Gary goes the distance for cancer kid
1600km cycle raises over £3500
A Blantyre man has cycled the distance between London and Barcelona in a bid to save a little girl’s life.
Kindhearted Gary Williams made a promise to five-year-old Isla Caton, who suffers from a very rare form of cancer, neuroblastoma.
He pledged to raise as much money as possible to help pay for treatment and expenses in Barcelona and the USA, as there are currently no treatments available on the NHS.
Gary successfully completed his challenge of cycling 1600km in June, raising over £3500.
The 41-year-old, who now lives in London, has been dedicated in his fundraising mission and has used great strength from overcoming cancer himself in helping Isla.
Gary was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2016, two weeks after a nearfatal road accident where he was told he would never cycle again.
But Gary defied this and was determined to get back on the saddle and give something back after his horrible experience.
He told the Advertiser: “It was tough going and the weather was awful for the most part but I made a promise to a little girl and I was motivated to do it.
“I was getting up at 5am in the morning sometimes. Because of the restrictions I wasn’t able to cycle to Barcelona, so I figured out what the distance was and committed to cycling that at home. People were able to come out and support me during it and keep me going.
“Isla was travelling back home from Barcelona on July 4 for a break from treatment so I was able to get other cyclists from round the world committed to cycling for her as well to give the fundraising a final push, and we were actually able to cover the distance I did over a month in one day and made it a round trip.
“It was symbolic to do it then for Independence Day as we want Isla to be free from her condition.”
Gary came across Isla’s story at a West Ham United football game where he saw donation buckets raising awareness of her illness.
He added: “While on my bike I was involed in a crash with a van that could have easily been fatal. I was told I would never cycle again. And within a couple of weeks I was diagnosed with cancer so I was struggling on all fronts.
“So going through all that I was inspired to ride my bike again, which was hard work but I got through it.
“I survived cancer and Isla has cancer so I thought it was massively symbolic I try to help. I just wanted to give back and pay forward as there were so many people that helped me.”
Gary has got to know Isla and her family through his efforts and met her when she returned home from treatment last week.
He added: “I made a promise to a wee girl. I said I’d keep fighting for her, that’s what drives me. It’s hard but when you’ve gone through it and come out the other side it gives you that determination to keep going.
“It was all about me giving her hope, hope that she could go outside and play with her friends again, rather than watch them from the window, hoping that she can go back to school one day and have a normal day rather than being in and out of hospital.”
Isla, from Hornchurch, is waiting to hear results from how her treatment is progressing before getting further experimental treatment in America.
Her condition, neuroblastoma, is the same that inspirational Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery suffered from.
Bradley, who sadly passed away aged six, famously struck up a bond with now Rangers striker Jermain Defoe during his brave battle with the disease. His legacy now lies with a charity set up in his name, the Bradley Lowery Foundation, where all of Gary’s fundraising efforts have went towards. The charity however will direct the funds from Gary’s cycle all to help Isla in her battle with the childhood cancer.
You can donate at justgiving.com/ fundraising/gary-williams1600