Pedalling Turkey with Toddlers, for the Mum I Lost to Leukaemia
In 2000, my mum Wendy died of Leukaemia. I was just 10 years old and my little brother 9.
26 years on and now I’m a mum myself, and I’m almost at the age my mum was when she passed away (39). Without a doubt loosing her so young shaped mine and my brothers life in ways we could never have imagined. Mum, was a go getter in life, she took every opportunity that came her way and I know she'd be our biggest support in this crazy adventure.
Over the last 25 years I've raised money for Leukaemia UK on several occasions, the first time at just 12 years old. But, its never felt more important than now to raise money for Leukaemia UK again, through this huge adventure with my little boy.
My reasons are incredibly personal. I watched my mum fight Leukaemia for so long, and then lose her battle. And as a nurse with a background in Intensive Care, and most recently in Haematology, I’ve treated patients with Leukaemia and other Blood Cancers. This isn’t just a cause close to my heart, it’s been a part of my everyday life.
Why Leukaemia UK?
By fundraising through this adventure, we will be helping to support vital research into kinder, more effective treatments for Leukaemia. These are treatments that reduce toxic side effects, improve quality of life, and bring us closer to a future where Leukaemia is no longer a devastating diagnosis.
Help us keep one more mumma here to watch her babies grow up. Leukaemia is also the most common childhood cancer in the UK, accounting for around 3 in 10 diagnoses.
Every donation, however small, helps fewer families go through what mine did.
The Adventure
On 22nd October 2026, my son Leo (Age 2) and I are cycling around Turkey for 25 days with my friend Vanessa Ruck (@thegirlonabike), a motorcycle racer and adventurer, and her daughter Skyla (22 months).
20 riding days · 1,000km+ · 21,000m+ of climbing · 38% unpaved
Despite the stats, this isn’t an endurance challenge. It’s an adventure at a child-friendly pace, with two toddlers who love bikes from before they could walk.
We’ve planned our own route, in two legs:
Leg 1: From Fethiye along the Lycian Coast to Antalya, then inland to Beyşehir Lake.
Vehicle transfer to skip roads that aren’t safe to ride.
Leg 2: From Lake Tuz to Cappadocia’s Göreme National Park, then south to the coast near Mersin.
We’ll be riding e-bikes and carrying camping gear. We will have support on the ground in Turkey with a motorhome as our support vehicle and Plan B. Alongside that, with some incredible hard work through her connections, Vanessa has been able to get 14 brands to support the adventure with some incredible gear throughout the trip, from bikes and trailers, camp gear to food ration packs & protein bars.
Why Do It?
To some this trip might seem a little crazy, but I am my mothers daughter and loosing her gave me all the more reason to chase my dreams and push beyond what I think is possible. To find a new version of my old self after becoming a mum. To raise adventurous children who think big and live with joy. And to honour my mum, so Leo grows up knowing her story and why we ride.
You can follow the whole journey on Instagram @Torz9891 and @thegirlonabike and Vanessa’s YouTube channel @TheGirlOnABike.
Thank you for being part of it and all your support 💛