This summer, a group of mates from Renfrewshire are cycling more than 500 miles in just four days, from London to Paris in aid of Prostate Cancer UK.
http://prostatecanceruk.org/
We hope to raise £10,000.
It’s going to be tough - we’re not exactly spring chickens, and we’re not used to training like Britian’s most decorated Olympian Sir Chris Hoy or Tour de France champion Sir Bradley Wiggins.
But we do have our reasons for taking on the challenge.
Take John…
Just three years ago, at 52, John was diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent eight and a half weeks of treatment at the West of Scotland Cancer Treatment Centre, The Beatson.
John said: “What a wonderful place filled with skilled and caring people. The treatment was a new at the time and involved a high dose of radiotherapy but specifically targeted by means of gold seed implants.
“The treatment was funded by The Prostate Cancer Charity, now Prostate Cancer UK.
“I also found the helpline provided free to all patients and their families by the charity to be excellent.
“You can imagine the raft of questions that you come up with after such a diagnosis.”
Fast forward just a few short years, and John has decided to give something back to the cause which changed his life.
“After treatment I decided to "give something back" to the charity and became involved in the Tour of Britain stages events. I rode the London event 14 weeks after my last treatment I have since became involved in the Quality Care Everywhere Campaign and the Get Up and Go which is a campaign to encourage patients that life goes on after cancer and that regular hard exercise can reduce the risk of a recurrence by up to 70%. “I've embraced this philosophy, challenged myself and encouraged my friends to join me.”
http://www.justgiving.com/John-Malcolm
So how did "Get to France" start?
As most things do in Scotland it involved a drink and a bit of bravado.
A semi-sober agreement between John and Robert at a barbeque over a dram quickly took on a life of its own.
Robert said: "I've been a friend of John’s for as long as I care to remember, he's just six months younger than me."
"John is always so positive and such an upbeat person."
“But when he told me about his cancer I could see it had really scared him and I have to admit it scared the hell out of me too."
“Just a couple of months after John got his diagnosis, another friend of mine, who is two years younger than me was diagnosed with prostate cancer as well."
“I thought if these guys can end up with prostate cancer, it can happen to any of us.”
That uncomfortable realisation spurred Robert into action.
He added: “This time last year my New Year’s resolution was to get out on my bike and improve my own health. I would never have dreamed of tackling Erskine to Glasgow on a bike - let alone London to Paris.
“But the prospect of being able to raise some cash for Prostate Cancer UK has certainly focused the mind and I am looking forward to the challenge. No doubt the training will intensify in the coming months but it will be well worth it.”
www.justgiving.com/RobertBarbour
Now John and Robert will be joined on the challenge by cycling buddies, Andy and Ewan.
Ewan said: “From the age of eight I was brought up by my granddad, the bravest man I ever met.
“He died after a long, difficult battle with prostate cancer, and didn’t get to meet my amazing daughters, his two granddaughters. He would have loved them.
“More research into the disease and better treatment for patients might change that for other families in the future, which seems like a good reason to me.
“Plus, cycling to Paris sounds really difficult, and quite cool. I like the sound of that.”
http://www.justgiving.com/gettofrance
Andy said: “As for me, my mum’s better half, Terry, is suffering from prostate cancer, as did my cycling buddy John. Terry and John always have a positive outlook which has inspired me to start this year on a positive note and raise some money for a very worthwhile charity whilst enjoying a sport I love.
“As a balding 40 year-old, carrying the obligatory “Christmas Belly" and very much the MAMIL (middle aged man in lycra). It's not a pretty sight.
“So with spirits high and our aim clear it's time for us to do some training and fund raising and GET TO FRANCE.”
http://www.justgiving.com/Andy-Jack
How can you help?
Prostate Cancer continues to kill one man in Britain every hour of every day.
The work of Prostate Cancer UK is vital in providing that quality care everywhere.
For every Cancer patient there are many more Cancer sufferers.
We would ask for sponsorship to support Prostate Cancer UK.
Please follow our efforts on this blog as we aim for Paris, and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, if you can, DONATE SOME CASH.
You'll see we each have a link to a just giving page, you can either sponsor us individually or by using the link to our team page:
http://www.justgiving.com/teams/gettofrance
The mechanics of completing such an event incur some costs, we are using Skyline event management who are an established company who organise charity fundraising events.
We have each paid £99 non refundable deposit to take part in this event.
Skyline will then receive a fee in the region of £500 for each participant, hence we are working our socks off training, fundraising and spreading the word about prostate cancer and the support that's available from Prostate Cancer UK in an effort to raise £10,000 so that they can continue their sterling work.
More details can be found at http://www.skylineoverseas.co.uk/cycle-paris.aspx
