At the beginning of this year I set out to ride a total of
3,000 miles, to raise money for Beating Bowel Cancer. Well, the riding is going very well – to date
I have ridden 1,619.5 miles. It hasn’t
been as easy as you might think, even if I am now a fully paid up MAMIL (middle
aged man in lycra). I have battled in the wind and the rain. I have ridden
darkened roads with cars behind me determined to make me yet another cycling
casualty. I have ridden up some tough
hills, my biggest achievement to date being Whitedown lane, noted as one of the
steepest climbs in Surrey (with bits rising to a gradient of 20%).
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| Some of the team at the top of Box Hill |
My next challenge, one of many, is to complete the VelothonWales on 14th June, which is 85 miles in the Welsh mountains,
including a 6km ride up The Tumble, one of the toughest challenges in the UK. I promise you, I will earn that medal. It is a very tough challenge to be completed in a limited time.
And all I ask of you is your generosity to make it all
worthwhile. You can donate at https://www.justgiving.com/Mark-Flannagan5.
The charity which I lead, Beating Bowel Cancer, has set out
ambitious, but entirely achievable goals to save 9,000 more lives over the next five years, by getting more
diagnosed earlier. To do this we need to
raise awareness of bowel cancer and be clear about the standards of care that
patients should receive if they are, in their own way every day, to beat bowel
cancer. Alongside this, we will go on providing
support to individuals facing a dreadful diagnosis of bowel cancer – the UK’s second
biggest cancer killer. Beating Bowel
Cancer runs the UK’s only nurse-led helpline for bowel cancer patients,
described as a “lifeline” by many.
I am determined that we can make a difference. I am showing that determination by my own
efforts this year to cycle 3,000 miles.
This is a real challenge for me – although nothing compares to the challenge faced every day
by those dealing with bowel cancer.
If
you can, please give generously. And to those
who supported me last year in my Ride London fundraising campaign, thank
you. Please support me again in
my even tougher challenge. Help me to
beat bowel cancer.
Please be generous. You
can donate at https://www.justgiving.com/Mark-Flannagan5.
Thank you so much
