A Father’s Ride for Hope: Honoring Beth Phelps and the Fight Against Rare Childhood Cancer
Twelve-year-old Beth Phelps was full of life—bright, witty, and seemingly the picture of health.
But in late 2020, a small lump noticed on her shoulder during a quiet bedtime routine would become the first ominous clue of a devastating diagnosis.
What her family initially believed to be harmless turned out to be the onset of Ewing sarcoma—a rare and aggressive form of bone and tissue cancer that would claim Beth’s life and change her family’s forever.
A scan at Jersey General Hospital revealed a 7-centimeter tumor lodged in Beth’s left lung.
Doctors confirmed it was Ewing sarcoma—a disease so uncommon that her parents had never even heard of it. What followed was a whirlwind of grueling treatments. On Christmas Day 2020, instead of opening presents at home, Beth began chemotherapy. She would later undergo surgery to remove the tumor—along with her entire left shoulder blade—and face weeks of punishing radiotherapy.
Yet despite the relentless medical challenges, Beth remained a warrior. “She hated needles, but never once complained,” her father Ben recalled. “She showed more bravery than most adults ever could.”
By the end of 2021, Beth was declared cancer-free. For a few precious months, the Phelps family exhaled. But the relief was heartbreakingly short-lived. By mid-2022, Beth began feeling pain in her opposite shoulder. Tests revealed the cancer had returned—this time spreading into her right lung.
Confronted with limited treatment options, her parents made the gut-wrenching decision to pursue palliative care. Their focus turned to comfort and peace. Beth passed away on October 3, 2022—just 12 days before what would have been her 13th birthday—surrounded by love, and her beloved dog and cat by her side.
Turning Grief into Purpose: A 1,000-Mile Ride for Beth
Now, Ben Phelps—an HR director from Jersey—is channeling his grief into action. He’s cycling the entire length of Britain, from Land’s End in Cornwall to John O’Groats in Scotland, in memory of his daughter. The 1,000-mile journey is part tribute, part mission: to raise crucial funds for the Bone Cancer Research Trust (BCRT) and spotlight the need for more targeted, child-friendly treatments.
“Our world changed overnight,” Ben said. “We went from thinking everything was fine to fighting for our daughter’s life. Ewing sarcoma is vicious. And until it affected us, we didn’t even know it existed.”
What drives him, Ben says, is not only Beth’s memory but the hope of sparing other families the same heartbreak. “The treatments were brutal,” he added. “No child should have to go through what Beth endured. If this ride helps fund better research, it’s worth every mile.”
Remembering Beth, Fueling Change
Beth’s personality shone even in her toughest days. “She was funny, wise beyond her years, and radiated joy,” Ben said. “She had dreams, curiosity, and a quiet strength that still moves me every day. This ride is the least I can do.”
Louise Everett of the Bone Cancer Research Trust praised Ben’s efforts: “What Ben is doing is extraordinary. He’s turning unimaginable pain into a force for good.
His fundraising is helping shine a light on an area of childhood cancer that desperately needs more awareness, more funding, and more compassion.”
Ben’s journey is being supported via JustGiving, with all proceeds going toward the BCRT’s research and family support programs. Every pedal stroke carries the memory of a little girl who faced unthinkable pain with unimaginable grace.
Beth’s Legacy Lives On
Beth Phelps’ story is a sobering testament to the fragility of life and the urgency of childhood cancer research. While her time on Earth was heartbreakingly brief, her impact continues to ripple—through her father’s mission, through every conversation about Ewing sarcoma sparked by her story, and through every pound raised in her name.
What began as a quiet moment in a family home—a small bump noticed by loving parents—became a journey of courage, loss, and now, resilience. Beth’s light has not gone out; it rides on with her father, blazing a trail of awareness, advocacy, and hope.