Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I have done several personal challenges for Cancer Research; ridden my bike across the country 3 times and run the Great North Run once before in 2013.

Please let me tell you why....

I did the first couple of rides because I wanted to get fitter and because I believed in fighting Cancer. 

Then just after my daughter was born 5 1/2 years ago it became personal - My sister Alison got Ovarian cancer and became very ill, very quickly she had operations and chemo and whilst this was going on I signed up for the coast to coast in a day - that's 140 miles and a very big ride.  

My family supported me in my training, and on the day I was really fit, ready and motivated.  Half a mile in my tire exploded (not the tube!) and I thought it was all over.  I returned despondently thinking how I had let my family and sponsors down.. but one of the guys made a McGyver style bodge that got me to Keswick and with a new tyre I rode with the 2 day group to Alston.   At Alston I left the 2 day group and rode by myself to Keswick.  It was the hardest thing I have ever done.  But it was nothing to what my sister was going through so I toughed it out and kept going.  

Alison was ill at the time but made it to Consett and fuelled by KFC and seeing my family I made it to the end with renewed energy.

When Alison's Cancer came back there were more operations and chemo and she did eventually get back to a little normality - That's what inspired my 2013 GNR - I've never liked running but it was a challenge and it would get some money to help fight Cancer.  I made the 13.2 miles in 2 hours 20 something I'm proud of.

I signed up this year for #BeattheCEO because Alison's cancer was back and she was ill.  I did it because I want to help people get well, and to stop people suffering from the disease, and the side effects and the stress it puts on families. 

My sister passed away from side effects of the Cancer less than a month ago.   She was very kind, loved by so many people and always looking to help people and share a joke, or play a trick on them.  I will always miss my sister, but I'm not sad - I just want to do what I can to make this happen to less people.

Please give what you can, It will motivate me to keep going (I'm struggling to train at the moment) and it will do tangible things to reduce the amount of people getting Cancer and to improve outcomes for people suffering.

Thanks for reading

Phil x

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