Meet the Fundraiser: Why Pat Thorne has been getting on her bike for Weldmar
28th September 2026
A larger-than-life character, Tony Thorne was originally from Northern Ireland. He and his wife Patricia moved to Dorset in 2018, and they threw themselves into being part of their local village community.
Always on the go, Tony volunteered with Age Concern North Dorset and Sturminster Newton Museum, and sang with gusto at his local choir, which he adored going to every Thursday. Tony also enjoyed a gin, and although he had to give that up during cancer treatment, he was able to enjoy a glass in his last days, whilst under the care of Weldmar’s Specialist Hospice at Home.
“Once I told the doctor we needed help, we had a visit from Weldmar Community Nurses Sarah and Tracey, and the next day he had a hospital bed. It was so quick”, said Pat. She summed up the invaluable support she received in caring for Tony by simply saying:
“When we needed them, they came.”
As time went by, Pat realised that she wanted to ‘give something back’, and said she would do some fundraising for Weldmar. She was met with nothing but support from her family, and friends including Paul and Debbie, even if that wasn’t necessarily in the most traditional sense at first…
“Paul started a rumour in the village that I was going to be doing a sponsored cycle and it got out of hand to the point where I had to do it! Originally me and Debbie were going to do an afternoon tea at the village hall!”
Although she was nervous about completing the distance on the day, a combination of training rides and an excellent support network helped her rise to the challenge. “My son and Paul cycled it with me, and my daughter, daughter in law, and granddaughter all ran. It was such a beautiful day.”
Pat recently visited the hospice with Debbie and Paul to present a cheque for £6,213, raised from Pat’s ten mile cycle ride along the North Dorset Trailway from Shillingstone to Blandford and back.
“If I got £500, or even £1,000, I would have been delighted,” said Pat. “so I was just blown away! Everyone has been so kind.”
She also said Tony would have loved them all getting together to cycle and raise money for Weldmar. Pat recalls that he always used to say, ‘You live until you die.’
“She’ll be Climbing Pen Y Fan next! Watch this space!” joked Paul. “Don’t start!”, replied Pat, and then paused. “How far is it?”
