A father from Upper Chute is set to finish an 800 mile cycle ride this Sunday in order to raise funds for a hub named in memory of his daughter.

Jody Wood is riding from Durness, on the north coast of Scotland, back to his family home with a group of friends in memory of his daughter Artemis, who passed away from a rare form of cancer at the age of three. The ride will raise money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and The Institute for Cancer Research, the latter of which will name a collaboration hub after her.

“Artemis showed fortitude and courage right until the very end,” Jody said.  She really was the bravest of little girls and we hope that this ride will raise incredibly valuable funds, in Artemis’ name, to support care and treatment for other children who so desperately need it.” 

Artemis was born in Singapore, where her father Jodie was a member of the Rawhides, an amateur cycle group composed of UK expats. The family subsequently relocated to the UK, where in June, Artemis was tragically diagnosed with Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukaemia (JMML).

JMML is a rare form of blood cancer which affects the blood marrow. The condition causes monocytes, a type of white blood cell, to be produced in large quantities at the expense of red blood cells and platelets, making the blood less effective at carrying oxygen and healing wounds.

Following the diagnosis at Southampton University Hospital, family and friends undertook a series of fundraising challenges, including marathons, to raise money for the organisations that were treating her, including The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

While Artemis’ sister Matilda was found to be a stem cell donor match, and the operation at The Oak Centre For Children and Young People was a success, Artemis subsequently passed away in November 2019 from the side effects of the chemotherapy and transplant.

Jody said: “Artemis touched so many lives, and as a family we are honoured that the Institute of Cancer research has named one of their brand-new collaboration hubs The Artemis Wood Collaboration Hub.

“The treatment and care she received from the Royal Marsden and St George’s Hospital was nothing short of breath-taking. I hope that The Rawhides’ Ride 4 Artemis will therefore not only support their work, but also raise awareness of the extraordinary job they are doing.”

The ride is planned to take eight days, with the 14 cyclists from the Rawhides planning to cycle south towards Inverness, and then across the Yorkshire Dales and Peak District before heading through Oxfordshire and Wiltshire.

They hope to raise funds to research new, kinder treatments for cancers such as JMML to ensure more children like Artemis can be treated and survive. At present, almost £119,000 has been raised towards the goal of £150,000.

Dr Rob Dowse, consultant paediatric haematologist at The Royal Marsden, who treated Artemis, said: “Around the world teams of scientists, doctors and patients are collaborating to discover how JMML happens, and to find more targeted, kinder and more effective treatments.

“It is our hope that together we find the treatment that means in the future, all children like Artemis can survive and thrive. The funds raised by these 14 cyclists will help ensure our research teams can continue to make progress. I wish them the best of luck!”

To donate to the fundraising challenge, visit: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/RawhidesRiding4Artemis