UPDATE

Well I am back at my desk having completed the gruelling Etape Caledonia in a remarkable 4 hours and 24 minutes. Sorry if that sounds boastful but it was a good 45 minutes faster than I had been expecting. My average speed was around 18.5 mph for the full 135 km course ( 84 miles ) including numerous energy sapping ascents like Schiehallion I mentioned earlier.

The whole experience was fantastic- we had unseasonally good Scottish weather and the most beautiful location.But despite finishing in the top quartile I couldnt help feeling that at 59 I was the wrong side of the entry age for the competition of 18years!

A big thank you to all  who have given so generously to St Barts at a time when I know most of us are under huge financial pressure but it is so much appreciated and a great cause.

I have done my very best for Steve and the Charity which continues to give him so much support in the hope that they will be able to continue their good work for many other Mesothelioma sufferers.

Every little bit helps and all those little bits add up to something worthwhile

Many thanks for taking time to read this

Best wishes

Philip

 

Ok check this out- it is really quite a remarkable story

18 months ago my Brother in Law Stephen  who also happens to be my closest friend ( as you can see from the attached photo! ) was diagnosed with Mesothelioma a cancer caused by asbestos exposure. He was told it was incurable and was given 6 months to live. Quite tough when you are 54 with 3 teenage children. However to cut a very long story short and after several trips to Philadelphia for gene therapy treatment followed up by chemotherapy and finally a pioneering operation to remove the lining from his left lung Stephen is not just still alive but thriving. Miraculously a PET scan undertaken a few weeks ago revealed no active cancer.Now, there are no guarantees in this life but when you have a second chance such as this you grab it with both hands.

But there are many other sufferers less fortunate than Stephen which is I why I have decided to try and help.

On the 16th May I am riding in the Etape Caledonia. A 135 km bike race in the Highlands of Scotland a large part of which is naturally uphill including the dreaded Schiehallion Mountain which is 5 kms of continual ascent at the 67 km mark.I hope to complete the course in 5 hours ( and something ) and have been training for the last 12 months. So wish me luck!

All the money I raise from completing the Etape( www.etapecaledonia.co.uk ) will go to Bart`s Mesothelioma Research.This small group of Doctors nurses and researchers operate mainly from charitable donations and their research involves tissue-based studies on understanding various processes of this cancer as well as creating and running clinical trials. Their Group is well -respected both in the UK and the USA.

Mesothelioma is a relatively rare disease and therefore does not receive the attention and financial support needed- which I hope is where you come in. For further information visit  www.mesothelioma.co.uk where you will find more information about this horrible desease and the wonderful work Barts are doing to help combat it.

Anything you can give no matter how small will be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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So please dig deep and donate now.