A DORSET charity will be given a boost from an epic cycling challenge in memory of a well known actress and her nephew.
Thomas Yaxley is embarking on a final fundraising challenge on Thursday, July 14, which will see him cycle more than 2,100km from The National Theatre in London to the Plaza Mayor in Madrid.
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance will be one of the beneficiaries of the fundraiser, which is the latest in a series of cycling challenges already completed by Thomas.
Thomas, 32, is taking on the cycling challenge in memory of his brother Hugo Yaxley, who was killed in a serious road traffic accident in November 2020.
Just five months later, Hugo's aunt Helen McCrory OBE passed away after losing her battle with breast cancer.
Helen, married to fellow actor Damian Lewis, was known for her roles in gangster drama Peaky Blinders, the Harry Potter movies and starred alongside Richard Gere in drama MotherFatherSon.
Thomas will cycle from London to Madrid in aid of four charities, including Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, which was deployed to the scene when Hugo Yaxley was involved in the collision on the A30 in Wiltshire in November 2020.
Hugo was cared for by Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance who then airlifted him to University Hospital Southampton to receive further treatment, while his partner Minna Leatham, from north Dorset, was cared for by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, who also airlifted her to the hospital.
Last month a fundraiser organised by Thomas raised more than £11,000 in aid of four chosen charities.
In a bid to honour their work, Thomas hopes that his final challenge will take the £110,000 that has already been raised through ‘Ride4Hugo’, to more than £120,000 for four charities close to Hugo and Helen’s hearts - Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, children’s mental health charity Place2Be and HVH Arts.
Thomas said: “This brings 18 months of fundraising in Hugo and Helen’s memory to a conclusion. Which has seen some incredible efforts, especially from Minna Leatham, who came back from her life-threatening injuries in less than eight months to walk five miles.
“It is very special to be able to leave from The National Theatre, a place where Helen loved to perform and gave some of her best performances, to go to Madrid, where Hugo was going to go to university.
“Thank you to everyone who has donated and supported Ride4Hugo along the way; their time, money and effort has left a legacy for Hugo and Helen that has genuinely changed and saved lives.”
Emma Jones, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Fundraising Manager said: “On behalf of the whole team at Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, I would like to say a huge thank you to Thomas and all of his family and friends, for their continued support in aid of the charity.
“We will be thinking of Thomas as he cycles 2,100km from London to Madrid and wish him the very best of luck with this epic challenge. We know that this is a very special journey and we feel honoured to be one of the chosen beneficiaries of this cycle ride.”
For more information about Thomas’s fundraising efforts and to donate, visit the Ride4Hugo website www.ride4hugo.com
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