Ben's Legacy

“Ben was passionate about all sorts of things,” said George. “He was a bit of an escapist; he loved Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. He was also a keen cyclist and he really enjoyed sport. One thing Ben always had over me was that he made the primary school football team, which I never did!”

“We used to take the boys cycling with us on holiday,” said Jude. “To start off with Ted and I were faster. But before long they were racing ahead of us. Then they’d be the ones waiting for us at the top of the hill as we slogged our way up!”

After Ben graduated from university, he joined Sitwell Cycling Club and started riding several times a week – come rain or shine.

“He made a lot of friends at the club and became a fantastic mechanic,” said Ted. “He taught himself how to do all of his own maintenance, and he’d be the first person others would seek advice from.”

As a child, Ben had been diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, a liver condition which causes inflammation and scarring of the bile ducts. In August 2020, Ben went for a liver check-up and after conducting some routine tests, his doctor noticed an unusually high level of tumour marker present in his blood.

Ben was sent for a scan, which found a 5cm tumour in his liver. He was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, cancer of the bile duct, and had to go through major surgery to remove half of his liver.

“Until that point he’d been perfectly fit and well,” said Jude. “After the surgery he lost a lot of weight, but he was determined to get stronger. We’d wake up every morning and hear his slippers on the stairs. He’d walk up and down them 30 times to build his strength up. Then he started doing laps of the park, and eventually we could go on longer walks.”

During Ben’s treatment, he started visiting the Cancer Support Centre where he was able to access massage therapy, mindfulness sessions, and get advice about applying for benefits.

“Ben looked forward to the days he spent at Weston Park Charity’s Cancer Centre, and he really appreciated all the support he got there.”

“He had a lot of pain, and I know that he found the massage therapy especially helpful for that,” said Ted. “He used to go on his own, it was something he could still do to maintain his independence.”

Tragically, after months of treatment Ben and his family received the news that his cancer had become terminal. Determined to make the most of his time, Ben decided to organise his biggest cycling challenge yet: ‘Ben’s Tour of the North.’ This epic bike ride would see him and his brother, George, cycle through the Peak District, the Lake District, the North Pennines and the Yorkshire Dales.

Originally, Ben aimed to raise £1,100 through his cycle, but before the brothers had even set off, they’d far surpassed that goal. In total, Ben’s Tour of the North raised an incredible £15,200 for Weston Park Cancer Charity.

“Ben was always very thoughtful and keen to help others, but he wasn’t one to put himself in the spotlight,” said George. “So it was a big thing for him to organise a fundraiser like this. I remember he was taken aback and touched by how much people donated.”

“When we got back on the Sunday evening there was a big group of people who had come to welcome the boys home,” said Jude. “It just felt so special – that whole week was special.”

“It was wonderful,” said Ted. “And to think he did all of that and he knew what was happening; he knew how ill he was.”

Having already made a huge impact for Weston Park Cancer Charity, Ben decided to go one step further by leaving a gift to the charity in his Will.

“Knowing that the money he’s left through his Will, will help other people, just feels right,” said Jude.

"We’ve been back to the Cancer Support Centre in Sheffield and we’ve seen the improvements that have been made to the rooms there. Those spaces are so important for people in need of support.”

“Nobody knows quite what’s going to happen in life. You just have to get on and live every day, and that’s exactly what Ben did. He could have spent all that time feeling like he was dying. But he wasn’t dying - he was living.”

“We knew all of the different sides of Ben,” said Ted. “You couldn’t describe him in one word. But what I’d say to him is just: thank you for being Ben.”

Discover how a gift in your Will could help change and save lives for years to come.

Get in touch with our Legacy and In Memory Fundraising Manager, Melissa today. Email legacy@wpcancercharity.org.uk or call 07496 964575 for an informal chat.