A grieving husband has raised more than £50,000 for charity in memory of his late wife, after pulling a truck over a mile between Boscombe and Bournemouth pier.
Edd Wilson lost his wife Sophie to ovarian cancer, four years on from her diagnosis. The truck pull was named after Sophie and symbolised walking a mile in her shoes.
The couple met while studying at Bournemouth University and decided to settle there after graduating. Since Sophie’s passing, Edd has moved back home to Wiltshire but decided Bournemouth was still the most poignant place for the fundraiser.
Edd had the idea of the truck pull soon after Sophie passed away but suffered from PTSD. He spent a lot of time in bed and drinking excessively as a way of coping with the loss.
He said: “Seeing what Sophie went through was horrific, I can’t even imagine what it would be like experiencing it.”
The event was confirmed at the start of this year, following Sophie’s passing two years ago.
Edd had been in the gym training since then. He said: “It gave me a purpose and something to work towards, and it massively helped with my depression.”
©Madeleine Fry. Image of the truck pulled and finish line.
Sophie was diagnosed in 2022 and had surgery which removed her cancerous womb. Edd said: “Even after the surgery, Sophie was still desperate to have children, so we looked into surrogacy options.”
In 2024, the cancer returned in her bowel, abdomen and pelvis which they were told was inoperable. Sophie began chemotherapy in the hope of minimalising the growth of cancerous cells.
Edd married Sophie on 11th November 2024 at her hospital bedside supported by close friends and family.
Sophie died 11 hours later and suffered with symptoms from the cancer and chemotherapy until the end.
The truck pull has raised just over £28,000 from donations which will be matched by Z Zurich foundation – where Edd works.
The funds will be donated to Target Ovarian Cancer; the only ovarian cancer charity working across the UK. They target early diagnosis to increase survival chances, research for cures, and support for those undergoing treatment.
Edd said: “I will be proud if this truck pull fundraiser can prevent just one other woman from going through what Sophie did.”
Sophie’s mile Just Giving page will be open until 31st October.
Sophie's mile fundraising
Fossil from Isle of Wight identified as new species