A selfless 72-year-old man has raised almost £6,000 for the new Christie at Macclesfield, becoming one of the most highest fundraising individuals for the new cancer treatment unit.

Maurice Gubbins, who has lived in Cheshire since 1991, has raised £5,776 for the new state-of-the-art cancer care centre at Macclesfield Hospital since 2019, through a grueling series of charity cycles.

The retired civil servant will partake in his sixth 100-mile bikeathon around Manchester on September 5.

He rides in memory of his wife Barbara Gubbins, who sadly passed away from lung cancer in 2015. The Christie provided care for Barbara from her diagnosis in 2013.

"Barbara was 63. She'd literally just retired when she was diagnosed," said Maurice.

"She was one of those really unlucky people who never smoked, didn't drink, had a really healthy appetite and lifestyle.

"It is satisfying to fundraise, and part of that whole business that people say of 'giving something back'."

In addition to his fundraising bikeathons, Maurice also volunteers as a Cheshire Governor for The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.

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He supports the Executive of the Christie, and raises particular issues about the care of patients, so making sure that the patients and their families' voices are heard.

Incredibly, Maurice has raised a further £7,000 with family members from 2014-2018 by doing the same The Manchester 100 Bike Ride, also raising for The Christie charity.

However, this was before the new Macclesfield centre was planned.

Macclesfield Nub News asked Maurice about how he prepares for the 100-mile events.

"Training is a bit of a routine I must admit I tend to do 50-60 miles weekly riding around and try to keep the body moving," he said.

"I do a lot of it on my own but I've got a brother who comes over from the other side of Macclesfield in Bollington and he drags me up over the hills and gut-wrenching climbs of the Macc countryside.

"It is a good place to live Cheshire from a cycling point of view there's a lot of flat stuff but also some testing climbs."

The charitable cyclist also does other fundraising cycles for other cancer charities, which serves as training for the bigger events. He will also complete an 85-mile bike ride in Scotland for Marie Curie this September.

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Maurice is eternally grateful to friends, family, and the Macclesfield community that have donated to his JustGiving page for The Christie at Macclesfield.

The new Christie will open at the Victoria Road hospital in December 2021. Having experienced cancer through his beloved partner, Maurice knows how much it will benefit Macclesfield families.

"One of the biggest pluses about having that really serious facility there in Macclesfield, building upon what they've already got now, is that it cuts down the need for people to commute into Manchester for radiotherapy," he concluded.

"There's a figure for something like 40,000 patient appointments who will be dealt with in Macclesfield, rather than these people having to get themselves into Manchester when they're feeling not really well at all, and with family members who may also travel.

"There are some phenomenal fundraisers for The Christie. And I'm grateful that so many people have supported me."

The Manchester 100 Bike Ride, which is to raise money for The Christie, starts at Wythenshawe Park.

Participants cycle through Knutsford, down to Tattenhall, before ending back at the start via Wilmslow.

To learn more about it, and participate, please click here.

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Maurice wants to raise £8,000 by the time of his September cycle, you can donate to help him reach his goal here.

Macclesfield Nub News wishes Maurice well ahead of yet another century cycle, and commends him for his amazing fundraising work.

Earlier this week, we revealed the latest hire at The Christie Macclesfield.

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