» Fundraising tribute in memory of son
kim.horton@reachplc.com
AGRIEVING father who lost his son last year to an aggressive cancer has helped to raise nearly £100,000 for charity - by naming a puppy in his memory
Ben Sykes died when he was 36 years old to bowel cancer in July last year, six months after he was diagnosed.
He spent his final few weeks at the Sue Ryder Leckhampton Hospice and he has been described as a ‘very brave man’.
Every year, Ben worked with his father Keith, from Cirencester, in helping the Guide Dogs charity. Keith held a fishing event called Lucy’s Fishing Bowl in memory of his pet dog Lucy.
The competition - which will celebrate its ten-year anniversary next year - paid for guide dog puppy training and the trustees decided to name the female guide dogs Lucy in memory of her.
So far it has made over £95,000 for sight loss charity Guide Dogs.
Keith said: “We’d always used the money raised from the event to name guide dog puppies Lucy, up until this year.
“In 2019, we sadly lost our son, Ben, aged 36, to bowel cancer.
“He was a linchpin in the success of Lucy’s Bowl and a trustee.
“He was always there in the background, supporting me and the whole event.
“We had a trustees meeting at the beginning of this year, and it was decided that, in memory of Ben, we would raise money to name pups after him too.”
The first guide dog puppy Ben, named by Lucy’s Bowl, was born in February and is a black Retriever cross Labrador.
This year’s competition, which was held in August at RK Leisure’s Wraysbury complex near Staines, saw 50 anglers taking part, with social distancing measures in place outlined by the
Angling Trust and Government.
Keith added: “The aim is by next year we will have named 20 puppies, either Lucy or Ben.
“We’d also like to say a massive thank you to the owner of RK Leisure, Raphael Khalili, for allowing us to use the complex free of charge for Lucy’s Bowl. Without his support, we’d struggle to hold the event and make it such a success each year.
“Guide dogs are life-changing, that’s what drives us all on.
“It’s amazing to think that this competition creates a legacy for our dog and now our son.
“It’s also very humbling to think a dog and anglers have achieved what we have.”
Guide Dogs charity is incredibly grateful for all the effort made by Keith and his late son for the cause.
Local Community Fundraising Relationship Manager for Guide Dogs Miles Northwood said: “We’d like to say a massive thank you to Keith and everyone who supports Lucy’s Bowl for their incredible fundraising efforts.
“As a guide dog owner, myself, I have personal experience of just what an amazing difference a guide dog can make to someone living with sight loss.
“It costs more than £60,000 to support a guide dog from birth to retirement and Guide Dogs relies almost entirely on public donations, so we are really grateful for groups, like Lucy’s Bowl, for fundraising for us.”