Two bereaved families have spoken about the special memories they made while taking part in a cycling challenge to raise funds for a charity that supported them through difficult times and are encouraging anyone to join next years event.
On Friday 12 July 2024 Emma and Mark Smale, from Bideford, took part in Children’s Hospice South West’s (CHSW) Ride for Precious Lives event.
.jpg.png "Team Smale at Ride for Precious Lives 2024")
Alongside their friends Carly Jones, Nick Stevens, Michael Davis and Steve Warner, not only did they mark what would’ve been their daughter Imogen’s 13th birthday, but they also raised vital funds for “the most incredible charity.”
The Smale family visited Little Bridge House children’s hospice with Imogen in the time leading up to her death in March 2016, and continue receiving support from the hospice Care Team in their bereavement journey.
.jpg.png "Imogen's Pedalling Party")
Emma shares:
“We participated in Ride for Precious Lives last year to raise as much money as possible for this amazing charity in memory of our daughter, to say thank you for everything CHSW did for our whole family. Despite being a real physical challenge it was an incredible experience and
something we will never forget.”
Ride for Precious Lives, an annual sponsored cycle challenge covering over 200 miles encompasses the charity’s 3 children’s hospices. The charity, that supports babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions in the South West, has sold all places for this year’s event so has launched its 2026 event early.
.jpg.png "Ride for Precious Lives 2024")
Kiley Pearce, Event Fundraiser explains:
“For our amazing participants the journey begins next year on Friday 10 July 2026 at our Charlton Farm hospice in North Somerset, they will then cycle through
challenging, yet breathtaking scenery to arrive at our Little Bridge House children’s hospice near Barnstaple on the Saturday and then the final leg of their journey will finish at Little Harbour near St Austell on the Sunday.”
Rhiannon and Tom Gigg from Exeter have been supported by CHSW for 3 years. Rhiannon Gigg shares their family’s experience of taking part in Ride for Precious Lives last year in memory of their son, Fred:
“I can honestly say I signed up to do Ride for Precious Lives through total FOMO. Travelling so many miles on a bike seemed very daunting but my partner is a keen cyclist and managed to persuade a few friends that this might be a fun thing to do. Our son Fred passed away at Little Bridge House 3 years ago so we had some real motivation and by the time he managed to get a team of 8 together I realised I couldn't miss out!”
“We had a year of preparation. This included raising a healthy sum of money (which took some planning) and some serious hours spent on the bike. We had a few team dinners to plan our fundraising strategy, and an ongoing group chat
sharing cycling discount codes and weekend cycle routes. Team CHSW kept us on track throughout the year, hosting fundraising zoom calls and sending out kits lists. They even sent us our maps to download so standing on the start line we felt
nothing but excitement for the 200 miles ahead us.”
“Team Fred (as we were called) spent 3 days in the saddle visiting each hospice, including my first visit back to Little Bridge House since Fred passed. This was such a challenge for me and I am not sure I would have got there, had I not been surrounded by my team mates. Cycling up the drive, in a peloton of my friends and family, was extremely special and a memory I cherish.”
Ride for Precious Lives is incredibly well organised, with support physios and mechanics, perfectly marked routes and generous volumes of cake. This leaves riders with the capacity to tackle any challenge in front of them, whether it's a fast descent down Cheddar Gorge, a final hill on Exmoor or a hospice driveway. So I encourage everyone to sign up (for ANY reason!) because it's an experience you wont regret.
If you would like to be part of Ride for Precious Lives 2026 and support families when they need it most, registration is now open, find out more and sign up at www.chsw.org.uk/ride26