Loire ride for Esme starting 17th September: back on track

Esme Morris Macintyre: 

14th February 1995 – 7th July 2013  

Scott Hardtail Scale 720

Starting on Wednesday 17th September I will be riding from the source of the Loire to where it meets the Atlantic at La Baule. I will be raising money for two cancer charities: Teenage Cancer Trust (based in the UK) and Fondation Gustave Roussy (based in France). The ride is in memory of Esme Morris Macintyre, who died on 7th July 2013 of a brain tumour aged just 18. The tumour had been discovered when Esme was 11. An immediate operation appeared to have been successful but the tumour came back in the autumn 2012. It proved to be incurable.

In her final years Esme raised thousands for Teenage Cancer Trust and in April 2013 set up a Facebook page called Esme's Adventure when she knew she only had a few months left to live. In the recent BBC documentary 'When Andy won Wimbledon' Esme's story featured prominently as she met Andy Murray on the first Monday of Wimbledon 2013 less than two weeks before she died. Esme died during Andy's final when he was two sets up.

Andy remembers her story clearly:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/andymurray/10934627/Wimbledon-2014-Andy-Murray-admits-documentary-story-of-Esme-MacIntyre-is-one-that-still-moves-him.html 

My donation page on Fondation Gustave Roussy is: https://igr.friendraising.eu/jim.budd. For Teenage Cancer Trust it is http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JimBudd 

I am hoping that I will be joined by other riders for part of the route down the Loire to the Atlantic. Firstly Carole, my partner, will be supporting me by car and on the bike. Last August Carole raised over £4100 including gift-aid riding from John O'Groats to Esme's village in Fife. 

I'm delighted that Michel Mergot, deputy mayor and previously mayor of Epeigné-les-Bois, and Charles Eric Pasquiers of Domaine FL in Anjou have already kindly expressed an interest in riding part of the way with me. Hopefully there will be others. 

We are now working out the route in detail and will post details soon. It would be possible to ride the Loire quicker than we plan but as the vintage is fairly early in the Loire this year we will be taking in some of the 2014 harvest at the same time.

 •••

The Volkswagen rack that failed dramatically

Originally I planned to ride the Loire in June. Unfortunately due to a catastrophic and unexplained failure of our Volkswagen roof bike rack, which dumped my Scott Scale 35 onto the A16 Autoroute in northern France while returning from the Loire in very windy conditions, the ride has been delayed till September. We are still in discussion with Volkswagen, who appear yet to appreciate the potential seriousness of the failure of their equipment. It was very fortunate that there was no traffic behind us when my bike flew off.    

 The damaged Scott 35 with a cracked carbon 

frame that couldn't be repaired

Esme's adventure – brilliant highlights video by her brother Calum

Esme Morris Macinytyre 14.2.1995-7.7.2013

Calum, Esme's brother, has recently posted on Facebook and YouTube a brilliant video of some of the highlights of Esme's short and courageous life.  She was diagnosed with a brain tumour when she was 11 and died on Sunday 7th July 2013.

The video includes Esme meeting Sir Chris Hoy, Andy Murray and Amy Macdonald as well as a hot air balloon trip, skiing, biking and raising money to combat cancer.

See also Esme's Adventure on Facebook. 

Calum Morris Macintyre: Newtonmore hill race: 3.8.13

 

Esme – pre-tumour 

Esme with her cousin Zoe

Esme Morris Macintyre – end of a very brave fight

Esme Morris Macintyre
(photos by CRM)

Very sadly Esme lost her fight against her brain tumour earlier this afternoon – she was just 18. The end was quick but thankfully peaceful.  

The tumour was first diagnosed when she was 11 and for six years it seemed that an operation and treatment had been a successful. Unfortunately the tumour returned last autumn and a second operation was able to remove only part of the tumour.

Esme, who had already raised thousands of pounds for Teenage Cancer Trust, was determined to fight on. She put together a wish list of people she wanted to meet and things she still wanted to do and logged her progress on a Facebook page – Esme's Adventure. She did not have time to tick off all the items on her wish list but she did have some wonderful memories in her final few weeks. In particular her bravery brought out the kindness and generosity of a number of big stars and personalities.

Olympic multi-champion cyclist Sir Chris Hoy came to visit her the day after he announced his retirement – pictured on Esme's Facebook page. Then on the first day of Wimbledon she was at Centre Court to see Andy Murray win his first match of this year's Championship. Judy Murray, Andy's mum, was brilliant. Firstly she arranged for Esme, then in a wheelchair, to have a place right by the court. Then through Judy she got to meet Andy and to spend several hours in the players' lounge. Again see photos on Esme's Facebook page. Andy won Wimbledon shortly after Esme died, so she wasn't able to see his great success.

Esme also spent time with the singer Amy Macdonald and met singer Emile Sandé in Glasgow. Just two weeks ago today she took part in the Race for Life in Kirkcaldy with her great friend Eilidh and a few days later she modelled for the Portmoak Fashion Show in aid of the charity Hospices of Hope.  

Esme has been amazingly brave and resourceful and in death she remains an inspiration. 

Esme on her 18th birthday, 14 February 2013

Three generations - Esme with her Mum and her Granny