Cancer survivor cycles 250 miles in under 24 hours, raising over £1,500 for Turn2us

Westbury resident Nicki Wills has completed a 250 mile cycle challenge to raise funds for Turn2us – a charity that helps people in financial hardship who supported her when she was recovering from cancer last year.

Nicki, alongside her partner Jon, set off for the challenge at 8.50 pm on Saturday 9 July and returned home just after 8pm on Sunday 10 July, cycling around 125 miles each way. Their total cycling time was 18 hours and 20 minutes. Nicki has exceeded her fundraising target, raising over £1,500 for Turn2us.

Nicki found Turn2us at a time when she was desperate for help. Recovering from cancer, she was unable to work, and as a supply teacher, had no money coming in. Turn2us awarded her a grant, without which Nicki says she would not have been able to survive.

During this difficult time, Nicki sadly also lost her father to cancer. A keen cyclist, he cycled 250 miles in a 12 hour time trial in 1961. Inspired by her father, Nicki wanted to cycle in his memory, whilst raising funds for the charity that helped her when she really needed it. The 250 mile challenge saw Nicki cycle to her father’s old cycling club in Worcestershire and back again in 24 hours.

“It was tough going at times, but I feel happy and proud to say we’ve done it!” commented Nicki. “Thank you so much to everyone who supported us. Raising funds for Turn2us means that they can help more people experiencing extreme financial hardship get back to stability and build better futures for themselves and their families. After receiving help from the charity, it feels great to be able to put something back in so that someone else can be helped.”

Zena Carter, Head of Fundraising at Turn2us said: “Congratulations to Nicki and Jon on their amazing achievement. We are incredibly proud and thankful for all their hard work in raising a fantastic fundraising total which will really help us in our fight against poverty in the UK. 

“We’re sure that Nicki’s story will be a huge inspiration to others and anyone interested in supporting us through their own personal challenge can look for ideas on how to get involved at Turn2us.org.uk.”

For more information about Turn2us and supporting the charity, please visit Turn2us.org.uk. To find out more about Nicki’s challenge and to donate, please visit Justgiving.com/Nicki-Wills.

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For further information, photographs and interviews, please contact Emma Lamberton, Communications Manager on 0208 834 9259

About Turn2us:

• Turn2us is a national charity that helps people in financial hardship to gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and support services – online, by phone and face to face through partners and volunteers
• The Turn2us website includes a Benefits Calculator to find out what welfare benefits and tax credits you could be entitled to, a Grants Search to find out if you might be eligible for support from over 3,000 charitable funds, and a range of information and resources to help people in financial hardship
• Turn2us can also provide direct financial assistance through a range of specific funds that are managed directly by the charity, including the Elizabeth Finn Fund which supports people from over 120 different professions
• For more information, please visit www.turn2us.org.uk