In June 2021 I was diagnosed with terminal Acute Myeloid Myeloma / Plasma Cell Leukaemia. Following chemotherapy, I received a stem cell transplant at Ward 33 of the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

Over the last year I have met some amazing health professionals and fellow patients and want to find a way of giving something back in terms of awareness and funds to fight blood cancer. Bright Red (www.brightred.org.uk) represent Ward 33 at the hospital and anyone in the North East and Cumbria diagnosed with blood disorders will more than likely be treated on Ward 33 at some point.

The type of cancer I had was rare and when I was diagnosed I felt alone. However, I quickly found out that I wasn't alone in this battle and soon became friends with fellow patients in the North East who are also battling different forms of leukaemia, myeloma and lymphoma. What became apparent was the lack of stem cell donors in the UK. For a very simple procedure you can save someone's life somewhere in the world.

As a thank you for the treatment and expertise from NHS staff at Freeman, Cramlington, Wansbeck and James Cook hospitals, I am hosting a cycling challenge at Middlesbrough Sports Village. Held over five hours on Sun June 5th, riders of all ages and abilities are welcome to head down to the enclosed / traffic free 1k circuit and test their endurance and rack up as many laps as you want over five minutes or five hours. Trophy for adult / child who posts the most laps! There will be live music and refreshments available on the day.

All types of bicycle are welcome and it's FREE ENTRY. Please help me  raise some funds via the Just Giving link or sponsorship form and also raise awareness about blood cancer and signing up to be a stem cell donor. 

As you can see from the stats below, the number of laps you cycle will register with a blood cancer statistic in the UK and it's vital we make more people aware about donating stem cells and becoming a life saver to someone.

Only thing I ask for those taking part is : PLEASE WEAR RED!

To take part email : tonymc@manillapr.com or support@brightred.org.uk

• 1 lap (1000m) For boys in the UK there are around 1000 new cancer cases every year.
• 2 laps (2000m) Only 2% of the UK population are registered stem cell donors.
• 3 laps (3000m) 3%of leukaemia cases in the UK are caused by smoking.
• 4 laps (4000m) Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia affects over 4,000 people a year)
• 6 laps (6000m) Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma affects almost 6000 people a year
• 7 laps (7000m) Over the last decade, leukaemia mortality rates have decreased by more than 7% in the UK.
• 8 laps (8000m) Today, eight in 10 children survive leukaemia
• 10 laps (10000m) There are almost 10000 new cases of leukaemia each year in the UK
• 12 laps (12000m) 12% of Leukaemia cases are preventable
• 15 laps (15000m) Every year 15,000 people die of blood cancer
• 16 laps (16000m) One in every 16 men and will develop blood cancer it at some point in their lives
• 18 laps (18000m) Mortality rates for leukaemia are projected to fall by 18% in the UK by 2035
• 22 laps (22000) One in every 22 woman will develop blood cancer at some point in their lives
• 25 laps (25000m) Over 250,000 people are currently living with blood cancer in the UK
• 33 laps (33000m) Just 33% of people with blood cancer are spoken to about taking part in cancer research
• 40 laps (40000m) 40,000people are diagnosed with it every year
• 50m laps (50000m) 50 in 100 of people diagnosed with leukaemia survived their disease beyond ten years
• 70 laps (70000m)The five year survival rate for blood cancer is 70%.
• 75 laps (75000m)40% of people diagnosed with blood cancer are aged over 75
• 100 laps (100000m) There are over 100 different types of blood cancers.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.