A Derby pensioner who has spent years fundraising for a much-loved charity that helped him as a child is seeking support for his bike ride to help today’s needy kids.
Terry Willis, 70, is organising the annual ‘Skegvegas 100’, a 100-mile bike ride from Derby to Skegness which raises thousands of pounds for the Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre (DCHC), a charity which sends youngsters going through difficult times for a week’s seaside break to Skegness.
Nominated children come from homes where the impact of financial hardship, deprivation or abuse means they have few comforts and would not otherwise get a holiday at all. It costs the charity £415 to send one child to Skegness for five days.
Terry Willis at the launch of SkegVegas 100, a 100-mile bike ride from Derby to Skegness in aid of Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre
This year the ride is being held for the first time since 2019, after it had to be cancelled for two years due to Covid.
Terry, who grew up in Chaddesden, has fundraised for many years for the much-loved charity having been on holiday at its Skegness centre himself as a child.
He said: “I went to the Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre in Skegness when I was about nine years old, with my brother Stewart.
Terry Willis aged 9 – 61 years later, he still remembers being taken to Skegness by the Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre.
“I was actually very lucky when I was young. I’m a Chad lad, and me, my four brothers and sister did used to get a holiday in Mablethorpe each year. Not many kids were so fortunate back then. But one year, my dad was ill and couldn’t work, and so he didn’t get any money or sick pay. I remember that I was at Sunday School and me and my brother were chosen to go to Skegness. This was in 1960.
“Obviously, we really enjoyed ourselves! It was lovely. One of the things I remember is the sandwich spread! We had such a good week by the sea.”
Over the years, Terry has raised many thousands for the holiday centre that helped him and his brother as children, including holding casino nights, and helping organise a complete makeover of the holiday centre through contractor contacts acquired over many years working as a plumber and then repairs manager at Derby Homes, plus city and county councils.
The ‘Skegvegas 100’, as it’s been dubbed, has been going since 2013, having been started off by Terry’s son Aaron, who still helps organise the event. It has raised nearly £100,000 for the charity since then.
Setting off from Pride Park in Derby early on May 14, riders will be pedalling the 100 miles to Skegness via a newly devised route featuring quieter roads, and stopping off on the way for refreshments.
Participants do not pay to take part, but are instead invited to raise £100 in sponsorship. Terry books The Savoy Hotel on Skegness’s seafront for riders who would like to stay overnight on arrival. It is also possible to complete the ride in groups, in which each person would undertake a shorter distance each.
A keen cyclist himself, Terry said: “We shouldn’t need a place like the Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre in today’s world, but luckily it’s there. Kids do benefit from it. It’s such a great charity – this is my way of paying back for what I was lucky enough to receive when I was young.
“The ride is a great event – it’s not a race, it’s an achievement! It’s just about celebrating this wonderful charity, having a great time, and trying to support these kids who really need a break by the sea.”
The Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre celebrated its 130th birthday in 2021. It began life in 1891, having been started by philanthropic duo Harry Sykes and Arnold Bemrose. Harry had spotted two boys playing with a sailboat in a puddle in Derby’s West End, which was very deprived at the time. Within two weeks he was taking a group of boys on holiday to Skegness, and a few years later the centre itself was set up.
Alan Grimadell, chair of the Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre, said: “I’m delighted that our legendary ‘Skegvegas 100’ cycle tour is once again taking place this year. It has raised many thousands for our charity over the years and I would urge people who feel they could tackle a 100-mile bike ride to get in touch. It’s a really fun event – it would be great if this year we could beat our fundraising total, especially as we’ve not been able to hold the ride for the last two years. Let’s see how much we can raise from it this year! My thanks to Terry and from everyone at the DCHC for his continued massive support for our children.”
The ‘Skegvegas 100’ sets off from DCHC’s office at Derby’s Pride Park at 7.30am May 14. Anyone who would be interested in taking part should contact Terry on [email protected]. You can also email the office on [email protected] or call the charity’s operations executive, Lesia Tombs, at the charity’s Derby office on 01332 345424.
