I have decided to cycle as far as possible during 2019. My target distance is 3,000 miles (Just shy of 5,000km and just under 60 miles/100km a week) I will be completing this challenge on a exercise bike for two main reasons. I don't want the ever unpredictable British weather to stop me in any way. The second reason being, doing it on a stationary bike will allow me to cycle in different locations over the year enabling more people to donate.

The reason I am completing this challenge is to raise funds for Bloodwise. This is after my wife's best friend, Hannah Overton was diagnosed with AML (Acute Myeloid Leukaemia) in August and tragically passed away in December. After initially responding well to treatment, this awful disease returned breaking the hearts of family and friends.  Hannah's fight and determination was truly inspirational.

Hannah was a Junior International bowler, and was well known throughout the world of bowls. It was through bowls that we met whilst playing in a friendly game. Hannah was playing for Peterborough and I was playing for Sutton St James. Little did we know back then that she would go to university with Sarah (my wife) and be the reason we met. For that I will always be thankful, and hold the many great memories we made over the years deep in my heart.

Raising funds for Bloodwise will enable them to research further treatments for all types of Blood cancer, but in particular for AML where research investment is high, due to the currently limited avenues of treatment. 

Just to give you an idea of how your donation will help:

£100 - Will help Bloodwise reach out to blood cancer patients when they are needed the most, by providing 150 hospital waiting room information posters that show the ways that the charity can help.

£200 - Would ensure every single person diagnosed with blood cancer today is armed with vital knowledge of their disease by sending them high quality patient information booklets.

£500 - Would fund a nurse to provide patients help, support, and a hand to hold at one of the ground breaking clinical trials for three days.

£1000 - Would fund crucial investigation into developing less harsh treatments for people with blood cancer, allowing researchers to analyse the DNA of 40 patients.

The facts!

Every 14 minutes in the UK , someone is Diagnosed with blood cancer or a related disorder - that's over 100 people every day.

Blood cancer is the UK's firth most common cancer, and the most common cancer in children and young people.

Nearly a quarter of a million people on the UK are living with blood cancer.

38 people die from blood cancer every day in the UK - 14,000 people a year.

Through your donations, I'm praying that one day we will have the treatments and preventatives in place to stop the disease once and for all.

Thankyou for reading my story, and further thanks if you have donated! 

Calvin x