46 year old Gavin Pike has trekked across Iceland in memory of his brother, raising £3,635 for St Wilfrid’s Hospice.

Gavin’s brother, Tristan, had a very sudden diagnosis of an aggressive cancer in 2021 and was  told that his condition wasn’t going to get better. Over the course of a few months Tristan spent time at St Wilfrid’s Hospice in Eastbourne before he died in June 2021.

‘They organised his wedding onsite as this was one of his last wishes and he was given the most outstanding care I have ever seen from their devoted team,’ said Gavin. ‘Our closest family members were able to spend the last remaining moments with him in a loving way, surrounded by incredible staff and beautiful gardens.’

Gavin felt compelled to help St Wilfrid’s after learning how important it is the local community and that 70% of the hospice’s funding comes from charitable donations. He decided to take on a challenging three-day trek across Iceland in honour of his brother’s adventurous side. The trek involved walking across some of the most iconic and remote destinations, in search of the Northern Lights.

‘Tristan was an adventurer who embraced every opportunity and made a great deal of friendships along his travels.’ says Gavin. ‘I, on the other-hand, have rarely stepped outside of my home county! The trek was really tough, following our very seasoned mountain guide. The more we enjoyed his company, the further we were taken. We reached some of the higher peaks with a wind chill of -28c and covered over 50km. My brother would have loved the fact I have done this.’

If you have been inspired by Gavin’s fundraising adventure, you can find out more about taking on a challenge for St Wilfrid’s Hospice here