Aughton friends ride in memory of Carla Maguire to raise money for Liverpool Women’s Hospital

May 6 2010 by Michael Byrne, Ormskirk Advertiser

A LOVING partner is cycling more than 1,000 miles in memory of his soulmate who lost a three year fight for life.

Cancer sufferer Carla Maguire spent her last days at the Liverpool Women’s Hospital with her partner Kev Bellion by her side.

The couple were together for 13 years and Carla was first diagnosed with cervical cancer in September 2006.

Carla had a hysterectomy which cleared the disease but began to show signs of being ill again at the end of 2008.

Hospital tests showed the cancer had returned and was also now in her ovaries and lymph nodes. She died in April last year aged 34.

Kev, of Aughton, said: “Carla was my soulmate and my best friend. We did everything together. She was a great person and had a fabulous sense of humour.

“I still miss her terribly and the house seems very empty without her.”

To thank the hospital for looking after Carla, Kev is doing a fundraising bike ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats next month for the Palliative Care Unit.

He is joining his chilldhood friends from Aughton Steve Warner, who came up with the idea, and Lee Connolly.

Steve paid tribute to Carla by saying: “Carla was a beautiful, bubbly girl, who's smile and personality would light up any room. She showed enormous courage throughout her illness and she retained her wonderful sense of humour.”

Steve is an experienced cyclist, but Kev and Lee are both novices.

They have been helped in their preparations by Middleton Cycles (Cyclexpress) and Dolan bikes – who have contributed equipment and kit – and Halliwell Jones who are providing the support car.

Kev said: “The bike ride has been a big help to me in giving something to focus on. I’m getting nervous but it will be easy compared to what Carla wen through.

“The cause is very personal to me because the money will help refurbish the room where Carla stayed so a family can be with their loved one in their last days.

“I was with Carla but had to sleep on a makeshift bed. This will make the room more comfortable.”

Follow the intrepid trio as they prepare for their ride on their blog http://lejogjune10.blogspot.com, which also has a link to their justgiving page where people can make donations.