Coast to Coast in memory of a Special Friend and Son

Over three years ago I came face to face with a  big, gentle smile when I met Jon at a Brain Tumour Support Meeting. Jon aspired to travel to the most northerly, southerly, easterly and westerly points in the UK. He managed a trip towards the east but was too ill to travel any further.

In September last year my cousin Tim and a team of cyclists secured Jon's photo to the front of his bike and took him from Lands end to John O’Groats raising money for The Get Ahead and The Brain Tumour Charities.

This June Jon’s parents Jacky and Roy undertook a Thousand Mile Coast to Coast Commemorative Caravan Journey and Expedition - Remembering Jon two years on.
Jacky shares her memories of this momentous journey:

“Never before have I worn the same tee-shirt for so long!


We planned to take our Jon on a journey right across the country, carrying him in our hearts, and his photos on our windows, fulfilling an ambition that he was unable to realise. We told his story at every stop, and promoted the work of ‘The Brain Tumour Charity’ from Lowestoft, the Eastern most point of the UK, to St. David’s in West Wales.

Roy and I pulled on the ‘Brain Tumour Charity bright red tees as we approached each caravan site. We were ‘The Charity people’. If any doubt remained we soon put paid to that as we decorated our caravan with banners, balloons and bunting!

At the start we released 26 red balloons which were carried off by a brisk southerly wind at Ness Point. This marked the start of our adventure, the first emotional moment of many along our way.

People, seeing our posters, came to share their stories of loss; a grandchild, a mother, a son in law, a sister. People touched by love and loss. We felt humbled to be invited into their sorrow, and honoured to be able to tell of our precious boy.



The donations amazed us. Even during the evening people knocked on our caravan door with money; generous, warm people, yet total strangers, dipping deep in pockets to fill our collecting box.

But some people averted their eyes, looked to the ground, not wanting to get involved with ‘The Charity people’


We arrived at our final destination of St. David’s to a wonderful welcome. A collecting jar, and cut -out from the ‘Caravan Club’ magazine was already in place on the counter. We received a warm, sunny reception, despite our weariness after 1000 miles. We are proud to have achieved our objective-for Jon.


We were delighted to be able to send over £1200 to the Brain Tumour Charity, where we have set up a fund in Jon’s name”:

The Brain Tumour Charity-Jon Fredrickson Fund. To donate visit https://www.justgiving.com/Jacky-Fredrickson1/

Or Text JONF85 £3 to 70070 (or other amount!) 

Light work - sixty nine miles on the flat

Jacky and I stand in front of the Brain Tumour Charity banner and wave our flags as Team Tim & the 5 O's pedal to a halt at our feet.   









Their smiles are as big as their hearts. As they pose for photographs Jacky spots the familiar grin of Jon her son secured to the front of Tim's bike. 

At last he is making the journey he aspired to do.

Today has been an 'easy' ride, sixty nine flat miles from Exeter to Weston Super Mare passing through the Somerset downs. They arrive in Weston at 15.30hrs earlier than planned!







Tim and Lucy are thrilled, yesterday they reached the top of Dartmoor, (a 1,300ft climb from Tavistock) sweat dripping off Tim's nose, but feet still on their pedals! Tony is nearly always in front, the route is programmed into his wheels, he has done the ride before; in four days!! The circle of life is played out as they ride; stories of cygnets, herons, foals, even a cow crossing their path on Dartmoor spill out from  the Team. Tony's best moment was cycling past a raven teasing frogs from the grass before he ate them for lunch!

Today we turned our wheels at 13 miles per hour says Will,  

Lucy tells us the overall speed of the trip so far is 12 mile mph.  Andrew's wife Julie, serves a spread of coffee and scones on the roadside from a table complete with tablecloth!; Julie drives the luggage carriage and buffet car.

Jacky and I devour dripping ice creams on the sea front while the Team rest before we meet again for dinner...






...when Sudocream is added to tomorrow's shopping list...



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Journey on a bike from bottom to top

To cycle the 1000 miles from the bottom of the UK to the top, Lands End to John O'Groats; takes a fit person between ten and fourteen days, buckets of sweat and a dose of pain!

My cousin Tim Haslam, his wife Jane and friends, Lucy, Will, Andrew and Tony are planning this journey starting on August 31st.

Tim set himself this challenge as he reaches the half century milestone; the others are joining him for the ride!

The team have been training hard; even cycling in their sleep. Last weekend they were not, like me, in the garden snoozing in the 30 degrees sunshine. They were sizzling on the roads turning wheels for a mere 75 miles.

Their challenge starts in Cornwall at Lands end, then they pass through Exeter, Weston Supermare, Hereford, Ludlow, Chester, Slaidburn, Penrith, Crawford, Dunoon, Inverary, GlenCoe, Inverness, Altnaharrah and finally arrive at John O’Groats.



Tim will carry a photo of my dear friend Jon whose ambition to travel to the farthest point in the north and south was thwarted by his brain tumour. He will make it at last. I will be cheering them on in spirit.

The Team are raising money for two charities so If you would like to Donate to encourage these brave people;  please click the Donate link here. 

Their chosen charities are The Brain Tumour Charity and the Get ahead Charitable Trust. 

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