Wheels of Steel Coast to Coast III

This year the Wheels of Steel cycling team will ride 170 miles over 2 days to complete the Coast to Coast cycling challenge from Morecambe to Bridlington. The riders have spent many hours in the saddle training for the gruelling event and have nominated the BRCA Brighton Support Group to be the chosen charity to benefit from the ride.
The BRCA Brighton Support Group is a new project setup with the aim of providing a self-help group to women and their families across Sussex, who have been tested positive for carrying a mutation of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. Carrying this genetic fault gives an increased risk of developing breast cancer by up to 85% and of ovarian cancer up to 50%. Women in the group may have already been diagnosed with cancer and have had treatment or may be at high risk of developing it. The group will aim to support women who have to make extremely difficult and life changing decisions about preventive surgery and also to support them through the process of genetic testing for other family members and the implications implicit in this.
The BRCA gene has had a huge effect on my family as it has genetically passed through family members from one generation to the next. Of my immediate family my mother, sister, daughter and I have all tested positive for the BRCA gene. My mother has survived having had breast cancer 3 times. As well as having had chemotherapy and radiotherapy she has now undergone preventative surgery by having a double mastectomy and oophorectomy. My sister and daughter will both have the agonising decision on whether to have the preventative surgery too. I have survived having testicular cancer.
Since being diagnosed with the BRCA gene my mother has setup the BRCA support group in Sussex. Following initial funding from Macmillan to setup the group, the group are now reliant on self-funding. All of the money raised from the cycle ride will enable the group to continue to provide support for women and families affected by the BRCA gene.
The support group are based at the Macmillan Horizon Centre at The Royal Sussex County Hospital and can be contacted at BRCAbrighton@gmail.com

The riders completing this year’s challenge are:
Mark Hoggart, Keith Spokes, Tracey Watson, Ade Keasey, Kevin Rowe, Andy Harrison, Stuart Todd, Paul Dwyer and Gary Murfin.
Support Team:
Tommaso Tizzano and Michelle Briscoe