Etape du Tour - Prostate Cancer Charity
Page creator: David Hillier
Event: L'Etape du Tour
Event Date: 10th Jul 2006
Team Members: David Hillier
Fundraising Page Image
Wearing the shirt with pride
About our charity : The Prostate Cancer Charity The Prostate Cancer Charity
In the UK: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. 35,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year. One man dies every hour of prostate cancer. The Prostate Cancer Charity is the UK’s leading charity working with people affected by prostate cancer. We fund research, provide support and information, and we campaign to improve the lives of men with prostate cancer. We provide the only UK-wide prostate cancer Helpline staffed by prostate cancer specialist nurses. Our nurses offer free and confidential information and support to anyone affected by prostate cancer. The Prostate Cancer Charity is working towards a world where lives are no longer limited by prostate cancer. The Charity is fighting prostate cancer on every front - through research, support, information and campaigning.
Charity Registration No 1005541 and in Scotland (SC039332)
Fundraising target:  £20,000.00
Donations so far:  £ 30,855.55
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Our personal message:

Well well. Who'd have thought it? About a year ago, I'd been given less than six months to live. And yet here I am, alive and kicking, with my latest blood tests the best they could possibly be. No detectable signs of prostate cancer. You can't get much better than that, can you?

If you don't know my story, then here's a brief re-cap:

1. Three and a half years ago, I was diagnosed as having terminal prostate cancer.

2. At the time I was only 37, with a young wife and two very young daughters. Was overwhelmed by the thought of leaving them so soon (still am).

3. Almost all of the doctors in London gave me no chance of survival - told me I could have hormone treatment but that would only last around two years.

4. Had experimental chemotherapy and radiotherapy as recommended by Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York

5. Started riding my bike as my oncologist felt it would help me - told me to think of it as treatment.

And that's largely what I've been doing ever since. Last May twenty of my friends went out to New York with me to take part in a 42-mile bike ride around the five boroughs of the city. Together, we raised almost a quarter of a million pounds for The Prostate Cancer Charity.

So, how to top that? Well, I'm not sure that I can, but I've decided to try and complete the Etape du Tour, a mountain stage of the Tour de France that is open to around 6,000 amateur riders every year while the Tour proper is taking place. That means riding 118 miles, and getting myself up three mountains, finishing at the top of the legendary Alp d'Huez.

Oh yes, almost forgot. You have to ride at an average speed of around 12 mph. If you don't manage this then you are made to stop. Doesn't sound much does it, 12 mph? But if, like me, you can only climb at about 5 mph, it makes it very very hard. Will have to descend like a hawk and ride the flats like the wind. So please wish me and the handful of friends who have been brave/mad enough to join me luck. We're going to need it. Well, I am.

I've set up a web page with a training diary and some other bits and pieces. So, if you want to find out a bit more about the sort of preparation I've been doing (not enough), or just find out a little more about me (self obsessed), go to http://web.mac.com/d.hillier.

Of course, the good thing about taking part in rides like this is that it gives me something to aim for. Something to stay alive for. And I think that’s vital for anyone who is fighting cancer. Just as important is the fact that it helps to raise awareness of prostate cancer and the need for everyone to be vigilant against it.

Prostate cancer is obviously a man's disease, but everyone should be aware of it and the signs that indicate its early stages. If you are a woman with a father, a brother, a son, or a husband it's as much an issue for you as it is for the man in your life.

If you are a man, then you have to act like a REAL man. Know what your prostate is, what it does, where it is, what the symptoms of prostate cancer are and get yourself tested regularly. Think you're too young? Think that it can't happen to you? Well it can. It happened to me.

I still don't know how much time I've got left on this earth. In fact, I've stopped asking my doctors now because they don't know either. The odds suggest not as long as most people. My heart tells me that I'm going to be the lucky one, the miracle man if you like. Don't know if that's true, but in the meantime, I'm going to stay positive, stay active and keep giving myself things to stay alive for. I wouldn't be able to look my wife and daughters in the eye if I did anything else.

As part of that process, I'm going to continue to try to raise as much money as possible for The Prostate Cancer Charity - one of the few organizations that gives men of all ages access to well funded sources of information on the disease, along with help in coping with a diagnosis of prostate cancer.

We need organisations like The Charity to make sure funding for research into prostate cancer is as large as the amounts devoted to other similarly devastating cancers. We need it to make sure the best treatments in the world - treatments like I've had via New York – become available for all patients in the United Kingdom as soon as possible.

So that means we need sponsors. I know that many of you were incredibly generous with the amounts you donated to our last ride, but I ask you and everyone else from the bottom of my heart to donate whatever you can to the Charity this time round. I'm not expecting anything like the amount we raised last time, but it would be good to get even a small fraction of that.

In the meantime, don't forget to have a look at my web page http://web.mac.com/d.hillier. More important, don't forget ... cycling kills cancer. Allez, allez! 

Page 1 of 2     Latest  << | < | > | >>  Earliest
Display Name Date Amount Tax Bonus  Comment
Judith Cunningham 19/07/2007 £50.00 £14.10 Well done Bruce Slater! 
Huw Griffiths 07/12/2006 £50.00 £14.10 I reckon the English channel's looking awfully swimmable in 2007, non? 
Ceri Chamberlain 27/10/2006 £5.00 £1.41 For you, for my Dad, for all men. Keep going!  
anonymous 09/09/2006 £10.00 £2.82 And my wife tells me cycling is dangerous! You're an inspiration to us all. 
David Evans 04/09/2006 £25.00 £7.05 Better late than never!! Keep up the cycling we need a zero "score" again and again... 
Ela Law 28/07/2006 £20.00 £5.64 I'm in awe of your determination to fight and succeed! Good luck with the next bike ride! 
Anonymous 26/07/2006 £10.00 £2.82  
Jim 24/07/2006 £900.00 £253.85 Coffee 
Mohsen Enayatollah 18/07/2006 £100.00 £28.21 Keep going strong! 
Nic MacDonald 18/07/2006 £20.00 £5.64 Keep going - you inspire more people than you know! 
Rich Chadwick 14/07/2006 £10.00 £2.82  
Neil Beddall 12/07/2006 £100.00 £28.21 Good luck - it's all I can do to get my bike out the garage!! 
David Sargen 12/07/2006 £50.00 £14.10 Best of luck!  
Nevena Vujosevic 12/07/2006 £20.00 n/a With the very best of wishes. 
Mike, Kathy, Emily, Charlie and Joe 12/07/2006 £50.00 £14.10 You're a bloomin' hero 
Jude Bridge 11/07/2006 £20.00 £5.64 Wishing you the very best of luck on your Herculean challenge!. 
Mark Howard 11/07/2006 £250.00 n/a YOU DA MAN!!! 
Sonia Hillier 10/07/2006 £25.00 n/a With all my love from Cousin Gerry in America. 
Nick Verdi 10/07/2006 £100.00 £28.21 Good luck! 
Elaine Bennett 10/07/2006 £20.00 £5.64 Good Luck David! All the Best, Elaine 
anonymous 10/07/2006 £500.00 £141.03  
Willem Buiter 10/07/2006 £50.00 £14.10 More power to you! 
simon knapp 09/07/2006 £125.00 £35.26  
Jeremy Froud 08/07/2006 £250.00 £70.51 Good luck David 
David and Lynne 08/07/2006 £200.00 £56.41 Ever an inspiration mate! Keep on peddling.  
Julian Callow 07/07/2006 £100.00 £28.21 I can't believe you're doing this! 
Simon Hayes 07/07/2006 £100.00 £28.21 Good luck! 
Diane 06/07/2006 £10.00 £2.82 Best of Luck . You're a truly remarkable person 
james hochman 06/07/2006 £200.00 £56.41  
Stuart Urquhart 06/07/2006 £100.00 £28.21 A fantastic healthy turn around, have fun 
Matt Merritt 06/07/2006 £100.00 £28.21 Good luck! 
Anonymous 06/07/2006 £250.00 £70.51  
George Johns 06/07/2006 £100.00 £28.21 Keep chowing those carbs. 
Troy Bowler 06/07/2006 £100.00 £28.21  
Matthew W 06/07/2006 £50.00 n/a Just the first of many stages, I'm sure. 
Anthony O'Brien 05/07/2006 £100.00 £28.21 Rather you than me! 
Tarun Mathur 05/07/2006 £100.00 £28.21 Ride like the wind.  
Peter Leck 05/07/2006 £50.00 £14.10 You take our love and admiration with you David. Good luck , and god speed 
L & J Geear 05/07/2006 £20.00 £5.64 Good Luck David! 
Bill Begley 04/07/2006 £100.00 £28.21 No Manhattan potholes? You'll breeze it! 
Phil and Gill 03/07/2006 £50.00 £14.10 Go for it 
Nat 03/07/2006 £250.00 £70.51  
aiden buckley 03/07/2006 £100.00 £28.21  
Gary H 03/07/2006 £100.00 £28.21 inspirational 
Nan 03/07/2006 £50.00 n/a With all my love to my wonderful Grandson 
Mum 03/07/2006 £50.00 n/a Take good care of yourself,love always. 
Dave Shaw 03/07/2006 £100.00 £28.21 Words fail me at moments like this.........best of British.........love Dave and Sara 
Kevin Adams 03/07/2006 £250.00 £70.51 What next!? 
Bev Freeman 03/07/2006 £50.00 £14.10 Good Luck David.  
korky 03/07/2006 £200.00 £56.41 good luck and enjoy it! 
Richard Turnill 03/07/2006 £50.00 £14.10  
Andrew Derry 03/07/2006 £250.00 £70.51 Good Luck David!!!!!! 
Sean Taor 03/07/2006 £100.00 £28.21 Don't make this your last ride, you are an inspiration to all of us. Good luck on those mountains.  
keith mcintosh 03/07/2006 £500.00 £141.03 good luck david from keith, jason and stephen 
Mike 03/07/2006 £100.00 £28.21  
Kay and Ted 03/07/2006 £100.00 £28.21 Come on your irons 
Anonymous 03/07/2006 £250.00 £70.51 Go David!! 
anonymous 03/07/2006 £250.00 n/a  
tim bond 03/07/2006 £100.00 £28.21  
John Reynolds 03/07/2006 £100.00 £28.21 Enjoy the ride! 
Will Lloyd 29/06/2006 £100.00 £28.21 Have a great time on those hills! 
Euan Harkness 29/06/2006 £100.00 £28.21 The spirit of the Hillier fan club and your incredible fortitude will get you there 
anonymous 28/06/2006 £1,000.00 £282.05 Further inspiration from Mr. Hillier ! Fantastic effort. Well done 
anonymous 28/06/2006 £20.00 £5.64  
Sita Aley 27/06/2006 £50.00 £14.10 Good luck David. 
Wayne Mercieca 27/06/2006 £20.00 n/a Your a champion just attempting this feat. Train hard & enjoy the "therapy." ha. Just do your best!  
Mike Bagguley 27/06/2006 £500.00 £141.03 Good Luck 
Fernando Jimenez 27/06/2006 £10.00 £2.82 Just finishing the etape will be quite an achievement onto itself. Best of luck for the future 
George Athanasopoulos 27/06/2006 £100.00 £28.21 Good luck!! 
anon 27/06/2006 £200.00 £56.41 Go for it! 
Pam & Geoff Souter 27/06/2006 £50.00 £14.10 Keep pedaling! 
Paul Wright 27/06/2006 £100.00 £28.21 Good Luck David! 
Chris Anderson 27/06/2006 £10.00 £2.82 best of luck on your courageous undertaking. Be strong. 
Ben Davies 27/06/2006 £20.00 £5.64 Best of luck for the race 
Charles Janssen 27/06/2006 £50.00 £14.10  
Michael 26/06/2006 £100.00 n/a  
Jane Padgham 26/06/2006 £25.00 £7.05 Bonne chance 
dw 26/06/2006 £10.00 £2.82 Chapeau!! go 34x25 or easier.  
Stephen Hale 26/06/2006 £100.00 £28.21 Best of luck 
Ian 26/06/2006 £50.00 £14.10 GOOD LUCK 
Lisa Bartrip 26/06/2006 £100.00 £28.21  
Anon 26/06/2006 £20.00 £5.64 Best of luck 
Rob Gvozden 26/06/2006 £100.00 n/a A triple crank will be your succour 
anon 26/06/2006 £25.00 £7.05 keep cycling 
Carol B 26/06/2006 £20.00 £5.64  
anonymous 24/06/2006 £50.00 £14.10  
karen barnes 24/06/2006 £10.00 £2.82 Good Luck David! 
Kelly & Wayne 23/06/2006 £50.00 £14.10 Good luck David, will be thinking of you! 
George Austin 23/06/2006 £100.00 £28.21 ..go for it!! 
Anonymous 23/06/2006 £20.00 £5.64 Good luck 
Penny 23/06/2006 £50.00 £14.10 All the very best! 
Tammay Nguyen 23/06/2006 £100.00 £28.21 Good Luck!! I can't even run for the bus ... 
Adarsh Sinha 23/06/2006 £50.00 £14.10 good luck david! 
Richard Schomberg 23/06/2006 £100.00 £28.21 Good luck David - mind the hair pin bends 
Maggie Petite 23/06/2006 £100.00 £28.21 Good luck! 
Peter Watson 23/06/2006 £100.00 £28.21 Best of luck ! 
Dominique 23/06/2006 £100.00 n/a  
anonymous 23/06/2006 £50.00 £14.10  
Gary & Stella Jenkins 23/06/2006 £250.00 £70.51 Good luck David, we will be thinking of you. 
Paul Marshall 23/06/2006 £50.00 £14.10 Best wishes for the race 
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*Total donated online: £17,855.55
Amount raised offline: £13,000.00
Gift Aid plus supplement: £4,625.80
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