Hi all!

In September I’ll be taking on 40tude’s Slovenia Cycle Challenge. Four stages of cycling over just 3½ days.

I’m aiming to tackle the Epic route each day, which means around 476 km of riding and more than 6,500 metres of climbing, an average of 119 km and over 1,600 vertical metres across each of the four stages.

Why, you may well ask?

Colon (bowel) cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK, but crucially it is much more treatable when it is detected early. Screening can detect signs of bowel cancer before symptoms develop, which is why raising awareness of testing is such an important part of 40tude’s work.

40tude is encouraging people to think about regular testing, particularly from their mid-40s. One option is FIT, a simple test that can be carried out at home and checks for tiny amounts of blood in a stool sample. 40tude has partnered with Selph, a provider of at-home health tests, to make qFIT testing available. You can buy a qFIT (high-sensitivity poo test) via Selph's website at: https://www.selph.co.uk/tests/q-fit-bowel-cancer-test

If you can make a donation, it would be hugely appreciated. But just as importantly, please take bowel cancer screening seriously, take up testing when it is offered to you, and encourage the people you care about to do the same.

Thank you for your support. Together, we can help reduce the number of families affected by bowel cancer.

Here we go then!

Al