Last yeah my friend Jamie died of throat cancer. That’s him and me in the photo just about to cross the finish line when we did the Manchester 100 together two years ago. Tragically, his cancer was so aggressive that he died a few days after starting chemotherapy, before the treatment had a chance to take effect, and around 6 weeks after the initial diagnosis. This is the first time in my life I’ve witnessed first hand the absolute devastation that cancer causes to an individual as well as their family and friends; and how much of a difference it makes getting the right treatment and care. Even though Jamie didn’t manage to beat his cancer I know the care he received made a huge difference to the last days and weeks of his life.

If Jamie had recovered from his cancer I know he’d be riding the Manchester 100 alongside me again (in fact it’s something we talked about while he was in hospital), so it seems right that I join the hundreds of people in this event who are raising money for The Christie, a specialist cancer centre in Manchester, similar to the one where Jamie had part of his treatment. They are one of the leading treatment and research centres in Europe and a few quid of your cash might help someone else with cancer stand a better chance than Jamie did.

Thank you.