An Ambition Fulfilled
There is one reason for deciding to raise money for Francis House but dozens, if not hundreds, of ways of doing it. The single desire is to help the charity to provide the best respite care for children and families across the North West and beyond. How you do it is a personal matter, it’s all up to you.
One of this year’s personal reasons involved the ambition to retrace the wartime footsteps of a father who would thrill two young boys with tales of his wartime experiences. Hearing stories of his father’s exploits in Italy and Africa during World War Two sparked the imagination of Jeff Pearce, 59, from Monton, Eccles, as he remembered sitting listening on those Sunday afternoons more than 50 years ago.
In July 2009 Jeff set off from Patricroft United Reformed Church on his 600cc Kawasaki motorbike with the aim of riding to Monte Cassino in Italy, the scene of one of the toughest battles of World War Two and the place his father, Harold, often told him of as a young boy.
Here’s the story of Jeff’s fundraising challenge as told to Andy Glynn of Francis House.
What’s the family connection with Monte Cassino?
When my brother and I were youngsters, nearly always on a Sunday at lunchtime, my dad would tell us stories of his time in the war. He’d start to reminisce and tell us lots of funny stories – he never mentioned the bad bits – and one place he kept mentioning was Monte Cassino near to Rome in Italy. I think he had quite a feeling for the place and despite what happened to him he was never bitter and always spoke with affection about it.
Stories of the times he slept in vineyards, repairing vehicles and tanks in the field and laughing about having to shave with petrol because water was too precious. There must have been times when he’d witnessed some horrible things but in all the experiences he told us of and the mates he’d made during his service he never once mentioned the horrible things. I know he’d have lost friends along the way but he never troubled us with any of the sadness of war.
My Dad’s stories made a lasting impression and I never forget the times we spent listening to him. Ever since I’ve had this fascination with what he’d been through and always said one day I’ll go there for myself to see the place he’d described so vividly.
What motivates you to fundraise?
It all follows the same pattern. First I have an idea of something I want to do and then I add this to a cause.
My first trip was for my church, Patricroft URC and a church in Hungary, soon followed by my first trip for Francis House to the Millau Bridge in France. I asked my friends at the church about which charity I should adopt and the hospice was a clear favourite. I clearly remember the comment: “You can’t do better than raising money for Francis House”. So the trip came first and then the link with the charity.
If I wasn’t doing it for Francis House I might not complete – I might turn back, because sometimes you think: “Oh, I’ve had enough of this”, but the connection gives you a reason to carry on. That’s why I do it.
The motivation is the thought of all those people who’ve sponsored you and what it’s all going towards. I always set myself a target which I don’t think I can reach and never thought I’d reach £2,000 for the Monte Cassino trip - but I did, and more!
So far, I’ve raised £1200 for the Millau Bridge trip and £2,210 for Monte Cassino.
Your motor bike was blessed before you set off on the trip. How important to you was the support of your friends at Patricroft United Reformed Church?
The church is such an important part of my life. I think someone else gets involved in helping me to decide what I’m going to do next!
Although being on your own is not an easy thing to do I seem to manage and I think this is because of the support I feel is there for me. It was important to have the bike blessed and to know I had the prayers and support from my friends at the church. The church isn’t just a place to go to for an hour on a Sunday, as it’s about getting involved in the community and organisations like Francis House. Often people have the wrong idea of what church is about and so it is important to show the church is a working part of the community.
How long does it take you to prepare for a trip?
The most difficult thing is coming up with an idea – I pray for an idea and one always comes. Once I have worked out if it is possible I tell a few people and then it blooms. Soon after I get the maps out, working out in my head how I can go ahead and do it. After this stage it’s not long before the real practical arrangements are made and it’s almost as if the trip takes on a life or its own.
You were taken ill at one point on the trip to Monte Cassino, how did you cope with this while on the road?
I always thought food poisoning was just a bad tummy and wondered what all the fuss was about but when I finally got it myself it knocked me for six. I was in Rome, I had no energy and I felt exhausted.
Once I was on the bike the machine seemed to take over. I just said to the bike take me to the next destination and off it went. Once you’re on the bike, and getting to and on the bike is the most difficult bit, the rest is easy as you just have to sit there and move your fingers and your feet. The bike takes care of the rest. I was like this for seven days.
I met up with my brother who lives on the German Swiss border and he took me to a pharmacist as I’d lost half a stone in weight. The medicines helped to clear up the bug and soon after I was fully fit once again.
I know exactly where it came from. I’m sure it was some rice I’d had in a restaurant in Rome. Avoid warmed rice like the plague!
How long did it take you to reach Monte Cassino?
It took me six days to reach the monastery, a distance of 1500 miles and I spent two days there. It felt wonderful to reach the destination and to finally see the place my dad had told me so much about all those years ago.
As well as the traditional methods of seeking sponsorship, you used ‘Just Giving’ - how did this work?
This was the first time I’d used the internet based sponsorship site and it was very easy to do. It takes a lot of the legwork out of fundraising and you even find people you’ve never met adding to the total. In the end the majority of the £2,135 raised came through people donating on-line. The other large amount was raised as a result of a garden party held by my brother at his home in the German village of Galingen on the German Swiss border which brought in £575. People were so generous throughout and made it all worthwhile.
What advice would you give to someone just starting to think about attempting a similar trip?
Definitely do it. Don’t just talk about it, don’t just think about it, take action and make it happen. It’s easy to get bogged down thinking about the reasons why you can’t do it. There’s always something to get in the way but once you’ve decided to do it you’ll find time because it becomes something you have to see through.
I’ve always looked at my fundraising as an adventure and have decided to do things I would be involved in anyway and so it’s never been any more of an effort to raise money for charity along the way. There have been times when I would have abandoned a trip if I wasn’t connected with a good cause and so the link with Francis House has had the additional benefit of keeping me going and helping me achieve my ambitions.
I’m now searching for something else to do and so I’m not finished yet. My dad also served in the desert in North Africa and so this may be a possibility for a future ride. Remembering the lessons I learned on my trip to Italy, I definitely wouldn’t need my wet weather gear if I did!
