AN INSPIRING Wickhamford daughter is set to compete in this year’s Macmillan Charity Raceday in memory of her father to raise money for the cancer charity.
Abi Stock will head up to York to race against 11 other riders on Saturday (June 15) in the famous Ernest Cooper Macmillan Ride of Their Lives.
The 25-year-old is taking part in the race in memory of her father. In March 2018, Abi’s father, Chris, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Initially, the doctors thought it might be gallstones but after having a scan, they discovered a tumour.
Despite the intensive chemotherapy Chris received and the subsequent surgery that followed, on September 23, Abi and her family were told there was nothing more that could be done. Chris passed away at the age of 54.
“The last conversation, little did I know at the time, that I had with my dad before he died was about the Macmillan Charity Race day. The applications had come out and I’d seen it. I told him that I was thinking about applying, which was a big challenge, so I was both terrified and excited at the prospect,” she said.
“My dad, who had been constantly so so poorly, showed me the most expression he had throughout the whole month of him being in hospital. His eyes lit up and he told me to go for it, it would be his aim to be well enough to come and watch me if I did get in.
“When he passed away my whole life changed, we were all so heartbroken, but I was spurred on to do the race even more so as I had that conversation with him and I knew how much he wanted me to do it, and for sure a great fitting cause. I just really want to make him proud.”
Last year, the charity event raised more than £500,000 for Macmillan. The annual event has now raised a staggering £8.5million since it first launched in 1971. All proceeds have enabled the charity to help those living with cancer with financial, physical and emotional support.
“My dad was a race horse owner himself. The day after he was diagnosed, his horse was due to run at Southwell.
“Initially, he wasn’t going to go, but he then later decided that he didn’t want this awful thing to stop him living his life. My brother rode the horse and ended up winning so that is a fond memory for us all,” Abi added.
So far, Abi has raised over £30,000 for Macmillan with donations still coming in.
Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/abi-stock for more.
