerA father-of-three whose wife died just 36 hours after being diagnosed with leukaemia is setting off on a 1,600 km cycle ride to fund research into the disease that killed her.
Philippa Badger was just 42 when she died of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) on April 22 last year leaving three young children aged 12, 10 and six.
To mark the first anniversary of her death, Kettlesing resident James Badger and three friends will cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats in just eight days to raise money for Blood Cancer UK.
James, who only took up cycling a few years ago, wants to raise a total of £300,000 to fund a three-year research project into AML, which currently has only a 10 per cent survival rate.
James said:
“Through the work of Blood Cancer UK, survival rates for childhood leukaemia have improved from just 10 per cent in the 1960s and 70s to almost 85 per cent.
“The type of leukaemia that Philippa had, Acute Myeloid Leukaemia, has not had the same level of funding and research that childhood leukaemias have had, which is why it is so important for us to do this ride and fund this research project.
“Research can make a real difference and our aim is to improve survival rates for people diagnosed with AML. This is why we are doing our ride.”
Following a service at St James’ Church in Birstwith to mark the first anniversary of Philippa’s death, James and his friends, Richard Baldwin, Adam Ellis and Anthony Fraser, will drive down to Cornwall ready to start their epic eight-day cycle ride on Sunday, April 23.
Philippa Badger died within just 36 hours of being diagnosed with leukaemia, leaving behind her husband James and their three young children.
On each of the eight days, James will be cycling further than he has ever done before, having bought his first road bike in 2019 following the UCI World Cycling Championships in Harrogate.
The four friends will be on their bikes for between 10 and 12 hours at a time, every day for eight days, covering a daily distance of around 200km and climbing 2,000 metres each day.
They will be plunging into ice-baths at the end of each day of cycling, ready to be back on their bikes the following morning.
James Badger (second from left) and his friends, Richard Baldwin, Adam Ellis and Anthony Fraser, will take eight days to cycle the 1,600km from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
James said:
“It is going to be tough, a real challenge, but I wanted to do something significant enough that would really make a difference.
“A fully-funded research project into Acute Myeloid Leukaemia will cost £300,000 and we hope this 1,600 km cycle ride will raise a big chunk of money towards that target.”
Pupils, staff and parents at Belmont Grosvenor School (BGS) in Birstwith, where James and Philippa’s youngest child Thomas is a pupil, have thrown their weight behind his fundraising efforts.
So far, a fundraising ball and Colour Run at BGS has raised around £20,000, and other events are planned to help James and his friends reach their target of £300,000.
He said:
“We’ve been connected with Belmont Grosvenor for almost a decade – all three of our children have been pupils, and our youngest son still attends. I’m so grateful for their support, and for everyone who has supported us so far.”
James has set up a JustGiving page and the four friends have so far raised nearly £40,000 towards their target. They are posting updates on their Instagram page, and are updating it with their training regime.
Throughout the ride the four will be uploading videos daily to enable family, friends and followers to follow their progress along the 1,600 km route. Children Isabel, Alice and Thomas will be at the finish line in John O’Groats to meet their dad at the end of the epic ride.
To donate, please visit the team’s JustGiving page.
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Harrogate district amateur dramatic group stripped down and raised £12,000
A Harrogate district amateur dramatic group who bared all in a production of Calendar Girls raised £12,000 for three cancer charities.
The Kirkby Overblow Dramatic Society performed its own version of the Tim Firth film late last year.
All proceeds from the play have been donated to the Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre at Harrogate District Hospital, Maggie’s Yorkshire and Blood Cancer UK – each of which received £4,000.
The sell-out show was “the most successful charitable performance we have produced”, according to the chairman.
The 1999 film is based on a true story of how Rylstone and District Women’s Institute, near Skipton, posed for a nude calendar to raise money for leukaemia cancer.
The cast also took part in their very own nude photoshoot – posing strategically at local landmarks in the village.
Photo: Annette Fishburn Photography
Claire Mackenzie, director of the production, said:
“When I was asked to choose a play which we could put on, I was thinking more about what we could take off, this way it would be an attention grabber…and it worked, thanks to the commitment and bravado of all the cast and crew”.
Cast and crew of Calendar Girls handing over the cheque donations to three cancer charities.
Regional fundraising members for the charities were on hand to accept the money raised by the dramatic society.
Fiona Gavaghan, of Macmillan Cancer Support, said:
“Huge thanks and congratulations go to the KODS team for raising this astounding amount.
“What they have done will change the lives of hundreds of cancer sufferers and their families throughout Yorkshire”.
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A group of brave Harrogate district women took to the stage in a state of undress last night for the opening night of Calendar Girls.
The sell-out show, which ends on Saturday, sees members of Kirkby Overblow Dramatic Society perform an adapted version of the original Calendar Girls film.
The 1999 film is based on the true story of how a group of middle-aged women from Rylstone and District Women’s Institute, near Skipton, posed nude for a risqué calendar to raise money for leukaemia cancer. They have since raised over £5m for the charity Blood Cancer UK.
Three of the original Calendar Girls — Angela Baker, Chris Clancy and Linda Logan — will be in Kirkby Overblow for Saturday night’s finale at All Saints Church.
The cast also agreed to pose for a 2023 calendar shot creatively at local landmarks in Kirkby Overblow.
The December image from the calendar, showing all the cast. Photo: Annette Fishburn Photography
The heart-warming play, written by Tim Firth, is directed by Claire McKenzie from Harrogate. Auditions were held in August.
All profits from the production and calendar will be split between the Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre at Harrogate District Hospital, cancer support charity Maggie’s Yorkshire and Blood Cancer UK.
Dr John Fairfield, chairman of Kirkby Overblow Dramatic Society, said:
“The similarities between the villages of Rylstone and Kirkby Overblow and their close-knit communities made it an obvious choice. The dedication, commitment, and enthusiasm of the cast and crew is inspiring. We are absolutely delighted that Chris, Angela and Linda are able to join us”.
Angela Baker said:
“It is a marvellous legacy that after 23 years when we embarked on our Alternative WI calendar, we are here today still supporting the cause. It’s thanks to casts and crews like this up and down the country that keeps the Calendar Girls story alive and continues to raise funds for Blood Cancer UK.”
Copies of the calendar can be bought for £15 from the Shoulder of Mutton pub in Kirkby Overblow.
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