I am riding Pedal for Scotland on 9^th September 2018, a 44 mile bike ride
from Glasgow to Edinburgh. I recently got back on my bike after more than 30 years out of the saddle. As a result, there have been some tumbles during training but the aim is to cross the finishing line with all limbs intact.

During the ride, I will be raising money for the Paul O’Gorman Leukaemia Research Centre in memory of Professor Tessa Holyoake (pictured above). Professor Holyoake was the Director of the Paul O’Gorman and world-renowned expert in Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML), a condition for which treatments have improved enormously in recent years, this being in no small part due to Tessa’s work.

I’m a haematologist who tries to combine research alongside my clinical work and Tessa was an absolute inspiration to me. She showed so much interest in what I was trying to achieve even though it was no way related to her own work.

Tessa was also a passionate cyclist, another reason why it feels appropriate to raise money, via a cycling challenge, for a centre that Tessa worked tirelessly for.

Please give generously and support the ongoing work of the Paul O Gorman Leukaemia Centre to improve the care of patients with leukaemia.

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