Riding in Her Memory: 92-Year-Old’s Hospice FundraiserHe rides 40 miles in her memory, giving back to her hospice as he rebuilds strength after a stroke
Ken Johnson and his wife, Kate, were married for 72 years before she died of mesothelioma while under the care of St. Richard’s Hospice in Worcester, UK, on April 2, 2025. Since her death, Ken has received ongoing bereavement support from the hospice’s family support team. To give back to the hospice, honor her memory…
Ken Johnson and his wife, Kate, were married for 72 years before she died of mesothelioma while under the care of St. Richard’s Hospice in Worcester, UK, on April 2, 2025. Since her death, Ken has received ongoing bereavement support from the hospice’s family support team.
To give back to the hospice, honor her memory and rebuild strength after a stroke, the 92-year-old Johnson set a goal of a 40-mile virtual ride on a stationary bicycle as a fundraiser. The 40 miles represents the journey from the couple’s home in Childswickham to St Richard’s Hospice via Redditch Hospital in Worcestershire. On June 12, 2026 he returned to St. Richard’s Hospice to complete his final mile.
Beautiful Symbolism
Ken and Kate met while serving with the Royal Air Force in Germany in 1951. At that time, Ken was with the RAF Police Service, which is sometimes referred to as the “Snowdrops” because of the uniform’s white cap cover.
The hospice, whose logo is an image of the snowdrop flower, shares that it was inspired by “The Snowdrop – Consolation” by Bishop Keble (1792-1866), which states “I am come to calm your fears: I am come to console you in the absence of bright days, and to reassure you of their return.”
On Ken’s fundraising page, he mentions that St. Richard’s Hospice’s snowdrop logo — symbolizing hope, consolation and sympathy — made it seem even more fitting that it was where his wife received care in her final days.
Fundraising
St. Richard’s Hospice, which does not charge patients or their families for care, and supports over 3,000 patients, family members and other bereaved people in Worcestershire each year. Their JustGiving page (which facilitates financial donations to the organization), is a testament to the amount of lives the hospice has touched, displaying loving tributes and messages of gratitude alongside personal donations.
Ken initially pledged to fundraise £1600 with his charity ride, but as of the writing of this article he has raised over £1,710 (the equivalent of about $2,300). The fundraiser is ongoing.
Both Ken and his son, Simon, have posted on social media about the care they’ve received and what the fundraiser has meant to them. Simon shared his perspective in an article in the Evesham Observer, a local paper, saying:
“Dad was most comforted that Mum spent her last hours under the love, care and compassion of the staff at St Richard’s. I’m also so grateful for the care and dignity that the nurses gave mum and the support for me to be able to spend time with her when she passed away. For that and the continued support that the family support team has given dad in losing his true love and best friend of 72 years, he wants to give something back.”
According to a post on St. Richard’s Hospice’s Facebook page, Ken said, “It’s been worthwhile, every second, for what it’s achieved. My wife couldn’t have come to a better place. It rested my mind, knowing she was here. I think she’d be pleased with the donations that people have made.”
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What a beautiful way to honor a lifetime of love. Ken’s ride shows how grief can become an act of gratitude, carrying Kate’s memory forward while giving back to those who cared for them both.
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I agree. Turning grief into something that helps others is such a meaningful tribute. Ken’s determination not only keeps Kate’s memory close, but also extends the compassion they received to other families who will need it.
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