I am proud to be taking part in this amazing cycling event (London to Paris September 2025) to help raise lots of money for a charity that has supported us over the last year & continues to support us now.

In early February 2024 our lives were unexpectedly turned upside down…

My wife, Mel, found a small breast lump, we hoped it would just be a blocked milk duct or something as Mel was still breastfeeding our little girl. The GP agreed it was likely nothing to worry about but a referral was made to have it checked out. After lots of tests we were unfortunately faced with the devastating news that it was actually breast cancer. The days & weeks that followed were an awful mixture of shock, sadness, worry & stress. We have 3 young children & they were our priority. We were in a whirlwind of hospital appointments, trying to come to terms with it all & also doing our very best to keep the kids lives as normal as possible. It was tough to say the least but we are very lucky to have the best family & close friends around us. We were very well supported by those that rallied round us, we will be eternally grateful for that.

We made the decision not to tell the kids the full story as we were concerned they would just worry about Mel & we didn’t want that upset for them. We told them mummy had an operation on her boob & that mummy was having special medicine when Mel was going through chemo. Our kids were remarkable & we are so proud of how they coped with it all. Life was far from normal for us but they adapted well.

Mel had a lumpectomy, followed by 4 months of chemotherapy then a full month of daily radiotherapy. The chemotherapy can only be described as gruelling!!

During Mel’s treatment at St Johh’s Hospital in Livingston she was supported by the breast care nurses & they introduced her to the amazing local charity Breast Friends & Family. This is a West Lothian based charity who support women going through breast cancer treatment. Mel was given different bags along the way, filled with everything a woman may need to make the journey even a little easier. Mel appreciated these thoughtful bags so much, they meant the world to her, it was a little bag of support & so reassuring to know that she wasn’t alone.

Mel is doing well, she is back to work & we are living our life again. Breast friends & family are a fantastic local charity who offer all sorts of support for women & their families going through breast cancer. I am doing this to raise as much money as possible for this amazing charity who have helped us so much. We can get through anything with the right people & support around us. It would mean the world to us as a family if you could spare a little to sponsor me to do this London to Paris cycle.

Thank you

Malc, Mel & our kids ❤️

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