Harrogate fundraiser to take on Everest cycling challenge for blood cancer research

Helping his children has been a focus for James Badger

A father of three is aiming to climb the equivalent of the height of Mount Everest by cycling up a hill 90 times.

James Badger, from Harrogate, is taking on the challenge in memory of his wife, Philippa, who died in 2022, two days of being diagnosed with blood cancer.

Mr Badger, who raised over £200,000 cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats in 2023, hopes to raise a further £100,000 with his latest feat.

The ride will see him and two friends climb 29,528 ft (9,000m) on 4 May.

To complete the challenge to raise fund for the Blood Cancer UK charity he will cycle up and down Lackon Bank, in Birstwith, passing the churchyard where his wife is buried each time.

Mr Badger said the ride would present physical and mental challenges, but said his late wife would help him through it.

"I will be going past where my wife is buried 90 times," he said.

"Every time I feel like I cannot keep going, I will just look across and get that inspiration."

Mr Badger said his wife had been a "devoted mother"

James, his wife and their three young children were visiting Robin Hood's Bay in April 2022 when Mrs Badger said her legs were feeling a bit tired.

"We did not think too much of it," Mr Badger said.

"That evening she felt a bit worse so she rang our GP."

She then had blood tests and they were told she had Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.

Mrs Badger received blood transfusions and was transferred to a hospital in Leeds to start chemotherapy, but died shortly afterwards.

"It was such a sudden shock for my family, for us all," Mr Badger said.

"Going from being a normal healthy person and a normal family to dealing with this in less than two days.

"The hardest thing I ever had to do was tell my three children that Mummy had died."

James will be cycling with two friends Adam Ellis and Richard Baldwin

"I am raising awareness and looking to raise funds for research into blood cancer," he added.

"My aim is to support funding into a specific bit of research into the type of blood cancer that very sadly my wife died from two years ago."