Cycle challenge from London to Madrid to support air ambulance

11 July 2022

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is one of the beneficiaries of a 2,100km cycle challenge from London to Madrid.

The ride is being organised in memory of Hugo Yaxley and Helen McCrory OBE – Hugo died in a road accident in 2020, while his aunt Helen, died from breast cancer.

Hugo’s brother Thomas, 32, has already raised over £110,000 in memory of the pair, with the money due to be shared by four charities – the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, children’s mental health charity Place2Be and HVH Arts.

Thomas said: “This brings 18 months of fundraising in Hugo and Helen’s memory to a conclusion. We have seen some incredible efforts, especially from Minna Leatham, who came back from her life-threatening injuries in less than eight months to walk five miles and Helena Russell who ran from Bristol to London.

“It is very special to be able to leave from The National Theatre, a place where Helen loved to perform and gave some of her best performances, to go to Madrid, where Hugo was going to go to university.

“Thank you to everyone who has donated and supported Ride4Hugo along the way; their time, money and effort has left a legacy for Hugo and Helen that has genuinely changed and saved lives.”

Emma Jones, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Fundraising Manager, added: “On behalf of the whole team at Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, I would like to say a huge thank you to Thomas and all of his family and friends, for their continued support in aid of the charity.

“We will be thinking of Thomas as he cycles 2,100km from London to Madrid and wish him the very best of luck with this epic challenge. We know that this is a very special journey and we feel honoured to be one of the chosen beneficiaries of this cycle ride.”

For more information about Thomas’s fundraising efforts and to donate, visit the Ride4Hugo website www.ride4hugo.com.