Unfortunately, my mother, Steffi, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in October 2017. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy. She is in good spirits and is trying to stay positive.

Modern medicine still doesn’t understand exactly what causes pancreatic cancer with only some general risk factors being known. All of the symptoms can have a range of multiple other causes, and there is not yet a reliable diagnostic test for pancreatic cancer.

I chose not to include the survival rate statistic in this note as it isn't favourable. Generally speaking though, improvements in survival rates vary considerably between cancer types, with some cancers showing significant improvement in survival rates over time. However, the 5 year survival rate for pancreatic cancer has not changed in 40 years. So more research needs to be done!

In order to raise awareness and funds for further research, I signed up to ride the St. Pöltner Radmarathon on 10 June 2018 - a 158 km cycling sportive event in my mum’s home province of Lower Austria. Also labelled as ‘“the hardest in the East” in Austria by the organisers.

I selected the Austrian research institute “Institut für Krebsforschung” which is part of the Medical University Vienna and Comprehensive Cancer Center with a focus on pancreatic cancer research.

I set myself a target of £3,000, which could fund e.g. urgently needed medical equipment such as scales or shakers to undertake much needed further research.

If you can spare a few ££'s, €€’s, A$’s, CHF’s for a cause that is close to my heart, then please donate now!

Many thanks in advance! All donations and positive thoughts are truly appreciated!