Hi everyone, my name is Carl Burkitt, from West Bromwich, and I am currently training and preparing to take on Velo Birmingham & Midlands 2020, the 100-mile closed-road cycling event on 21st June 2020, in memory of his dad, Alan Burkitt 

This is the first time that i will be taking on such a long distance in one day, and I am hoping that my cycling exploits will inspire people to support me and donate to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity, in memory of my much loved and very much missed dad.
My dad passed away in June 2017, and I was inspired to take on Velo Birmingham & Midlands 2020 in memory of him. As soon as I saw that the event was taking place on Father’s Day, I knew that I just had to take part! I know dad will be behind me pushing me along as I go, my dad was one hell of a fighter and he will not allow me to fail!!

My dad was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia (CLL) back in 2002, after his GP noticed that he had a blood infection. He began treatment for his CLL but two years later was also diagnosed with prostate cancer, going on to be treated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham by Mr Alan Doherty, Consultant Urological Surgeon.

Due to the diligent monitoring of his CLL, the medical team at QE Hospital Birmingham very quickly picked up on dad's symptoms and were proactive with dad’s treatment for prostate cancer. Following an operation he was successfully cured of the prostate cancer. All our family will be forever grateful to the team at the QE for the treatment that they gave to my dad for his prostate cancer. The treatment and surgery that he had, and the efficient and wonderful way that it was carried out by all the staff at the QE Hospital Birmingham, extended his life by another 10 years at least and gave all the family years more memories with him, in particular memories of him with my son, Sam.”

Sadly Dad passed away in June 2017 due to his CLL and, nearly three years on, I am raising money to support the prostate cancer fund within QEHB Charity. The Charity has recently funded a brand new mobile health van, referred to as the Man Van, which will be going out into the community to empower men to talk about their health, and in particular their prostate health.

Sadly, in 25% of cases, men are only diagnosed with prostate cancer when it is too late to treat. The Man Van will be going out into the community and workplaces, giving men the opportunity to book an appointment where they can have a chat with a clinician, answer a questionnaire about their health and family history, and have a finger prick blood test.By the end of the appointment, the clinician will be able to refer the man on for further checks should they deem it necessary.

As a man of 47 years of age, and with a history of prostate cancer within our family, it is this time in my life that I, and all other males of this age, should be taking the proactive approach in getting ourselves checked out and this is the reason that I’m really pleased to be able to try and raise funds for the Man Van. The hope is it will make a massive difference in the way that we talk about prostate cancer. As the son of someone who had prostate cancer, I know that I need to go and get myself checked. As men, we’re rubbish at talking to each other about these things and it’s important to change that.

I work in the centre of Birmingham and i cycle the 17-mile round trip from my home in West Bromwich every day, which is all part of my preparation for Velo. At the age of 47 I’m the healthiest that I ever have been, having lost over five stone over the last 18 months. This is going to be a great, but very tough challenge to hopefully show how far I’ve come; I only took up cycling a year ago!

I will be one of the hundreds of QEHB Charity riders taking part in Velo Birmingham & Midlands 2020 and i am looking forward to joining the training rides with my fellow cyclists and fundraisers, which will led by the Charity’s cycling ambassador, and Coventry and Warwickshire Radio Presenter, Phil Upton

I hope that my story will first and foremost help all men to make that decision to “get checked” and if not, make your wife or partner encourage you to do so and secondly I hope to raise funds for the QEHB charity.

Hopefully you will be so kind as to sponsor me for this event.

Myself and my family thank you so much 

Best Wishes

Carl  

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