Maxton Pitcher

Max's Colon Challenge 2015 to beat bowel cancer

Fundraising for St Mark's Hospital Foundation
£5,002
raised of £5,000 target
Donations cannot currently be made to this page
Colon Challenge 2015, 27 April 2015
We support research at St Mark's Hospital to drive clinical improvements for patients

Story

As a Consultant Gastroenterologist at St Mark's Hospital in Harrow, I am referred patients with abdominal pain, weight loss and symptoms related to opening their bowels, such as rectal bleeding, every day. I am often saddened to learn just how long such people have been enduring these symptoms, often hoping that their "piles" or the "tummy bug" will settle down. These are the indicators of sometimes advanced colon cancer. Our challenge is to educate the public to seek medical help earlier and get checked when the advanced innovative colonoscopic and surgical techniques available at St Mark's can effect the real prospect of cure without need for chemoradiotherapy or a stoma. Friends who have approached me informally for help, in whom I have diagnosed colon cancer, have inspired me to exchange the colonoscope for the bicycle in this, my greatest physical challenge - a 280 mile ride in the shape of the large intestine over 4 days between 27-30th May. It will be a tiring and painful experience for me, but essentially rewarding, and I will be with a team of inspirational people to help me through to the end, in the ARSEnal Stadium. The money raised will help me and my colleagues avert more unnecessary deaths from this preventable disease and my personal colon challenge will have been worth every gruelling moment. Thank you for your support!

Share this story

Help Maxton Pitcher

Sharing this page with your friends could help raise up to 3x more in donations

You can also help by sharing this link on

About the charity

Our charity supports research, education & innovation at St Mark’s, the UK’s national bowel hospital. The projects we support have driven clinical improvements for patients living with complex bowel diseases, and enhanced disease understanding.

Donation summary

Total raised
£5,001.67
+ £1,138.00 Gift Aid
Online donations
£5,001.67
Offline donations
£0.00

* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.