Grandfather, 84, to take on charity cycle challenge
Hope House Children's HospiceA Shropshire grandfather is taking on a charity cycle challenge for the hospice caring for his young grandson.
Alan Morris, 84, from Rodington, began fundraising for Hope House in 1993, organising one of the first fundraising events for the hospice, that helped raise £1.5m to build it.
His connection with the charity deepened after his grandson, Ruairi, now 12, began receiving respite care there, after he was was diagnosed with muscle-wasting condition Duchennes Muscular Dystrophy when he was three.
On 9 August he will take part in the challenge, which sees hundreds of riders either cycle a 56-mile route to Lake Vyrnwy or a 70-mile distance to Lake Bala.
"Ruairi loves going to Hope House and as a family it has been a massive support," said Morris.
"I've always been a supporter of Hope House, but now seeing my grandson benefit from the care there makes it even more important.
"I'm looking forward to taking on the ride - while I'm fit enough to do it, I will."
He added: "I have always looked after myself and kept active and have actually done this ride before in the past – that's the secret to be able to do it at 84."
In 2023, Morris estimated that he had raised almost £100,000 for Hope House.
He organised the Pontesbury Potter walk, has run the London Marathon, and has twice run the fire highest peaks in Wales, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland in 48 hours, not just once but twice.
The hospice provides nursing care and support to children and their families who live in Shropshire, Cheshire and Wales.
It costs about £10 million to run its services every year, with the charity dependent on public support for 10 months of the year.
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