Eight Colchester firefighters will cycle 875km to raise money for the H&NCRT.
In September 2008, eight firefighters with a love of challenging cycling routes will begin an epic 875km bike ride taking in the high climbs of the Tour de France.
Sue, the wife of one of the riders, had suffered from head and neck cancer so another rider suggested to her husband, Steve, that they should turn the ride into a sponsored charity event for the Head and Neck Cancer Research Trust (H&NCRT) at The Royal Marsden Hospital.
Sue’s story
‘My journey and battle with cancer began in October 2005 when I was diagnosed with tonsillar cancer, after I found a lump in the right side of my neck. Several operations later, and with the insertion of a PEG feed to enable me to be fed once my treatment started, I was ready to begin chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
‘My chemotherapy was given at a local hospital where again there were fire brigade connections: one of the nurses was a fellow firefighter’s wife and was already aware of what our family was going through. Not only did she give comfort and support to me, but also to Steve and our two boys Ryan and Kieran.
‘Treatment ended in 2006 and the road to recovery began. I started learning to eat and talk, and we all thought that everything was going well. Until 26 December that is, when I found another lump in my neck; not the best way to see in the New Year.
‘This time I needed the best, somewhere that specialised in cancer treatment. So I sought help and advice from The Royal Marsden Hospital, a specialist cancer hospital.
‘Steve and I met with a specialist consultant for head and neck cancer, Mr Peter Rhys Evans. Mr Rhys Evans and his team operated and treated me with amazing results, and we are now a year down the road in remission.
‘The Colchester Firefighters have supported us as a family and have been there for us all on this difficult journey. They even paid for us to have a few days away together, enabling us to regain some normality within the family.
‘I encourage anyone reading this to support these eight firefighters in their cycling challenge so that others can benefit from the research the charity helps fund. As a 38-year-old, I never thought it would happen to me once – let alone twice – and my family and I are indebted to the specialised skills and care I received from all the professionals we came into contact with, as well as the kindness of our friends, family and colleagues, without whose help we would never have made it through this.’
Click here to donate online.