Good luck to our Brain Tumour Research supporters taking on the Chase the Sun coast-to-coast cycle ride today.
Riders set off just after 4am this morning from the Thames estuary in Kent. They are pedalling a 200-mile route which will see them finish at Weston-Super-Mare seafront, Somerset, before the sun sets at around 9:30pm this evening.
Amongst those riding for research is Dr Stuart Farrimond, who will complete the challenge on a tandem bike with his friend Mike. Stuart (pictured left, with Mike) was forced to quit his career in medicine after he was diagnosed with an astrocytoma in 2008, at the age of 25.
Stuart, who is hoping to raise £5,000 on his JustGiving page, said: “The fact that a brain tumour has the potential to impact every single faculty, vision, personality, speech and movement is massive and life changing. It affects so many people and we must do more to bring brain tumour research in line with the advances in other cancers.”
Also cycling is James Gilmour. In 2018, along with his brother and his friend, James became a Guinness World Record holder for the fastest time from Land’s End to John o’Groats on a triplet cycle.
James is cycling inspired by his brother-in-law, Felix Gooding, who is currently undergoing treatment for a grade 2 astrocytoma, and has already raised more than £8,000 on his fundraising page.
He said: “Once someone you love is affected by this, it makes it so much more pertinent and important, and makes you want to do all you can to help. I’m very proud of what we’ve managed to raise so far, and grateful that more people are aware of the charity.”
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