Hi Everyone, and thanks for looking at our Just Giving page.
What started as a joke discussion down the pub has now become a 13 man (and woman) cycle from Lands End to John O’ Groats (LEJOG). The challenge takes place in August over 14 days. In total we are covering approximately (excluding getting lost!) 1066 miles, approximately 80 miles per day. There are 13 dedicated LEJOG’ers in total in our team of which six of us are attempting it on Tandem which should be interesting (!) and we are raising money for various charities. We (Stu, Kev and Neil) have decided that we would like to raise money for our good friend, Josh’s dad, Alan West’s chosen charity.
Alan became a professional footballer in 1967 as an apprentice at Burnley until 1973. He was capped for England under 23’s whilst playing for Luton Town between 1973 and 1981 (aka ‘the glory years’!). During this time, Alan played for the Minnesota Kicks (in the summer seasons) in the NASL, where he played against the greats, Pele and Ace to name a couple, after which he moved to Millwall between 1981 and 1983. After he player managed Hitchin Town, Alan became a minister at Luton Christian Fellowship where he is still the Pastor.
Despite maintaining a high level of fitness over the years Alan was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in December of 2003. The cancer was of the Lymphatic system and of the Low and High Grade varieties. Alan underwent Chemotherapy for 6 months, losing his hair (when he looked like Stu!) but making a full recovery over approximately a two year period. After five years in remission Alan was diagnosed with Low Grade Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma again and despite a note in his journal from the first bout of chemotherapy, which read ‘DON’T DO THIS AGAIN’, he underwent a second bout of chemotherapy. He is now in remission and is undergoing the experimental maintenance treatment.
This is the reason that we are raising money for the Lymphoma Association, as these experimental treatments are now saving lives that previously were not able to be saved. When patients learn they have lymphatic cancer, whether this is Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma, they often know little about it. In these circumstances, it is natural to feel fear or anxiety. However, the Lymphoma Association believes that knowledge conquers fear, so continually works to provide accurate medical information and emotional support to anyone affected by lymphoma.
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So please dig deep and donate now.
