My Dear friend Carolyn who i have known since college was over the moon to learn she was pregnant with her second child but partway through her pregnancy that joy was shattered with the news that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. After the first trimester she was able to undergo chemotherapy but she had to wait until after the birth to undergo surgery. Carolyn gave birth to a daughter - Mira (their little miracle) and everything appeared to have gone very well until she was informed of the worst possible news that she had contracted secondary cancers in her lung and liver.

Secondary cancer is not curable but it is treatable. Carolyn's cancer is HER2 positive, which means there are targeted therapy drugs that can stop it from growing and spreading. At the moment, she gets three-weekly injections of a drug called Herceptin, and so far, this has stopped the cancer from progressing. At some point though, this will stop working - this could take years or it could take months. There are other targeted therapy drugs that have proven to be very effective in treating this type of cancer but these are not routinely available on the NHS in Wales. She can apply for these but it is highly likely her application will be rejected.

After thinking for some time of how i could help to raise money for Carolyn's cause she said 'what about a sponsored cycle ride', and here we are. On the 4th of February i will cycle from my house in Balsall Common to Carolyn's in Port Talbot approximately 150 miles away. This will be quite a challenge for me as the furthest i have cycled is 60 miles and this will also include cycling up mountain/s in the Brecon Beacons.

If you could find your way to sponsor me it would represent a ray of hope for a family wishing to stay together as long as possible. Thank you in advance for your generosity and support.

Dave