I live in Derby

I am 71 years old

I still work a 3 day week

I intend to clock up a 1000 miles distance or there about over a period on my bike for Cancer Research  finishing with a final run to Skegness later in the summer

Why!  then read on

About 14 years ago my wife Kathleen had breast cancer and got over that all right, but unfortunately she died  earlier this year with an ovarian cancer that came upon her like a thief in the night and took her life on 21st  February 2006. She had  been a little below par for sometime at first it seemed to start with a stubborn heavy cold that then left her with what appeared to be like catarrh symptoms that would just not clear up. She  visited  the doctors on and off  for something to  clear the catarrh, nothing seemed to work and clear it. There  were  other slight changes that had happened at different stages she complained of backache for awhile, her likes and dislikes in food were changing . Some types of salad such as  cucumber would upset her stomach,  and there was a loss in energy levels. At some point she began to have stomach discomfort as well, this is when  our GP started to give her pills to treat what he assumed to be stomach ulcers. Needless to say these also did not make any improvement in her condition. The GP then told us that because Kathleen had had cancer of the breast several years earlier he thought she should have some chest scans and arranged to have  them carried out. These tests however did not show anything and on the same day as the tests they told us both that  they were  OK  and gave her the all clear.  Well this news seemed to cheer us both up at the time and gave great  relief. Unfortunately  her discomfort gradually worsened and a little  further down the line back to the Doctor we went, Kathleen had now completed the course of tablets for stomach ulcers so he told  Kathleen she could  safely increase the dosage. I then told  the Doctor that as she was having difficulty eating  or drinking and that  anything she took would be brought back.  (At this point Kathleen's condition  was  deteriorating  quite quickly) the Doctor then said he would arrange to have an endoscopy carried out,  that  this test would find out the  problem but  meanwhile to double up on the prescribed tablets, even though I had told him anything  she had  tried to swallow would be brought back. How we managed to  survive those  days leading up to the  Hospital  appointment I don't know for Kathleen could not eat or drink without bringing it back. On the day of  the  Hospital appointment Kathleen had to be  taken in a  wheelchair to the  clinic ward she was so weak.  Needless to say Kathleen was admitted on that very sameday to investigate her illness. This was at the Derbyshire Royal  Infirmary there were many tests  carried out and eventually one of the tests had shown a  shadow on her left  ovary. Because this now came under the  care of the Derby City Hospital  Kathleen was  transferred there, where  after many more tests and   approximately 5 weeks later Kathleen lost her battle  with what was a very aggressive type of cancer. Those  were the worst  5 weeks for myself and our two sons to be there  with Kathleen not being able to do anything to halt her sad deterioration that was taking place day by day. We were there  with Kathleen every day in the   latter weeks for they put her in a side ward by  herself  and very kindly put another bed in  there so that one  of us could stay there at night, we alternated my sons and myself, so for almost every second of the day  one of us was there with her to bring any of her needs to the nurses  attention.

My own personal belief is that  our GP  has  failed Kathleen by not reading and heeding those earlier  warning signs, he  has missed the  chance to  initiate the appropriate actions for tests that would have identified her illness sooner, perhaps then, there may have been more time to undergo  surgery that could have extended her life. When  the hospital Surgeon had told the family that he thought this  to be a cancer my oldest  son then used  the  internet  where it lists many of the early warning symptoms about  this illness and he  probably  now knows  more on the  subject than our GP. I honestly believe that if  GP's were not in such an hurry with  their 10  minute  visiting times and paid  more attention during their patients  visits, were armed with the updated  knowledge  and latest developments in the detection of Cancers then it could I am sure save some lives  that  are otherwise lost through ignorance because those symptoms have  been  detected too late. Sadly this was   the case for my late  wife Kathleen, an opportunity missed, surely the doctors  should be aware, have to  be  aware and be on  the lookout for any subtle  changes that occur and be ready  to act accordingly.      

Apparently we in Britain have the worst detection rate in Europe.

After the sad loss of my lovely wife Kathleen  I was overwhelmed with  the grief  and  feeling of  sorrow, my mind was doing overtime trying to find the reasons why this could have happened to her and seemingly go  unnoticed. Well I know none of us can ever hope to find the  answer  to that question, but those thoughts will be forever in my mind .

So I am now channelling my energy for a task that I can do for Cancer Research in helping the charity. Luckily though I was 71 on Jan 4th 2007 I feel that my general health is still good enough for me to  consider this  ride for charity and hopefully with the grace of  God my present good health will continue so  that I can  complete this cycle ride for Cancer  Research. My  hopes are that the money that will be raised and  added to  other charity workers  can  hasten the diagnosis and subsequent cure in the not too far off  future, so that all  other would be sufferers can benefit by any breakthrough  achieved in new technology for detection and cure.

The only really important thing in preventing this from happening is the time needed  for  research and the chronic shortage of  money getting to their funds. If  I had the  power to  administer the use of the funding for the National Lottery  money, I would  definitely donate very large sums of money every week for a  reasonable period of  time that would really swell  the Cancer Research funds to  kick-start an onslaught in the aid to rid us of the scourge of  cancer. What could  possibly be more important  than something that would benefit everyone,  it's our money so why can't we have a  say as to where some of our Lottery money is steered,  after all without us the  National Lottery would not have those millions of  pounds. Everyone of us and our  families would receive immense benefit from any break through made by Cancer Research.   

So in my very humble way I am hoping for an overwhelming response for this essential cause.  I had hoped  to do a single ride earlier last year 2006, but I have wisely been testing my cycling capacity just to make sure that I would be able to achieve the distance that I had in mind before I went public. I want to push myself  for the cause but I have to be realistic. My original intention was a ride from Derby to Skegness of  94 miles approx. But unfortunately the daylight hours have now closed in and with the weather getting much colder, this type of   trip is not really ideal. But I have now proved that I  would be capable of  a trip of this distance  by cycling  from  Mickleover in Derby to Buxton and back, being 81.5 miles as  shown on my cycle computer,  on this run  I had  a short stop at Buxton before the return trip. This I think would be a harder ride than the  Skegness trip  for there is lots of hard work required between Bakewell and Buxton but for the moment my  cycling is reduced to  shorter trips just to keep in touch as and when the weather allows. I will start in earnest  sometime in the new  year when the weather conditions improve. What I have been considering is  cycling, weather  permitting a series of shorter runs say from Mickleover to Ashbourne and back 23.5 miles,  or Mickleover to  Matlock and back 40 miles, this  I do non stop. I intend to give updates on my mileage as I go  along, my furthest distance non stop to date is to Bakewell and back  about 57 miles. I hope to build up a overall mileage in the region of  close to a thousand miles and then by finishing it all off with a final ride to  Skegness, this ride will only be one way I won't be doing the trip back. Hopefully I shall either stay there the night or get one of my two sons to run  me back by car. It’s a pity I have missed out for 2006  having now proved  my fitness levels.

My purpose for having a go in producing this site is to bring my fundraising attempt to as many people as I can in good time and thereby hoping  for a good  response for sponsorship and  this essential cause.

Just as a point of interest I have previously been doing my general cycling on a mountain bike, my Mercian  cycle bit the dust long ago, I have still got that frame purchased way back in 1951 or 1952. The rest of the cycle  has over the years been plundered by one of my nephews so I have now recently bought a modern road  bike for  this more demanding work. Having invested in a Scott cycle that is simply amazing with an alloy frame and  carbon fibre front forks, its also very light and a dream to ride. I have fitted one of the Radio computer systems  to monitor my progress, well,  my oldest son David has so that  I can log my overall distance and record my  shorter runs.

For the latest information on my mileage updates

please visit my Website shown below 

http://leswalkercancerresearchukfundraiser.com 

I send a big Thank You to all the  people that have made donations and have been so generous

Les Walker

Skegness here I Come

Well the time for the final ride to Skegness is almost upon us and will take place Thursday the 14th of June. To date I have completed 1,105 miles and have just one small ride to do to make sure my body is still OK before Thursday

Anyone who can get there for the finish can see me arrive sometime about 4.00 pm the destination point is the Clock Tower

Derby to Skegness is mission completed 14th June 2007 Distance 98 miles, start time 5.25am  finish 1.30pm.

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor me online.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Cancer Research UK will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

So please sponsor me now!

Many thanks for your support.