Harrogate's James Badger has been recognised by the Prime Minister after completing yet another epic fundraising challenge in memory of his wife.
James took on his 'Ride to the Stars' fundraising challenge on Saturday (4th May), cycling the equivalent elevation from sea level to the top of Mount Everest.
It was in memory of his wife Philippa, who died suddenly at the age of 42 after being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML).
This year’s challenge follows James’ epic 1700km cycle ride from Lands End to John O’Groats in 2023.
And he has since been awarded the Prime Minister's ‘Points of Light Award’ - a daily award that goes to a member of the public who has been involved in fundraising and community efforts.
Amazing effort by James Badger and others on his epic Everest bike challenge today. Good luck with the rest of it guys!! 🚲 ⛰️ #teambadger #becauseofphilippa #everestingchallengemay4 #yorkshiredales #birstwith @bloodcancer_uk pic.twitter.com/AuU3bohzZY
— Nathan Turvey (@nathanturvey) May 4, 2024
James' 'Ride to the Stars' challenge took 22 hours, after starting at 3am and finishing at 1am the following morning.
So far he has raised £50,000 for Blood Cancer UK.
James cycled up the punishing Lackon Bank in Birstwith a total of 90 times - the equivalent of the 8900m height of the world’s tallest mountain.
James Badger told Your Harrogate:
“With teamwork and support from so many Your Harrogate listeners, so many friends and family and the Harrogate community, we managed to get there.
“It was an amazing experience. My legs, my hands, my touchpoints, my feet are all aching. I didn’t think I could get through it but we did!"
James was supported by his and Philippa's three children: Isabel, 14, Alice, 12, and Thomas, aged 8.
He added:
“My children are really proud and pleased that I’m able to do this and hopefully have something good come out of something awful that happened to our family.”
The total raised across both challenges now stands at just over £250,000 - just £50,000 short of James' £300,000 target.
He is hoping to fund a BloodCancerUK research project into Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML), the particular type of blood cancer that killed his wife and currently only has a 10 per cent survival rate.
The three-year project began at Cardiff University in January.
James said:
"Through the work of BloodCancerUK, survival rates for childhood leukaemia have improved from just 10 per cent in the 1960s and 70s to almost 85 per cent.
"Research can make a real difference and AML has not had the same level of funding and research that childhood leukaemias have had which is why it is so important for us fund this research project."
You can see James’ challenge on Instagram or donate to his campaign via JustGiving here.
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