For A Few Dollars More Tour

How does cycling 1000 miles across three countries in nine days sound?

For Jordan, Les and James - the self-titled Three Amigos (pictured) - it’ll be not only a physically demanding adventure, but an emotional one as they prepare to complete this epic fundraising challenge in memory of Jordan’s dad, Gary Grindal who was cared for by the Hospice in May 2022.

In the last few weeks of his life, Gary, his wife Tracey, sons Jordan, Christian & Rhys and wider family were supported through their most difficult times by the dedicated staff at the Hospice. 

The Grindal family

"We were first introduced to the Hospice towards the end of Dad’s battle with cancer when he decided to spend the time he had remaining at home with our family. The Hospice at Home team would visit daily to provide any medical support that Dad required." recalls Jordan.

"As time went on and Dad’s condition worsened we found that the regular visits from the team were as imperative to us as they were to Dad. No one likes to talk about death but when you are filled with so much concern and confusion you really appreciate someone being there to support you through the process. The Hospice at Home team are a group of heroes that use their light to guide you through the darkest of times.”

Community champion

Gary had played a huge part in the local community in Letchworth Garden City. From serving as local councillor, to Chairman of First Garden City Homes, his support for the community and local charities was tireless. He often combined his love of Mod music with charity events, such as the very popular 'March of the Mods' in Letchworth, raising much needed funds for local charities including Garden House Hospice Care.

On 12th May 2024, and nearing the second anniversary of Gary’s death, the charity baton is being passed to his son Jordan, brother-in-law Les Stanton and family friend James Hare. Named ‘For Few Dollars More Tour’, these intrepid cyclists will pedal up to 100 miles every day, starting at the London Stadium, heading through the expansive countryside and urban landscapes of Western France, tackling the mountainous terrain of the Pyrenees and long stretches across Spanish desert, to the finish point at Sad Hill Cemetery near the town of Contreras, central Spain. 

“That’s a strange route” we hear you say?

Well Gary made many trips to the London Stadium, some more joyous than others (!) as a lifelong supporter of his beloved West Ham United. As for Sad Hill Cemetery, that reflects Gary’s love of spaghetti Western films, with Jordan recalling many a Sunday evening sat watching the films. Sad Hill Cemetery appears in the finale of Sergio Leone’s famous spaghetti Western ‘dollars’ trilogy, ‘The Good, The Bad and the Ugly’. In fact Gary was such a fan that in 2021 he donated to the renovation of the cemetery filmset, which had been abandoned since the filming. In return Gary's name was added to one of the filmset tomb stones displayed there. 

Gary’s fight with cancer meant he never got the chance to visit the site once the restoration work was completed. It will be the mission of the For a Few Dollars More Tour to reach the cemetery, see the renovation work, and to find Gary’s ‘adopted’ gravestone before the names on the markers wash away in time.

We’ll be keeping you updated on the Three Amigos’ training and fundraising efforts on our social channels over the next few weeks, and in the meantime, please head over to their JustGiving page to help them reach their fundraising target of £5000: 

Donate on JustGiving