Penzance man completes Bristol to Land's End bike ride in daughter's memory

Pete Williams, 46, raised over £40,000 for charity by cycling from Bristol to Land's End on the bicycle, which belonged to his daughter.

Pete's took on the challenge after daughter Ellie lost her life to brain cancer at the age of seven.

After cycling his way into the nation’s hearts, Pete Williams finished his 211-mile ride on daughter Ellie’s bicycle at Land’s End on Friday.

He was joined by his wife Kaz and son Joe, and a host of cycling supporters.

Inspired by Ellie’s love for cycling, six-foot Pete rode her little pink bike –her last Christmas gift and “pride and joy” - in her memory to raise money for vital research, after she lost her life to a rare brain tumour.

Ellie died from an incurable, highly aggressive Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) in 2015, six months after she was diagnosed.

Pete’s challenge started from Bristol Children’s Hospital, where Ellie was treated, a week ago and went through Avon, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.

The modest dad – hailed a “true hero” by Lorraine Kelly when she interviewed him via video link on her ITV show – says he is “overwhelmed” by the public’s support, helping him to raise over £40,000 so far for The Brain Tumour Charity thebraintumourcharity.org, smashing his £10,000 target.

TV presenter and former JLS singer Marvin Humes donated to Pete’s Justgiving page with a message of support: “Your story really touched me. What a great man you are and all for a fantastic cause.”

Pete said: “I thought my challenge would be very low-key, but the public support has been amazing.

“Drivers tooted when they saw the bike, people stopped me to make donations and wanted to have selfies taken with me.

“And I never dreamt I’d be on national TV and see my story everywhere.

“People probably thought I was mad when they saw me on such a tiny bike but my reason for doing it has really struck a chord with people.

“And we couldn’t have got through our loss without wonderful support from our family, friends and local community.

“As a family, we’ve always dealt with our grief by celebrating Ellie’s life. She would have laughed at me on her bike but would have loved all this.

“She loved cycling and learned to ride a bike without stabilisers when she was just three.

“It felt brilliant to reach Land’s End and raise so much money – I am so grateful for every single donation.

“I want to help The Brain Tumour Charity fund research as the quicker better treatments are found, the quicker more lives will be saved.”

Pete on his Bristol to Land's End journey

Now Pete – who says he is fine after his challenge but has “a very sore bum” – is looking forward to “getting back to normal” at home in Penzance, Cornwall with wife Kaz, 44, and son Joe, 13.

“I’m looking forward to walking the dog with my family and getting back to normal life,” he said.

“The saddle sores haven’t put me off cycling at all – but I’ll be sticking to my own bike!”

Kaz said: “I thought Pete was a bit bonkers when he first mentioned the idea!

“But it’s a lovely way to remember Ellie and a tribute to her that so much money has been raised for research into brain tumours.

“Joe and I are so happy to have him home – we’re very proud of him and I know Ellie would be proud of her daddy, too.”

Tennis and gymnastics-loving Ellie was diagnosed during a half-term break in London in October 2014.

Just before their trip, he and Kaz noticed that Ellie’s right eye had been looking “a bit strange.”

“It sometimes looked boss-eyed and pointed inwards a little,” said Peter.

“At first, we put it down to her just being silly and pulling funny faces like kids do.

“We’d also noticed that she would occasionally stumble.”

When her eye was still turning inwards during their break, they took her to be checked over at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London.

“They said that her eyes were fine and she should have an urgent MRI scan,” said Peter.

“We went straight to Hillingdon Hospital, Uxbridge.”

After her scan, doctors broke the devastating news that Ellie had a brain tumour.

Ellie was immediately sent to Bristol Children’s Hospital, where Peter and Kaz were told that Ellie had a DIPG, which affects around 40 children a year.

“The tumour was inoperable because it was in her brain stem and they told us she had six-12 months to live,” said Pete.

Ellie had radiotherapy for six weeks, but there was no further treatment available for her.

The couple were determined to pack Ellie’s final months with happy memories.

“We had the most special family Christmas when more than 20 of us rented a house in Cornwall – we’ll always treasure those memories,” said Peter.

Pete with daughter Ellie

Ellie died in her parents’ arms at Little Harbour children’s hospice in St Austell, Cornwall on April 4, 2015.

The idea for Pete’s sponsored ride was sparked when he was pottering about in his shed and saw Ellie’s bike.

“Ellie was quite poorly when she got the bike for Christmas but she couldn’t wait to take it out,” he said.

“It was her pride and joy.”

Sarah Lindsell, The Brain Tumour Charity’s chief executive, said: “Our hearts go out to the family for the loss of Ellie to this brutal disease.

“No dad should be riding his daughter’s little pink bike because she isn’t here to ride it – but what a poignant way for Pete to raise money for us.

“We rely 100% on donations, fundraising and gifts in wills, so we are truly grateful to our wonderful supporters like Peter, who are helping us achieve the goals in our research strategy, A Cure Can’t Wait ,of doubling survival within 10 years and halving the harm brain tumours have on quality of life.”

You can donate by visiting Pete's justgiving page at justgiving.com/fundraising/thelittlepinkbike