TWO Salisbury-based friends will be travelling to the four corners of the UK by buggy, in memory of one of their children who died from cancer at just 13-years-old.

Farmer Jerry Bailey, aged 59, and 53-year-old Steve Bartlett, of the National Farming Union, are hoping to raise £10,000 from the challenge, travelling to Lands End, Ardnamurchan Point, John O’Groats and Ness Point in just 10 days.

Setting off on May 3, the pair aim to return on May 13.

They have already raised more than £1,300 online thanks to around 30 donors.

Jerry’s son Rob passed away from cancer in June 2008, and then in April 2009, Jerry was diagnosed with throat cancer, of which he made a full recovery.

Now the pair want to raise the enormous sum for Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group, and Southampton General Hospital’s Piam Brown Ward.

In the lead up to the feat Jerry said they will be taking on around 250 miles a day, adding he was “really looking forward to the scenes across the country”.

The pair have already trialled parts of the route they will be taking, and have ensured their buggies are up to the task.

Salisbury Journal: Steve Bartlett and Jerry Bailey to take on 10-day buggy ride across the UKSteve Bartlett and Jerry Bailey to take on 10-day buggy ride across the UK

“We know it’s ambitious to try and raise £10,000 on this sort of event, especially as there’s more pressure after Covid-19, but it will go a long way,” Jerry said.

Jerry and Steve are no stranger to this type of fundraiser, completing a quad bike ride from John O’Groats to Land’s End around ten years ago.

Steve said: “We wanted to try something else. Just before Christmas Jerry said he had an idea - he’d bought a bike, and he wanted me to come with him.

“This is going to be a challenge but I’m here to support my friend.”

Talking about reaching £10,000, Steve added: “I would be ecstatic.

“We know it’s quite a big ask but we want to raise as much as possible and it would do a whole lot of good for these charities.”

Highlighting that it would be around 10 hours of driving a day, Steve added: “We’re excited to do this, and I’m looking forward to the beautiful scenery around the UK.”

Jerry added: “People are so generous – last time we did this people were always asking what we were up to and handing over cash there and then.

“We just want to say thanks to everyone that has helped us and we hope people continue being so generous.”

For more information and to donate visit the Just Giving page.

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