Want to join me in supporting a good cause? I'm raising money for Pancreatic Cancer UK and your contribution will make an impact, whether you donate a lot or a little. Anything helps. Thank you for your support.

I consider myself to be very lucky indeed. I tell the full story on my fitness blog at slowdistancemoving but to summarise. In December 2013 I visited A&E in Shrewsbury with pain in my hip. The young doctor on duty wasn't sure of the origin so sent me for a CT scan. This showed an unrelated mass in my pancreas. The NHS were excellent and in February 2024 I had a Whipple procedure at University Hospital Stoke under the care of Mr Laing. The biopsy of the mass showed that although not cancerous yet there were pre-cancerous cells and that over time I would have developed pancreatic cancer - one of the most deadly of cancers in that it is often not discovered until too late.

I have been given a reprieve and the chance for an ongoing better quality of life with the use of Creon to aid my digestion. For the past fifteen years I have been very physically active to overcome mental health difficulties sustained following a breakdown in 2008. I benefit from having a physical challenge in mind and so I have entered this event to try and raise funds and awareness and as a joint challenge with Susan who is experiencing her own journey with melanoma.

I realise that we have over the years sought sponsorship for a number of challenges but if you do feel able to donate to this or my other fundraising event this year then please do so. We shall hopefully also be organising some fund-raising activities over the summer.

UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2025

I am pleased to say that the 2004 vintage Audax bike (my 50th birthday present) and I completed the Tour de 4 on 7th September. It was a heartwarming and moving day and the support on the road and at the roadside despite the appalling (Scottish) conditions was amazing. So many people giving their time and others showing their appreciation of the event organisers.

I am putting together a video of my experience (slow motion up the "Tak" and will update here and on my blog at https://slowdistancemoving.org when it is complete.

I would appreciate any further donations - although the official total has been declared I know that Pancreatic Cancer UK will appreciate all your efforts and in turn work towards early detection of this awful form of an awful disease.