Until 4 years ago, I’d never heard of Gestational Trophoblastic Disease (GTD). But, in April 2006, my wife Helen was diagnosed with GTD, a rare type of cancer which meant that, not only did we have to cope with the loss of what would have been our first child, but we also had to endure 9 months of intensive chemotherapy and had to come to terms with the realisation that we would never have children of our own.
Thanks to the professionalism and treatment from Dr. Savage and his team at Charing Cross Hospital in London, Helen was cured of this disease and is now 3 years in remission but there are many questions left unanswered. With a 99% cure rate, GTD is one of the most curable cancers, but there is still little knowledge of what causes it, leaving patients feeling confused and bereaved.
On the 26th June 2010, I will be riding approximately 4,500 miles across Europe, solo and unaided to raise awareness and money for The Cancer Treatment and Research Trust (Gestational Trophoblastic Tumour) to help fund research into the causes of this illness, which is currently unknown.
The ride that I am doing is based upon the Eurovelo Route 7, which starts at North Cape in Norway, the northerly most point of Europe, to Malta in the Mediterranean, taking me through, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Italy and finally Malta. I am planning on completing the ride in 2.5 months, thus averaging approximately 70 miles per day. The furthest ride I have done before is 170 miles over 2 days.
I am not setting a target of how much I want to raise as this is an on going need for resources to help fight this illness. If you wish to sponsor me to raise money for this charity, whatever you can afford will greatly help.
For more information on my ride, including progress updates, route map, video blog and general information please visit: www.richardrideseurope.com
For more information on this illness, please visit www.hmole-chorio.org.uk.
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