Hello everyone. Im Ben, a 3rd year medical student at the University of Leeds and on the 12^th July I shall be competing in Ironman Switzerland.

This involves a:

3.8km (2.4mile) Swim, 180km (112mile) Bike and a 42km(26.2mile/marathon) Run!

I will be racing to raise money for the Bone Cancer Research Trust (BCRT) and a wonderful little girl called Rose. On 21st March last year she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma - a rare form of bone cancer - in her leg. After nearly a year of chemo, a HUGE operation and bucket loads of courage and bravery she is now in remission and learning to walk again.

The reason I have decided to raise money for BCRT and Rose is a personal one…When I was only a little nipper, my mum was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her arm. Diagnosis was slow and treatment was very rudimentary with a high risk of an amputation. Luckily a maverick a surgeon saved her arm, removing her radius and fusing her ulnar to her wrist; a very unusual procedure, which even baffled and intrigued the surgeons when she underwent another two operations last year to re-reconstruct it 20years on. Any body who knows my mum will know she is truly inspirational and it just shows what somebody can overcome and achieve.

My mum was to race the London Marathon for Rose but unfortunately she broke her coccyx and was unable to.

Instead, I have decided to raise money for Rose and the BCRT because the same problems in diagnosis and treatment of bone cancer exist today as they did 20years ago. This maybe because it often affects younger people and symptoms can be transient; linked to sporting activity, and quite often without any visible physical signs until the disease has progressed and fairly radical surgical intervention is needed!

 

The treatment alone can be just as nasty and frightening as the disease! And this is all at a time when teenagers in particular are very body conscious.

If you take time out to read Rose’s blog you will just see how amazing and brave this little girl is… http://ouramazingrose.blogspot.com/

Please dig deep into your pockets and help me raise as much money as possible for Rose and the BCRT.

Here’s a link to the BCRT website: www.bcrt.org.uk

And you can follow my progress here: http://benimch09.blogspot.com/

Thanks for visiting my fundraising page.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Bone Cancer Research Trust gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

So please sponsor me now!

Ben X