Dad completes Salisbury cycle in memory of his son
Ben Dawkins, a local dad, recently took on 217 kilometers around Salisbury Plain in memory of his son, raising vital funds for Naomi House & Jacksplace. Ben and his family were supported by Naomi House in 2016, as their son Teddy came to the end of his life.
In December 2015, my son Teddy was diagnosed with rhabdoid tumours which were untreatable. We decided that he would come to Naomi House so we would be more comfortable in his last days. We arrived around January 15th, 2016 and he passed away on the 20th.
That year, I did my first ride in memory of Teddy. I had my close friend Russ with me and we cycled along the South Downs Way from Winchester to Eastbourne. It was a brutal 100 miles of off-road riding, but it gave me head space where I could quietly vent. We completed the path in two days and raised over £5,500 for the hospices.
When we were told that there was nothing Southampton General Hospital could do for Teddy and that our options were limited, we chose to have Teddy taken to Naomi House. We thought it would give us the best quality of time.
My memory of our time at the end of Teddy's life is best described as numb. Going from minute to minute listening to doctors' best advice and updates on Teddy's failing health. What I can say is that the staff at Naomi House were incredible. From the doctors to the nurses, their ability to keep us well supported was first class. We were fortunate in the fact that it was very quiet with few people in so it felt like we had the place to ourselves.
Until last year, I couldn’t attempt another challenge because of a leg operation. In 2024, I took on South Downs Way again on my own and took 9 hours 18 minutes riding for Naomi House, raising £1,900. This year, I did the South Downs again, thinking it would be my last time, but about a week later my friend Ed reached out and asked me if I wanted to join him on another challenge. This time the route would take us on a gravel bike, for 129 miles around Salisbury plain. I agreed and wanted to ride for Teddy and Naomi House.
The ride was incredible but also one of the hottest days of the year, averaging at 32 degrees. So many people pulled out of the race because of the heat. There was a great feeling of support and teamwork, with stunning views throughout the day. After 8 hours and 57 minutes, we completed the ride. I was so thrilled to finish and out of the 150 people who entered to do the double centurion, we came in the top 20!
With his recent challenge, Ben has raised over £900 for Naomi House & Jacksplace. Thank you for your ongoing support of our hospices. With every donation we receive, we are able to help support families like Teddy's, who are going through some of the toughest times.
I would never want anyone to go through the experience that losing a child does to you. This is why I feel how important it is to support such charities like Naomi House & Jacksplace, so they can always help others like they helped us.