Telford fundraiser Phil braves elements and tackles tough Norwegian event in memory of Mel

And Phil Humphreys, from Telford, along with his friends Mike Poole and Stewart Bailey, certainly had all the necessary traits. 

His late wife Mel - the inspiration for Phil taking on the Fat Viking Race in Geilo, Norway - would most certainly have approved. 

Mel,  who died of cancer in January 2024, at the age of just 59, was herself the kind of person who loved a challenge. 

She had completed triathlons, half iron man events and a lot more besides. Her strength allowed her to  live with cancer for 20 years.   

Mel's passing and the work of Severn Hospice in supporting her and her family, including  Phil,   daughter Jess, 23 and, son Matthew, 35, were behind Phil's decision to tackle a  truly unique event. 

With three distances on offer,  the fat-biking snow race gives riders the chance to tackle the winter elements of Norway. 

The Fat Viking, for experienced, cold weather cyclists, sees competitors tackle a race course  on snowmobile tracks, dogsledding trails, snow covered roads and cross country skiing trails. 

"Mel had been living with cancer for 20 years but had been labelled terminal for six years.

"At the point in 2017 when she was diagnosed with secondary cancer, doctors said she would have between one and two years bit she kept on going for six. 

"So she was quite amazing really and Severn Hospice gave us a lot of support, both in terms of  her care and supporting the family. 

"Taking part in the Fat Viking was an opportunity to pay the Hospice back in some way and it seemed a fitting challenge. Mel was a very active person. 

"She did triathlons and loved her sport. Throughout her life she was fit and strong so I think this event mirrored her.  She would have been fully supportive of this challenge." 

After Mel died,  family and friends took part in Telford parkrun, in her memory. 

People wore pink and such was her popularity that the event  broke the attendance record. 

But Phil has been determined to continue to raise money for the hospice and the Fat Viking was a perfect opportunity.  

He had previously taken part in a cycle across Iceland but, alongside his friends, found the Norwegian challenge a real test. 

"With storm force winds, from Éowyn,  and drifting snow blizzards, we were blown off our bikes just cycling to the start of Fat Viking!" said Phil.   " The enormity of what you are taking on really presents itself as time gets closer and you head for the start. 

"The race was brutal and technically more challenging than anything I’ve ever done before. 

"There were so many new experiences and it was one huge white adventure!" 

The event was not without its challenges and proved eventful. 

"We all had multiple falls, which is an occupational hazard of cycling in the snow," said Phil. 

"Unfortunately, in one incident,  Stewart collided with a tree.  A branch landed on him and his arm was in a bad way. 

"A while later, he realised he could neither cycle nor push his bike. 

"Mike and I took turns running back to help push it over an 8km stretch before we reached a road and Stewart could be rescued." 

Phil and Mike continued with the race and completed the first 50km through wild conditions and challenging landscapes. 

"We opted to switch from the 150km ride to the 100km," Phil explained.  "However, due to the deep snow it was extremely demanding. 

"We had to walk and push our fat bikes for much of the course. 

"We subsequently made the smart decision to leave the prescribed route and cycle back on roads." 

Phil added: "Even this was hazardous with the winds and snowfall picking up, forcing us to stop cycling several times. 

"The weather deteriorated to such an extent that the organisers later closed the course and competitors remaining on it were intercepted.

"I was totally depleted at the end, having struggled to eat enough during the race. No words can really do justice to the conditions we experienced and the brutality of the Fat Viking." 

Despite the challenges and the difficulties of the event, Phil and his friends have already decided to compete in  the event again. 

"Stewart hasn't finished it yet so we have got to go back and do it again next year!" he said. 

"The pain and misery gets forgotten after a certain amount of time and you glow on  the positives of the event. 

"I was shattered at the end of it, that's  for sure, but we are proud of what we did and I'm thrilled to have raised money for Severn Hospice.  

"We have raised more than £3,000 so far and that's great for the hospice and something I am delighted that we have been able to do."  

Phil, who has raised £3,180 so far, can still be sponsored at https://www.justgiving.com/page/phil-humphreys-1735656446167?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

You can find out more about the Fat Viking at https://www.fat-viking.com/ 

For more details of Severn Hospice, visit https://www.severnhospice.org.uk/