Ashley Cain has suffered a painful injury while embarking on a three-day charity cycle to raise money for childhood cancer this Christmas.
The former Ex On The Beach star is cycling 100 miles a day for three days – Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day – in memory of his daughter Azaylia, who died from a rare form of leukaemia at eight months old in April 2021.
Through The Azaylia Foundation, Ashley, 32, is cycling to specifically raise money for two children, Elaiya and Philo, who are fighting cancer and need funds for their treatment.
Sharing the disappointing news of his injury on Monday, the former footballer said in his Instagram stories: ‘So the thing that I was dreading has actually happened and my left knee has completely failed. Got ligament damage in it.
‘I know a lot of you remember the 100 miles when I picked up an injury in my left knee, well, it’s gone now and I didn’t want to speak it into existence before so I didn’t mention it, but I’m struggling to cycle today.’
He continued: ‘I’ve struggled the last eight miles with one leg. I’ve just picked up a knee support in the hope that can help me out.
‘I’m going to do my best because I said I was going to do this 100-mile and my best to finish it, but I know I’m going to be running into the night because I can’t put my pace down.’
Ashley added that he would be donating his ‘Boxing Day pub money’ towards the campaign as he won’t be making it due to the injury prolonging the final day of his cycle.
‘I’m just going to keep on going ‘til I can’t go no more. That’s all,’ he said.
On the first day of the mission, Ashley was supported by ex-girlfriend and Azaylia’s mother, Safiyya Vorajee, bringing him food, cheering him on and filming him as he embarked on the exhaustive trek.
The pair announced their split earlier this year but have remained on friendly terms and continue to run The Azaylia Foundation together.
So far, Ashley and Safiyya have raised over £25,500 of their £100k goal through a GoFundMe for Elaiya and Philo, whose families are hoping to gather enough money to access treatment in the US and Germany for the children respectively.
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