For all the bad press we hear about our NHS and sometimes perhaps justifiably so, I wanted to give you my experience of how amazing they are when you really need them.

In July 2017 I was told by my consultant that I had been struck down with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. They then followed this up to say I was at stage 4 with a 53% chance of survival and my prognosis was poor.

The lymphoma was in my stomach, lungs and liver whilst pressing on my kidneys. I was in big trouble.

With a picc line inserted into my arm and fed down to my chest for 4 months I had to undergo chemotherapy 7 times stronger than normal, such was the aggresive state of the cancer.

It was time to just get on with it and the consultants and nurses at Heartlands hospital ward 19 who looked after me were quite simply world class. The hours they put in under extreme pressure never stopped them smiling or keeping everyones spirits up whilst always being the consumate professional.

I have recently been given the thumbs up for completing 1 year in remission and it’s for this reason I wanted to give something back to Heartlands by raising money for a wonderful institution.

Velo Birmingham & Midlands 2019! The 100 mile closed road ride will be back on Sunday 12 May 2019. Leaving from Birmingham City Centre and travelling through Solihull, Warwickshire, Coventry, Dudley & Sandwell and ending up back in Birmingham City Centre.By riding in Velo 2019 you can help to support patients, families and staff at our hospitals, funding equipment, research and facilities.