Today, Andy Hill returns to Suffolk after an epic 900-mile, six-country cycle ride to raise money for Little Lifts, the cancer charity that helped his wife Zoe. Here, they explain why he wanted to mark her fifth cancer anniversary in this way
Zoe – We last featured you in January 2023. What has happened since then? How does it feel to reach your 5th cancer anniversary?
Gosh time really does fly! Quite a lot has happened since then, namely buying Paddy & Scott‘s! Jon and I carried out a Management Buy Out along with some investors and that finalised in January this year. So, it’s been quite a stressful time but also really quite interesting to get my head around. Work is such a big part of my life and I almost run my cancer journey alongside my career journey in a strange way. It almost contradicts itself as I’ve achieved more than I ever thought possible since my diagnosis, so I’m trying to figure out whether there’s a direct correlation with grabbing opportunities and taking risks linked to the cancer diagnosis. I think there most definitely is but I’m still figuring that out and how it’s reshaped me as a person. As you can probably tell I’m quite into self-discovery and what makes me and others tick!
To get to five years is odd to be honest as I was expecting to feel very celebratory and triumphant as it’s such a big milestone for anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer. However, it unexpectedly brought up some feelings of sadness that I really wasn’t expecting that I’ve been working through. I always said once treatment finished one day it would all hit me as I’m not sure I’ve fully processed the whole thing. So, some mixed feelings on the five years but overall an overwhelming sense of relief.
How did you feel about your husband flying to Switzerland on the anniversary and endeavouring to do an epic cycle ride for Little Lifts?
Incredibly proud. It’s a really tough challenge. Andy has cycled his whole life, so he has a good deal of residual fitness. However, he was ill for a good few weeks at the end of April which really knocked him, so going into this challenge without many training miles under his belt has worried me a little. Him raising money for Little Lifts just makes it all the more special, as whilst I may be a trustee and obviously benefited from not only receiving a box but also the community, I have been so lucky to be part of since, he has also been welcomed into that community which really is just as important. It’s easy to forget the friends and family that have to watch you go through something so traumatic and feel helpless. It’s traumatic for them too. So, to have a support network through Little Lifts, I know has been just as important for him as it has for me. He had a tough start to the ride as the Rhine is on the verge of bursting in parts so he has had to deal with a lot of rain and re-navigating the route as he simply can’t get through the flooded cycle paths. I know he will do it as he is mentally incredibly tough. I’m very lucky to be his wife.
Andy – What has motivated you to cycle 900 miles for Little Lifts? Have you seen first-hand how the charity has supported your wife over the past few years?
Following her cancer diagnosis Zoe had multiple hospital visits which gradually formed her treatment plan of surgery, chemo and radiotherapy. The contact with the hospital was direct and to the point. During a pre chemo meeting Zoe was presented with a Little Lifts box and this was the first and only time she cried during her cancer care. Little Lifts provided that mental support that was needed. She realised that there were others there who had been through what she was going through, and she was not alone. The Little Lifts boxes are given to everyone who is to go through chemo and radiotherapy and are full of goodies to help with this difficult time. Little Lifts was a massive part of Zoe’s support during this time, and she later became involved in the charity. This was my motivation…to help other people like Little Lifts helped Zoe.
How did you train for the ride? Are you a keen cyclist anyway?
How have I trained? Well, I haven’t done so much cycling this year although I have in the past, so I have a lot of residual fitness. I’ll count the first three days of the ride as training. I did manage to lose a stone in weight before the ride which will help significantly, but the biggest thing you need to prepare for a ride like this is your mind. Having to get in the saddle for seven hours a day. day after day…can be a challenge. Being mentally prepared was and is one of the biggest challenges. I get many messages of support which helps significantly.
Visit Little Lifts: Andy’s fundraising page for the Rhine Cycle Route 2024 (enthuse.com). Also, visit Little Lifts (enthuse.com). Zoe Hill is Operations Director at Paddy & Scott’s coffee business based in Suffolk.
Featured images – supplied
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