The Friends of Huck began in 2015 by professional motocross rider Mark ‘Huck’ Hucklebridge, along with his wife Emma. The Friends of Huck helps sportspeople who live in the UK and are experiencing hardship caused by serious illness or injury.
Mark was a dominant figure in the Motocross industry as a rider and a race organiser. He retired from racing in 2008 and in 2009 took on the opportunity to work with ACU training new young Motocross riders.
In 2010, Emma and Mark’s life took a drastic turn when Mark was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer and began treatment with Chemotherapy the same year. Endured intensive radiotherapy and had multiple operations to remove the tumour in his bowel. After all of this, Mark and his family thought he had beaten the cancer and was on his way to full recovery after blood tests showed his levels were dropping. However, in January of 2024, the cancer had returned and was rowing at an extremely fast rate. On 15th March 2017, Mark passed away leaving the Friends of Huck Charity as his legacy.
Marks family have continued the Friends of Huck in supporting the RUH Cancer Services since 2015, in loving memory to Mark and to ensure his vision of supporting sportspeople and those effected by cancer continues on. Their most recent donation of £10,000 enables the cancer support team to introduce and implement a course of workshops providing complementary therapies. This is a new initiative that has been introduced to patients receiving cancer treatment here at the Dyson Cancer Centre.
Patients and family visit the Macmillan Wellbeing Hub continuously to receive emotional and psychological support. One to one support isn’t always the best course of action for everyone, so introducing these complementary therapies, can provide the emotional support needed in a larger setting. These therapy sessions can improve outcomes for patients living with and after cancer. They also include other benefits such as pain relief, reduce in anxiety and stress, mood improvement, encouraging relaxation, relieving muscle tension, improving fatigue and many more. Tracy Langton, Macmillan Cancer Support Wellbeing Hub Manager, said “We are really grateful for the donation received from Friends of Huck – this will enable us to offer much needed support to our patients using Art Therapy and complementary therapies in the Macmillan Wellbeing Hub. Our aim is to help patients cope better with any symptoms caused by their cancer or side effects caused by treatment, as well as provide emotional support.”
This incredible donation from the Friends of Huck will be beneficial for patients, visitors and many others who need the Dyson Cancer Centre in their lifetime. Thank you so much from all of us at RUHX to the Friends of Huck Charity for this extra-extraordinary help to our patients.