– Ride4Hugo –
by Damianista | Fan Fun with Damian Lewis | July 28, 2025
I find it beyond impressive when families turn their tragic losses into good for many others in memory of the loved ones they lost. Ride4Hugo, a campaign Damian’s family run in memory of Hugo Yaxley, Damian and Helen’s nephew, who tragically died in a car accident in November 2020, and also in memory of Helen, who passed away only 5 months after Hugo’s accident, is an extraordinary effort aimed to do good for so many people.
2025 is marking the 5th anniversary of Hugo’s car accident and almost five years since the passing of Helen McCrory. So Hugo’s older brother Tom is getting ready to take on new bike challenges this year to raise funds for charities close to Hugo’s and Helen’s hearts as well as the family’s: Place2Be, Sir HvH Arts, and The Air Ambulances UK.
Here is a recent note from Tom on Instagram about the upcoming Air Base Challenge in which he will ride to all 21 UK Air Ambulances, including Northern Ireland Air Ambulance! These ambulances are funded by the public, and they are on standby 24/7 all year in case you or one of your loved ones need it.
The Give Wheel’s Ride4Hugo donation page has a list of all the bike rides/races Tom is planning to participate in over the year. And he will do all of that to raise money for the charities.
We wish Tom best of luck! You can follow his efforts and adventures at @yaxley_t and @ride4hugo on Instagram. And if you kindly consider donating to this year’s campaign and raise funds for the charities close to Hugo’s and Helen’s hearts, please go here.
If you want to find out more about young Hugo and the Ride4Hugo campaign, please read on.
Hugo is Damian’s sister Amanda’s youngest child. At a young age, he was a fierce advocate of facing up to mental health issues and changing the stigma attached to it.
Uncle Damian, as he was to Hugo, is Ride4Hugo’s patron. And here is how he reflected on Hugo’s life:
“The recurring theme talking to people about Hugo, is that, for one so young, he leaves an incredible legacy. He truly inspired people of his generation, through his own bravery, to be more confident and open about their mental health. This is an extraordinary thing to have achieved by the age of 20. He’s touched more people in his short life than most do in their longer ones. One great memory is of our family holiday in Mallorca when Hugo perfected and demonstrated (endlessly) the art of “bombing” in the swimming pool. Face down mostly. For ages afterwards, we called him Bomber Yaxley. He became many other fabulous things as he got older but that fearlessness never left him. And he used it to help others. Love you Hugo.”
The family, led by Hugo’s older brother Tom Yaxley, an army officer, organized several bike ride campaigns to raise funds for several charities that do not only do life changing work every single day but also have a special link to Hugo and Helen.
Read the rest of the original article at Fan Fun with Damian Lewis