'So proud': Leyland couple cycle 400 miles in memory of father with brain tumour
The pair took on the challenge in memory of Matthew’s father Graham, who passed away last June after being diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer.
A Leyland couple has cycled more than 400 miles to raise money for brain cancer research.
Matthew Cragg, 32, and fiancée Emma Loughlin, 28, have so far raised £2,2560 after a six-day, 455-mile (732km) backpacking cycle.
The remarkable feat was done in memory of Matthew’s father Graham, who passed away last June after being diagnosed with a glioblastoma – a rare form of brain tumour.
It was a diagnosis his family “didn’t ever expect”, according to his sister Gillian Wells. When Graham had gone to get checked, she said he hadn’t thought it would be a serious issue.
“But then it turned out to be something much more sinister,” she said. “It’s just like how it is with breast cancer and prostate cancer. You need to make sure you get checked, and people need to be aware of these things that go on in other people’s lives.”
Since his diagnosis, Matthew in particular threw himself into fundraising for both the Brain Tumour Charity and for St. Catherine’s Hospice, who took care of Graham through his illness.
Over the past year, he has raised over £7,000, not including the donations from the cycle.
In August 2024, after Graham’s diagnosis, he raised £5,512 after completing 90 holes of golf in a day, which amounted to 15 hours of play and 26 miles’ worth of steps taken.
After Graham’s passing, he raised a further £2,033 through running the 2025 Chester Marathon.
“In June, when it was my brother’s anniversary, he decided he wanted to do another round of fundraising,” Gillian said.
“He and Emma both like cycling, so that’s what they chose to do. The weather’s been on their side all the way through.”
A month after Graham would have celebrated his 60th birthday in August, Matthew and Emma set off for their cycling trip on September 6.
Starting from London, the journey took the pair through Higham Ferrers, Lincoln, York, Durham, Jedburgh, and Edinburgh – and then to a spa the next day to recover.
“As a family, we really are very proud of them both, and especially of Matthew,” Gillian said.
“He’s done so much fundraising since my brother passed away. We’re so proud of what they’ve done.”
Matthew and Emma’s fundraiser is still open to donations following the cycle ride, and is available here.
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