Members doing great things… pt 1

by ·

In the coming weeks, Brakes fans (and Trust members) Steve Wharton and Pete Warren will be undertaking some pretty impressive feats for charity. Steve will be running the Great North Run in aid of Children with Cancer UK, and Pete will be cycling the whole length of the Grand Union Canal from Birmingham to London in aid of Myton Hospice.

Here are their donations pages:
uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SteveWharton
www.mytonhospice.org/fundraising/your_fundraising_pages_all/PeterWarren

In part one of this article, we talk to Pete about his upcoming bike ride.

pw1

Pete Warren

What has inspired you to cycle the length of the Grand Union Canal for Myton Hospice?

PW:
I am the youngest of a family of nine, two girls and seven lads; there are twenty years between youngest and oldest. My second oldest brother David died from cancer in 1978 aged just 25. Anthony is the next one up from me so we’re closest in age and obviously we did many things together when kids.  He has always been there for me in many ways and he used to follow Man United –  he’s the reason why I started following them back in 1975.

In November 1980 he started going out with Diane who he married in May 1981. Some family members said it wouldn’t last and that at 17 they were too young. At first Dad even refused to sign the consent form. It was quite funny that when they arranged for my Dad and Diane’s Dad to meet, the two Dads actually knew each other from years ago because they once lived round the corner from each other in Hull.

On May 16th 1981 Anthony and Diane were married at Warwick registry office. Although Diane had wanted a white wedding money was a bit tight and so they settled for a registry office. This marriage didn’t just last it flourished and along the way two lovely daughters came along and in turn three fantastic grandchildren. Anthony and Diane bestowed the family values on them and they all did so much together.

Diane was never a football fan and could not understand why I used to get so excited and agitated over my team, saying it’s only a game. This attitude changed when she started going to watch Coventry Blaze ice hockey where she was a season ticket holder for quite a few years. She could see then the passion about sport and supporting a team. She was a lady who loved life and loved having fun but also a very caring lady.

Very sadly on July 27th 2013 Diane was diagnosed with an inoperable tumour on her liver, however she was so brave. Knowing she was going to die she decided she wanted a Wake awake so she could see all of her friends one last time. This happened on 19th October and it was also a sort of wedding reception because they renewed their vows at St Nicholas church that morning. Diane got the white wedding that she always wanted.

Sadly seven weeks later on 7th December she passed away in Myton Hospice where she had been in and out of for a few months previous. The care and support at Myton is absolutely fantastic, it is not somewhere you would choose to go but if you had to there would be no better place.

So that is my inspiration.

pw3

Pete’s tshirt

Thank you for sharing Pete. So how is the training going?

PW:
The training is going really well. I go out 3 times a week mostly 20-30 miles a time, the most distance I have done so far is 50 miles in one hit. I suggested once to Barbara my fiancée that I would cycle over to her house in Coventry 11.7 mile each way, she thought I was mad! She thought I had got the bike just to go to the shops on, I suppose there’ll be shops in London!

When I was in Kenilworth runners we used to run the Grand Union as a relay so I know a good part of it. I have always fancied doing a barge holiday but Barbara has no desire to do this, so one night last year when we were sat outside the Greyhound pub at Sutton Stop I said to her I am going to cycle to London next year – her answer is not printable.

When Diane went into Myton and they were so good that sealed it: I would cycle the Grand Union to raise money for them in Diane’s memory.

I have really enjoyed the training it is a great way to get fit and explore different places, it is something I intend to keep up after the event.

How do you think you’ll feel when you reach the end?

PW:
When I finish I don’t know really tired maybe, looking forward to a pint. This is the biggest challenge I have ever done so a feeling of achievement and a bit emotional perhaps because of what it will mean to me and my family to do this. So many people I have lost in my life they will all be in my thoughts. I’ll probably also be a little sad that the event is over, there is something about the water that does it for me, it is so tranquil by the canal side.

Oh yeah and I must remember to find the nearest shop for the eggs and the bread!

……….

We’d like to wish Pete all the best for his training and the cycle. Don’t forget, you can sponsor him by clicking the link below.

www.mytonhospice.org/fundraising/your_fundraising_pages_all/PeterWarren

Check back soon for part 2 of this article, our interview with Steve Wharton.