Wallsend pastor David Riley is set to launch his first book, Bubsie and the Boys, following a year of profound tragedy. In May, his 17-year-old daughter Jessica died from an aggressive brain cancer. In September, Riley was diagnosed with the same cancer and given months to live.
The book recounts a family road trip Riley took four years ago, retracing the 1925 journey of West Australians Nevill Westwood and Greg Davies. The two men drove a 1923 Citroen 2CV around Australia without maps or modern amenities, becoming the first to circumnavigate the continent by car.
Riley, a history enthusiast, decided to recreate the trip after discovering no book existed about the original journey. He wrote the book himself, with its release coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the original expedition.
Riley revealed his diagnosis publicly in September, noting that he and Jessica shared a rare genetic syndrome that prevents cancer suppression. His other children, Kea and Ted, have not inherited the syndrome.
Despite his prognosis, Riley maintains an optimistic outlook, urging others to pursue their dreams without delay. “The time is now,” he said.
