I will be cycling on a real bike on a real road! 

Nearly 15 years ago, in 2005, my older brother, José (7), was diagnosed with MDS, a very rare form of leukaemia in children.  I was only 4 at the time, but I tested as a 100% bone marrow match. We, as a family, all moved to Bristol for three months for Jose's chemotherapy and transplant, which took place in Bristol Children's Hospital.  Within hours of donating my bone marrow, he received the life saving transplant. 

CLIC provided us with a family room in the Sams House (CLIC), near to the hospital for the duration.  Without their support, it would have been extremely difficult for my parents to spend time with Jose and care for my two month old baby brother and me.  It was important to be together during this devastating time.

In August 2010, my family and I walked 90 miles of the South Downs Way and raised £5100 for the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust.  

In May 2018 José was diagnosed with AML (Acute Myeloid Leukaemia). He has consequently spent the best part of the past 2 years in isolation in the Teenage and Young Adult cancer ward in Southampton General Hospital. He underwent chemotherapy and a unrelated stem cell transplant, enduring and suffering life threatening complications for weeks. He is still receiving bi-monthly treatment. He is currently in  hospital being treated for pneumonia.

Again, CLIC were able to provide us with an ensuite  family room in Jeans House (CLIC) which is a 10 minute walk from  Southampton hospital. We had a roof over our heads for 8 weeks over the summer last year when Jose was seriously ill.  We have a lovely CLIC social worker, Kate,  who provides the much needed support for us all. Without this help we would have been left blind in the dark tunnel that is cancer. 

The reason I have decided to fund raise now, is because the Coronavirus pandemic has hit CLIC Sargent hard.  Despite this, they will continue to fight tirelessly for young cancer patients and their families throughout this crisis. They need our support now more than ever.

As a witness, I am acutely aware of the devastating impact  the Coronavirus pandemic  is having on children and young adults with cancer and their families.  Families like mine are feeling more frightened, isolated and more alone than ever. Everyday I am witnessing  my mother struggling more than any mother should, and without CLIC Sargent, she would find it difficult to cope, as would we all. 

By road, I will be cycling the equivalent distance of Poole (my home) to John o'Groat's (the cycle route distance would be 771 miles).  My journey starts early on Monday 25 May.  I will be cycling the same 48 miles/78km (or a different route of 81km - 50miles) round trip route from my home in Poole to Lulworth Cove everyday (returning via Corfe Castle, Arne and Wareham) for 16 days. Last week I did a test cycle ride to check the mileage is correct, so that I can achieve the full 771 miles. During this time, I will be climbing and decending 7540m, if we add all of the hills together

I am currently in my gap year (going to Exeter University in September to study languages) and as we are shielding Jose who is immuno-compromised and extremely vulnerable to the Coronavirus, I wanted to take this opportunity to do something worthwhile and give back to CLIC.  I am passionate about cycling so it made sense to fund raise in this way.

I WILL UPDATE THIS PAGE DAILY WITH MY PROGRESS AND PHOTOS which will appear at the bottom of this page.

What do CLIC Sargent do?

• From the moment of diagnosis, they’re there and ready to help families cope.Their care teams provide day-to-day support for each child, young person and family, from information and guidance to clinical care and specialist play during treatment.
• As if a cancer diagnosis isn’t tough enough, the financial impact of cancer can be devastating. Research shows parents spend an average of £600 more every month when their child has cancer. Lots of travel for treatment, hotels, extra heating costs at home. It soon adds up, causing further anxiety and worry. CLIC Sargent care teams work with young people and families to help them get vital financial support.
• Travelling for treatment not only adds to the exhaustion; it’s expensive too. They help to reduce that burden. Their nursing teams can provide personal care and support at home, or arrange for treatment to be given closer to home. They also have CLIC Sargent Homes from Home close to hospitals, where families can stay during treatment for free. These reduce the financial cost and emotional impact of cancer, keeping families such as my own together when it matters most.
• Cancer shatters young cancer patients’ education, social lives and future prospects. They need support not just to survive cancer but to finish treatment with their future in their grasp. CLIC helps them get their lives back on track, both during and after treatment.
• If a child dies - CLIC gives vital bereavement support, if the unthinkable happens
• Making change happen - too often, young cancer patients and their families don’t get the support they need from the government. CLIC listens to them, basing their research and campaigning on what the young people tell them to ensure they make the right change happen. And then they fight on their behalf. They do this through extensive research and by campaigning for policy change in the things which matter most to the young people. They also raise awareness of children and young people’s experiences and champion their voices to politicians and decision makers across the UK.
  
  

Scared, isolated, and highly vulnerable to infection, young cancer patients desperately need your support. Every day, parents are still being told the shattering news that their child has cancer. Children and young adults are still going through brutal treatment and families are still facing the devastating cost cancer brings. Without your help, they risk facing all of this alone.

CLIC Sargent workers are on the NHS frontline to get children and their families through this frightening time. At the moment, CLIC are seeing a 60% drop in income, while the number of families in crisis increases rapidly. They are fighting tirelessly for children with cancer throughout all of this. 

Please donate now to stop brave children and young adults, and their families facing cancer alone.